Canine Fitness Month – April
April is Canine Fitness Month, and it looks like the weather is turning around just in time to explore more of the great outdoors with your pup!
It is the perfect time to take initiative and be more active with your pup. From a brisk, early-morning jog through the neighborhood to an invigorating hike through the forest, there’s always something new for you and your pup to experience together. And with an appropriate diet, ample physical and mental exercise, and lots of love, you can show you’re a responsible pet parent who wants your pup to be both healthy and happy.
Now, it’s time to commit to your dog’s fitness with these simple tips:
Get Moving
Going for a walk with your pup every day can be effective in helping them stay in shape! This time together can serve a dual purpose by allowing for physical exercise, as well as giving you the opportunity to practice with training. Having your dog focus on staying close and attentive to you while walking past distractions can help reinforce their skills and boost their confidence.
As you move around, try getting them to lift their head up and check in with you. There might be a lot of exciting smells around, but show them that sticking with you means more adventures for them too!
Don’t Free-Feed Your Dog
Constant access to food is not only an open door to your dog becoming overweight, dogs can become apathetic and sometimes even lose interest in food altogether – refusing treats and becoming difficult to inspire in training.
If that doesn’t convince you, consider that free feeding also makes it difficult to gauge how much your dog is eating overall, which can cause you to miss the early signs of some serious health issues!
Be Mindful Of Treats
If your dog is still being trained, they need treats for sure! However, we don’t want the cost of a well-trained dog to be their health and fitness. So, try using your dogs’ daily amount of food as their treats throughout the day instead.
If your dog is not motivated by their kibble, you can simply limit how much kibble you’re giving them on the days you are giving more treats or find treats that also have nutritional health benefits. Read nutrition labels to determine how much of what to give your dog each day, or consult your vet if you’re looking for recommendations!
Purposeful Play Time
It’s good to play games with your dog that benefit them physically such as fetch, frisbee, or tug. These types of fun games will get you and your dog using your muscles, running, and jumping, and all without either of you realizing that you’re getting in your cardio.*Playtime is also the perfect time to mix in training by adding structure and rules to the games. Can your dog hold their down and wait for permission to chase the ball?
Visit The Vet
Take your dog in for their annual wellness visit and check with your vet about your dog’s body condition, heart health, and overall fitness. Your vet will be able to tell you if you are feeding and exercising your dog appropriately and help you get on a gameplan to make any necessary changes.
Your vet can also catch early signs of illness. Afterall, your dog’s baseline health is a critical part of your dog’s overall fitness!
Taking responsibility for our furry friends is no small feat, but it starts with small and simple acts of care like making sure they are exercising and eating the right nutrition. So grab your leash, get your pup moving and their tail wagging, and have some quality time together working toward new fitness goals.