Dogs need both physical and mental stimulation provided by their owners through daily exercise. Exercise gives a dog a natural outlet to release their pent-up energy. Exercise also helps to create strong bodies and good muscle tone for the pet. Lack of sufficient exercise, on the other hand, will result in boredom and behavioral problems.
A well-known yard or a house can even be boring for a dog. Even if the dog is in a big yard, few will exercise on their own without their master, so it will presumably sleep all day without the interaction of exercise by the owner.
Just letting your dog out to the backyard is not enough and does not give provide all the exercise the dog needs either. Remember too, that a brief daily walk sometimes is not enough either. Then how do you decide just exactly how much exercise your own dog needs?
The type of exercise you choose for your dog should depend on many things such as the dogs age, weight, health and breed of the dog. Is your dog eating a lot? If it is, is it eating out of boredom? Is your dog a hunter or a retriever who likes to run or is it a small breed who likes to sit on the couch? These are just a few of the questions you have to ask before you decide on your dogs proper daily workout regime.
If your dog is old, you may have to encourage your dog to exercise - try simple things like walking to start. If your dog is pregnant you should never over exercise her. Daily exercise is recommended for both unless there is an underlying medical problem. You should consult your veterinarian before you decide on a fitness program for your pet.
Remember, healthy dogs need
interaction with other dogs and people too. Dog parks are great for this and many of them even allow the dogs to play and walk unleashed. You should check the rules of the dog parks around your area. Most dogs enjoy games of catch which is a good exercise for your dog. But you should be careful about using soft objects or tennis balls to avoid harming the dog's teeth.
Long walks in the woods, parks or on the beach will also make your dog very happy. Jogging or biking is another great way to spend time with each other and it is also beneficial for both of you to build strong muscles.
There are some things that you should be careful about during these activities:
- Avoid jogging or biking with your dog if it has any preexisting health problems.
- Take notice if the dog seems to be overly tired.
- Take water along for your dog, too.
- On hot summer days, exercise early in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler.
Many dogs also enjoy playing with Frisbees on land or in water. Also you can play a simple game with a rope or a tug type toy. You can get a tug and let your dog take one end and you the other, then you both pull to your hearts content. Swimming also is an enjoyable activity for many dogs however don't assume every dog can swim right off the bat.
Exercising with your dog creates a tighter human-dog bond. It is also one of the greatest ways to show your dog that you care about it and want to make it happy. And if you're not sure if you've exercised your dog enough just remember this: tired dogs are often the happiest dogs.
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