How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need Everyday
As a dog person, you might be concerned about the health and wellbeing of your pooch, and it makes you wonder how much exercise does your dog need everyday. Depending upon the age and breed of your dog, it might require different levels of activity to stay in good shape and keep all the potential diseases associated with obesity issues at bay. Besides giving a daily walk to your canine, you should also come up with creative games that provide them high level of mental stimulation so that it can also be beneficial to their mental health.
When it comes to taking your pooch to your neighborhood dog park, you might just think that a quick turn around the block would offer adequate exercise and exertion to your dog, but it is actually quite far from the truth. Insufficient exercise routine has contributed to the epidemic of canine obesity, which has resulted in several early deaths and permanent disability in various pets. If your pet is overweight, then their chances of developing diseases, like arthritis and Alzheimer’s, increase at an early life stage. In order to ensure that your canine companion spends their entire lifespan according to full potential without any constraints and barriers, then you should plan about providing them suitable opportunities to release their pent up energy.
Know Your Dog
Contrary to the popular perception, exercise is not just about fulfilling the physical activity requirements of a pet to stay healthy, but it can even affect their overall mood and behavior. Your pup would not be content with being locked up in his kennel throughout the weekend, as it doesn’t offer them enough outlets to release their energy. This can cause a dog to become frustrated, and they can slowly adopt an aggressive style with little tolerance towards new things in life. This is the reason; you should invest your time in knowing your pet, so that you can construct a productive exercise plan for them.
If you can no longer tolerate discovering new holes in your yard every morning – which have been dug out by your dog – then you should come up with engaging activity so that you can offer them challenging workout sessions. Many first-time owners end up giving up their dogs when they fail at providing them effective mobility opportunities.
According to the general consensus of experienced vets, it is advised to provide a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise to your furry friend on a daily basis. In order to satisfactorily tire out your pet, you need to combine various games and outdoor activities in a particular session rather than endlessly running in the dog park.
The Right Amount of Exercise For Your Pooch
Whether you are a proud owner of a Doberman or a Golden Retriever, you need to assess the time slot for exercise in accordance with the breed and age factor. Just because your Pitbull breed appears to be muscular and boast a stocky build, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are in their prime physical shape. You should keep on introducing new circuit routine every weekend, so that their body doesn’t become accustomed to a monotonous routine – which can make their progress hit a sudden plateau.
Always listen to the current needs of your four-legged friend, and just because their growing body was able to withstand 1-hour sprinting back in the days, that doesn’t necessarily means that they would show the same performance and physical prowess now. If you notice signs of deterioration in your aging dog, then you should take safety measures before allowing them to take part in a game, like avoiding slippery surfaces and new terrains. Once you are able to make predictions about the safety of the surroundings, you can finally allocate enough time frames for your dog’s daily exercise session.
Where to Get Exercise
From introducing new routes to adding more resistance during aerobic exercises, you need to keep on making timely adjustments and enhancements in this routine. Even if you are an apartment dweller, there are no excuses when it comes to providing your pooch with enough space to exert their energy and stamina. Exploring new surroundings can be beneficial for you and your pooch, as it would help you both discover new places where you can build up bonds with each other and build timeless memories.
Restricting your canine companion to a particular territory would only be troublesome for them, as they do not have the instincts of spending long time in a same location throughout their lifespan. If the local dog park is properly fenced, then you can even take off the leash of your dog to provide them freedom and limitless moments of joy. You can also sign up for a doggy daycare to provide engaging sessions to your pup, so that they return home feeling exhausted and tired.
The Cost of Not Getting Enough Exercise
Inadequate exercise can expose the body of your dog to numerous injuries, as they would not have healthy blood circulation and bone density because of being inactive for a long period of time. If your pooch suffers from a chronic illness, such as arthritis or hip dysplasia, then you should first allow them to recover according to their full potential before being subjected to any exhaustion. Before embarking on a particular cardio session, it is always better to consult with a reliable vet to get detailed guidance.
Exercises that trigger a higher adrenaline rush can stave off boredom, and get your do addicted to this daily routine in no time. Lack of activity can expose the body of your loyal companion to a myriad of health issues, such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. Their bone density and tendon flexibility can also be deteriorated with the passage of time, which can affect their athletic performance and posture as they grow old. Apart from the general fetch play routine, you should also provide those opportunities of social interaction with others, so that they grow up to become a healthy and confident canine.
