Does Your Dog Get Enough Exercise ?

All types of dogs need to exercise daily. While some breeds have special needs to be taken into account. The dogs may slow down with their age; they still need to attend in some form of daily physical activity. Without exercise, your dog will become bored, frustrated and unhealthy. Exercise tones the muscles, and facilitates metabolic function in the body and provide them a mental stimulation to be satisfied and happy. It can improve bone and joint health and heart and lung functions. Exercise will make your dog look better and feel better. A good fitness regime is a key to maintaining your pet’s health and general well-being.

The dog that suffers from lack of physical activity, their mental stimulation will tell you that they are bored and may often turn to destructive behaviors. 

 How much exercise does my dog need?

Experts estimate that nearly 35 percent of pets today are overweight, which increases their risk for many serious conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, breathing problems, and heart disease. However, the exercise should not be a  too-strenuous routine. Watch if any signs of discomfort and stop the exercise routine if your dog appears to be laboring. Keep in your mind that dogs do not have the same highly efficient body cooling system as in humans, and especially a black dog or a long haired one would suffer more from heat, so plan workouts to be either early morning or in the evenings after the sun has set.

• Active breeds need a minimum of 30 minutes of hard aerobic exercise most days of the week, preferably daily.
• Not all small breeds get enough exercise inside the house. Pugs, for example, are prone to obesity and need much more exercise than they usually get.
• It's not advice to go out in extremely hot or cold weather conditions. During such periods, stay inside and teach tricks to engage your dog's mind, throw toys, or run up and down the stairs together.
• Good exercise uses both mental and physical muscles. Exploring a new hiking trail, for example, engages your dog's mind as well as his body.
• Keep in mind the philosophy that ‘a good dog is a tired dog.

What sort of exercise?

Either two fifteen minute sessions or a straight 30 minutes session is recommended. Exercise options include walks, jogs, and a game of chase or even swimming. Walks are considered to be the best form of exercise for your dog and a walk does not have to be a very long one. A short walk, maybe along the street or in a park would be ideal as it makes your dog used to the human presence. Games of catch and retrieve are also high favorites as it improves the mental capacity of your dog. With games of catch make sure to always throw light objects and at a low level so that it does not require much jumping, which could damage a dog’s hind legs.

What benefits does exercise have?

• Dogs who get regular exercise tend to behave better and have less behavioral problems.
• Its social skills will improve as it will be interacting with you and other humans regularly.
• The bond between you and the pet would increase creating a healthier dog-master relationship.
• You would get exercise along with your dog.
• Your dog’s life span will be increased as it will be living healthier.

Follow these tips to ensure your dog has a healthier and much more comfortable life which would benefit both you and your dog.