Dog Exercise

Dog Health Starts With Dog Fitness

Dog exercise is important to your pet’s health and longevity. Just as humans who fail to exercise become overweight and unhealthy, so do our canine companions. No matter your furry friend’s ages, you can count on them enjoying plenty of health benefits from regular physical activity.

Not only will physical activity for your pet help the animal’s health, it can also benefit your own health at the same time. The opportunity to bond with your pet during workouts helps lower your blood pressure, release stress from your hectic daily life, and the physical activity burns calories while building muscles.

The ideal dog exercise incorporates the body, mind, and spirit into the workout. Canines are very intelligent and love to solve problems. Many enjoy learning "trick" behaviors because of the mental stimulation involved. You may also want to consider that puppies and adult dogs will need different levels and styles of exercise.

There is nothing difficult about getting a pup to be active. They are at their peak energy levels and want to explore the whole world.

Training and activity sessions, including leash training, spoken or hand signal training, or teaching behaviors on command, all burn calories, raise the heart rate, and help build strong bones and muscles to last throughout your canine’s life.

Leash training, if incorporated into a brisk walk will raise the heart rate to aerobic levels. Jog during this type of training if your own health permits. Teaching the fetch command is sure to provide lots of exercise as your companion races after the stick, ball, Frisbee, or other object tossed for retrieval. The variety of exercises disguised as play which you can include in your pup’s daily life is virtually limitless because pups love to move, jump, run and have seemingly boundless energy. A good workout during the day helps them sleep better at night, too.

Many adult canines, usually considered ages 1-6, love continuing to enjoy the activities learned as play early in life. Going for walks, jogging or running beside you are great ways to continue to bond deeply with your furry best friend. Continue playing games with balls, sticks, rawhide chews or other toys your pet loves. Fitness is just as important during this life stage as when your friend is just a few months old.

Other full grown companion canines, however, tend to desire a sedentary lifestyle after they become adults. The adult pet that seems to lose interest in exercise needs to be encouraged in order to prevent unhealthy weight gain, heart problems, weakening of the bones, and other medical problems which can significantly shorten their life span. Sometimes these seemingly lazy pooches are just tired of the same old routines. Try different activities, change toys, go to a different dog park, or find an exercise buddy for both your pet and you to share company with during activities.

As your pet reaches the later years of life, anywhere from 7-14 years of age, exercise and fitness become crucial to protect against a multitude of medical problems and prevent premature death. Since older pets tend to want to lie in the shade or on their favorite rug and let the world pass by, this is certainly not the best lifestyle for them.

Older canines often experience the onset of arthritis. Exercise for arthritic pets helps maintain flexibility in the joints and can relieve some of the pain associated with this disorder.

There are a few medical conditions that may result in your veterinarian recommending reduced exercise for your older canine. Heart and circulatory problems may limit the level of activity that can safely be performed. Your veterinarian can advise you of what level of activity and even suggest safe exercises for your older pet. You may also need to reduce the calories in the elderly canine’s diet to compensate for lack of physical activity.

Dog exercise is a key to having a long, loving relationship with your canine friend for many years. Allowing your pet to become lethargic and obese are sure ways to shorten your best friend’s life. Go out together and become active; it’s healthy and fun for both of you.

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