#ForTheLoveofPets – Exercising with your dog

Regular exercise is essential to staying healthy and fit, and dogs are no exception. Exercise is just one of your dog’s basic needs. In general, most dogs should get one to two hours of exercise daily to help keep them healthy. Your dog may need more or less depending on age, breed, and tolerance. If you are starting a new exercise program for your dog, make sure to start slowly and let your dog build up endurance and tolerance to the exercise. Watch for signs of exhaustion such as heavy panting, wheezing, lameness, disorientation, and slowing or stopping to lie down during activities.

What kind of exercise is best for my dog?

There are many activities you can do with your dog while exercising at the same time. Some activities provide more exercise for your dog than for you but are still a fun way to bond. 

Walking

Walking is the classic form of exercise we tend to give our dogs. In addition to getting some exercise, a walk is a great way for your dog to explore the world with his or her nose. Don’t rush it. Let your dog take the time to sniff around during the walk. Try to take a different route ever so often so your dog will get to see and smell new things.

Running

Running is a great form of exercise for some dogs. Not all dogs can tolerate this type of exercise, but some dogs simply can’t get enough. Using a hands-free leash can make running with your dog easier. Off-leash running is not usually a good idea for safety and legal reasons. 

Cycling

Not every dog is built to run alongside your bike. This can be dangerous in some cases (for you and your dog). However, riding a bike with your dog can be fun if you do it right. The most important thing is to start slowly. Ride as slowly as possible at first and avoid a lot of twists and turns. Your dog should always be leashed, so you may want to find a good bicycle attachment so you won’t have to hold your dog’s leash.

Swimming 

Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs know how to swim. Other dogs simply don’t like to swim. You can incorporate the game of fetch with swimming to make it even more fun. Just remember your water safety tips.

Games

There are many fun games you can play with your dog, some of which will provide some exercise, too. Fetch, hide-and-seek and tug of war all provide moderate exercise for your dog and light exercise for you.