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Exercise is Just a Walk in the Park

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Exercise is vital to live a long and healthy life and when it comes to your cuddly canine, it’s no different. Exercising your dog is a fantastic way for you to spend quality time together and reinforce the bond between you. As a responsible owner, it’s up to you to control your dog’s weight and help him maintain a healthy lifestyle while, in return, also helping you to do the same. Remember, a lack of exercise can result in your dog developing a list of ailments such as poor muscle and bone growth, breathing difficulties and obesity. Keeping your pet cooped up all day every day can cause them considerable distress and boredom!

Exercise and different dog breeds

Before you put on your running shoes and shout the magic word, WALK, it’s really important that you research the exercise needs and abilities of your dog breed. The breed of dog should determine the amount of time you’re willing to spend exercising with them.

Generally speaking, larger breeds of dogs, such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds and Boxers, need much more exercise than smaller breeds, like Yorkshire Terriers, or lap dogs. A larger breed of dog can require a long walk twice a day in comparison to a smaller lap dog that is more than happy to just go for a single walk around the block or putter around the house.

On the other hand (or paw), when in doubt try to give your pet as much exercise as they need, but never overdo it. Watch closely for any signs of fatigue such as heavy panting, gasping, lameness or disorientation and avoid exercising your dog on hot days. Remember that your companion can easily become dehydrated, so always provide them with fresh water!

What kind of exercise?

Good question. There are many activities you can do with your dog while exercising at the same time. However, keeping your dog fit and healthy through active exercise should never be a chore for either of you. To begin with, you can start by either walking, running or jogging with your dog and see how much better you feel.

Exercising your dog doesn’t have to be just conventional methods and can take many other forms. Many dog owners choose to play fetch with a stick, toy or ball when they visit the park. This is not only a great way for the two of you to burn calories and develop muscle growth but a great way to have fun too!

Doggy Discipline

Remember, the key to exercise is discipline and dogs thrive on obedience and structure, so training is vital to your dog’s quality of life. Dogs also love routine and learn quickly when structure is established, so taking time out of your busy schedule at a certain time just once a day will help you get back in to a routine and give your dog the best chance to live a long and healthy life.

Overall, exercising your dog is vital for their long term health and happiness and a great way to bond with them!

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About Author

Devoted pet owner and now, devoted pet editor, Judi worked in traditional offices, keeping the books and the day-to-day operations organized. Taking her dog to work every day for over a decade never seemed odd. Neither did having an office cat. She knows what it's like to train a new puppy and she's experienced the heartache of losing beloved companions. Retired, she currently lives with her spoiled dog and four chickens (who are, interestingly enough, also spoiled).

6 Comments

  1. Walking is great exercise for both you and your dog, what a lot of people dont relise is that dogs need about three times as much exercise compared to humans, walking is one of the best ways of loosing weight and is good for the heart

  2. I agree – exercise IS SO important. People wonder why their dogs are mischievous and naughty – they think their pets are ‘doing it on purpose’ because they’re ‘out to get them’ but that’s so not true, they just need something to break up the monotony and stimulate them…. Two good walks a day should do the trick!

  3. Pingback: Happy is Your Dog | Pet Web Site

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This post contains affiliate links, which means we earn a commission for sales referred from links on our site. We're also Amazon Associates, so we may earn from those qualifying purchases, too. Learn more!