To keep your dog fit for life, an exercise plan should be established when they are still puppies and continue throughout your pet’s life.
Exercise Ideas
Morning Walks
Morning walks are probably the most obvious way to get your poochโs metabolism started after a long nightโs sleep with chowtime breaks.ย Most vets will recommend at least a 30-minute stroll to get their systems started.
Agility training
You can take your pet to an agility course or even build your own backyard dogstacle course.ย Place tomato planter poles about 24 inches apart and have your dog weave in and out of them like a slalom race. Find a tunnel at a childrenโs toy store or Canadian Tire for your dog to run through. You can also set up chairs or benches as jumping obstacles. ย These are jus a few ideas you can use at home.
Doga
Yes, itโs yoga for dogs and itโs not just a passing fad. In Doga, dogs become interactive props as their masters incorporate them into their own poses.ย Classes also involve stretching, massing, chanting, and music that is audible at a dogโs pitch.
Put your dog on a treadmill
Most gyms probably wont let you bring your dog with you but if you have a treadmill at home. Itโs actually a great way to get them moving and they even make dog specific ones like the Jog-A-Dog.ย Start them off at the lowest speed and reward them with treats to keep them going.ย Once they get used to it, you can turn the speed up gradually for a more challenging workout.
Fetch
Playing fetch with your dog is a classic way to keep your pup active.ย Their innate hunting and retrieving instincts hardwire them to bring back their their catch to share with you.
Benefits of exercise
You both get a work outย
Owning a dog introduces new responsibilities to your life.ย One of them will mean a commitment to keeping them healthy through exercise, which can benefit you as much as them.ย Daily walks and jogs are not just an opportunity for them to relieve themselves on the lawn but a chance to boost metabolism and fight obesity and heart problems.
Improves ย Mental Health
Lack of exercise can lead to health issues like obesity and heart problems. Adequate exercise has health benefits that can help increase your dogโs lifespan. Regularย exerciseย will improve your dog’s confidence and reduce his anxiety. If you have a shy dog, you can help him by offering the right amount ofย exerciseย every day. He will start being more outgoing and happy.
Increases Trainability
Physical exercise gets your dog used to listening to you and keeps them in line. Burning off all that extra energy, also improves their ability to focus so they can respond to commands like sit, stay, wait or lay down.
Reduces Unwanted and Aggressive Behaviour
A lot of unwanted behaviour like loud barking, aggression, chewing or digging comes simply from boredom.ย Exercise is a great way for them to channel all that excess energy into something positive so that they will be less likely to act up.