Many dogs love to be active and enjoy running around as much as possible. However, there are some dogs that just don’t like to be active. If you have a lazy dog, it is important to try your best to motivate them. Not only will it help them stay happier, but it is also very important for their health and weight. Overweight dogs are at a higher risk for health issues and one way to keep the pounds off is exercise. For dogs that don’t love working out, you need to make sure you’re easing into exercise. Here is a plan for getting your dog off the couch and shedding some pounds.
Getting Started
Start your workouts with your pup by warming up. To avoid injury, you need to warm up their muscles and tissues. If you’re doing anything intense, start with a 5 or 10 minute walk. By the end, you can start lightly jogging with your dog. On the first day of your dog’s new workout plan, you just want to motivate them to get moving. Make it a fun and entertaining activity. Head to your backyard or somewhere near by for a game of fetch or something similar. You don’t want to tire the out so keep it casual and fun.
On the next day, head to a dog park. Don’t force your dog into anything too strenuous. You will start to notice what your dog is comfortable doing and what level they are at. Take 30 minutes at the park to really let your dog get more comfortable moving around and being active. Be sure to always have water and to take breaks. You want to make sure they are staying safe and not overexerting.
Continue to Challenge and Improve
Another way to keep challenge your pup is to make their meals a challenge. Whether you do this with a Kong toy or another feeder toy. This will help your dog burn off some calories while they work for their food. You can also hide their food around the house, causing them to sniff it out and also be challenged to find their food.
Other Fun Exercising
Another exciting activity that will get your dog exercise is going to a beach or on a hike. Your pup will get to be in a new environment that will challenging them in new ways. Their heart rate will get pumping, but they’ll also be excited by their new surroundings. The last thing to try at the end of your week is a run with your pup. Make sure you warm up your dog and be aware of their joints. Start slow and build up to longer runs. Don’t push them too hard, as it will probably be a challenging if they haven’t run at all.
Keep repeating these exercises and build your dog’s stamina. Keep increasing your intensity and work your dog up to harder, longer workouts. Be consistent and remember not to push your dog too hard. Overtime your lazy dog will start to love activity more and more everyday!