Why does my dog need to exercise?
Like humans, dogs derive health benefits from regular exercise. As your dog’s caregiver, it’s important that you keep your dog strong and fit through physical activity. Obesity is increasing among dogs, along with its negative consequences — an increased risk of developing diabetes, an increased risk for cancer, and a high probability of joint injury and subsequent osteoarthritis (OA).
Exercise is good for a dog’s mental and physical health, and improves your relationship with your dog, as well.
What is the best way to exercise my dog?
Before initiating any regular physical fitness plan for your dog, it is best to consult your veterinarian. They can help guide your choice of activities and create a conditioning program personalized for your dog. Your veterinarian will likely ask you the following types of questions to help you determine the best way to exercise your dog.
1. What is your dog’s age, body condition, and state of health?
Your veterinarian can help you answer these questions and determine the appropriate exercise for your dog based on the answers. Some general rules and advice:
- Puppies with growing bones can suffer skeletal trauma from long runs. They do better with short spurts of play, where they can set the pace. Walks on a leash are usually fine, but do not overdo it.
- Certain breeds have different requirements. For example, short-snouted (brachycephalic) dogs like pugs, bulldogs, and Pekingese need a different cardiovascular conditioning program than golden retrievers.
- Overweight and obese dogs are more prone to joint injuries that can lead to or worsen osteoarthritis (OA). The sudden starts and stops of chasing a ball may be a poor choice of activity for them.
- Overweight and obese dogs have a hard time cooling off, so their activity plan should be different than one for a young, normal-weight dog.
- Be sure your dog’s heart and lungs are healthy and ready for increased activity.
2. What activities does your dog enjoy?
Watch your dog to see what activities they are naturally motivated to do, and let that guide your choice of exercise.
- Retrieving: Some dogs were born to retrieve. For them, a game of fetch could go on forever, and they would be happy. Other dogs are not the least bit interested in bringing back the toys we insist on repeatedly throwing away.
- Swimming: Some dogs love to swim, but not all dogs are comfortable in the water. Never presume your dog likes water or knows how to swim, and introduce swimming gradually so you do not create a water phobia. If your dog does not like water, don’t worry — there are plenty of other excellent fitness activities.
- Walking remains a cornerstone of canine fitness. It is easy, does not require much equipment, can be done nearly everywhere, and is good for people, too. There are many ways to make walking easier, better, and safer for both dogs and humans.
- Basic obedience training allows for successful walks and the inevitable interactions with other people and their dogs.
Whether you choose a regular collar, a woven nylon-strap harness, a vest-like fabric harness, or a head halter will depend on a combination of personal preference and what is most comfortable and effective for you and your dog. Harnesses are typically best for small dogs, young puppies, and dogs with a short muzzle or an easily compressed trachea (windpipe).
3. What activities do you enjoy?
You are most likely to be consistent in your exercise routine if you do something you enjoy. You need to create a canine exercise program that you will want to sustain, whether it is walking, jogging, hiking, or overseeing fetch or swimming. If it is fun for you and fun for your dog, you will find fewer excuses to stay on the couch.
4. How long can your dog comfortably exercise at one time?
Your veterinarian can help you evaluate your dog’s starting fitness level. It is important to evaluate your dog for any underlying metabolic or musculoskeletal issues that could affect their physical activity. For instance, the presence of pain anywhere in the body will influence the comfort and safety of a canine physical fitness plan. Deficient thyroid function (hypothyroidism) undermines energy and stamina. Undiagnosed, underlying heart disease can prove dangerous.
How do I create a workout plan?
Steady, progressive conditioning is the best approach for dog fitness, just as it is for human fitness. Your veterinarian can help you choose appropriate targets for your dog’s fitness plan, including how long to exercise at one time and how to adapt specific activities to best fit your dog’s individual needs.
When conditioning a dog to increase fitness, consistency is key. It is better to take a 20-minute walk every day than a 2-hour walk on Sunday. A slow, steady increase in time and intensity helps avoid injury and is more comfortable for the dog. For dogs that require additional challenges, you can advance to more intense activities, like field trialing, flyball, or agility competition.
Whatever the ultimate fitness and exercise goals for your dog, allow common sense basics to guide you. Get your veterinarian involved to provide medical input and then get going! Your dog will thank you.
