Maintaining an Exercise Routine with Your Dog

Aside from quick potty breaks throughout the day, does your dog have a regular exercise routine? If not, it may be time to start one. Consistent activity helps your dog maintain a healthy weight along with strong bones and muscles. Exercise is also a great way to avoid obesity, which can lead to many painful risks that you don’t want your pup to go through.

How to Make Sure Your Dog Gets Enough Exercise

Age, breed, and temperament all influence the amount of exercise your dog needs. Puppies have a lot of energy to burn, but they also do better with short bursts of activity. Long, intense walks or play sessions can be hard on a puppy’s developing body.

Adult dogs can also vary widely in the amount of exercise needed. Dog breeds with sporting backgrounds require much more daily activity than breeds that were bred for companionship. Additionally, short-nosed dogs have a harder time breathing in extreme cold or heat. Senior dogs generally need less exercise and it’s a good idea for them to avoid high-impact activities.

Take Longer Walks

If you’re already walking your dog a few times a day to go potty, simply adding some time to one of those walks is a great way to slowly increase your dog’s activity level. Pay attention to their behavior on longer walks to start learning their individual activity level.

Make Regular Play Sessions a Part of Your Routine

Creating a regular play routine can be as simple as carving out time each day to play tug or fetch at home. You can plan visits to your local dog park where your pup can socialize with other dogs and wear himself out. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog.

Mental Workout with Training

Learning new commands and behaviors is a great way to keep your dog physically and mentally active. Many pet owners think of training as something only useful for puppies, but consistent good behavior is the product of consistent training. Adult dogs need the lessons of early training reinforced on a regular basis, and they also benefit from the mental stimulation that comes with learning new commands.

Regardless of the activities you choose to do with your pooch, creating and maintaining a regular exercise routine is vital to ensuring a healthy and happy pup.

What are your favorite exercise routines to do with your dog? We would love to hear from you!