Exercise Improves Your Dog's Health

Just like with humans, your dog getting exercise is great for them. It keeps their weight in check, and helps maintain healthy vital organs-especially the heart and lungs. It creates endorphins which stimulate a more positive attitude. Dogs who don't get to go out and who don't get to stretch their legs and use their noses to explore or play with others, literally go crazy and in turn drive their human companion's nuts! It's a sad scenario that is so easily avoided!

If you were able to ask your dog how often they should be exercised, and how much, they would probably say "always!" Unless they are a working farm or service dog, this isn't going to be possible. So what are some guidelines that the average dog owner can follow to help their companion get in a good amount of exercise?

Just like humans, dogs are individuals and every dog has their own level of exercise that would be best suited for them. You can own several dogs of the same breed and soon learn that while some of them may be able to go all day, others are just content to lounge around. So with that being said, there is some truth to stereotyping certain breeds and their exercise requirements. Ask your breeder about the overall energy needs of your dog. This knowledge will help you prepare you for making the adequate exercise of your dog a priority.

Your dog should be walked at least twice a day as an older dog, and several more as a puppy. "Walks" mean outings of at least a half-mile, during which your dog should be allowed to sniff and investigate things along the way. It's also important to teach your dog to eliminate at the start of the walk so the exercise becomes the reward.

Most dog owners take their dog out in the morning and the evening in order to schedule at least two adequate walks a day. The morning walk is the one during which you want to help your dog release their energy and satisfy their need to explore through sniffing and greeting others. If you are forced to keep your dog on a leash, try to use a long one so they can at least get some running in and feel like they can explore more freely.

As a puppy, your dog will need more frequent but shorter walks as they build up their bones and muscles. As an adolescent, your dog will need frequent and longer walks, ideally with a solid period of "off-leash" running and playing time included. As your dog ages, you will get to know the signs that tell you to cut back on the length of time or intensity of exercise.

Be sure you don't "skimp" on the evening walks because you are tired or overcommitted. If you can't do it, hire a dog walker. After being isolated and obeying your house rules for several hours, your dog is going to want to "hit the streets." So work your schedule around making sure your dog gets all the exercise your dog needs and they will stay healthy and be happy for years to come.