Exercising With Your Dog
By Rita Hookstead

What better than to enjoy the great outdoors when the weather is nice. When you think about this winter we just survived, you may quickly be reminded about many days indoors due to school closings and extreme weather changes. The harsh weather conditions tend to make it very difficult to get outside to exercise. But, now that spring has sprung, we can truly take advantage of the beautiful weather and spend some quality time getting some exercise outdoors. As important as it is to get daily exercise for ourselves, it is equally important for our dogs to get daily exercise.

It has been shown, just as in humans, that daily exercise helps the joints, heart and overall health of your pet. It also is a great way to expend extra energy so that your dog can rest easier at night and sleep better. Daily exercise can vary depending on the age and general well-being of your dog. No matter how old your dog is, healthy, moderate exercise is great.

When deciding how much exercise and what type of activities your dog should get during the day there are several key factors which need to be looked at: health of your dog, safe activities, temperatures outdoors, and what constitutes exercising in moderation. If you have never exercised your dog and you are now ready to enjoy the outdoors, it is imperative that you make sure your dog is healthy enough to take on the activities you are looking at enjoying. Dogs with joint concerns, weight issues, or are older, should have limitations on just how much exercise they should be getting. Healthier dogs may be able to take on activities for longer periods of time. Whether your dog is older and has health concerns, or they are in fine health, the key to any exercise program is moderation, moderation, moderation. (This is true for people also).

Even an avid runner wouldn't start out an exercise program with a 20 mile run. They will VERY slowly build miles through their training program until their bodies have adjusted to the amount of running they are doing on a regular basis. This thought process is the same for dogs. If your dog has never had any regular exercise, activities such as a short walk maybe what you want to start out with. We wouldn't recommend you walk too far so you don't stress your dog. You can even begin by throwing a tennis ball, or a small toy just a short distance. If you have a dog which has always been active then you will be able to walk further and throw for longer periods of time. Either way, monitor how much you are doing each day and how your dog is reacting. Do a little more each day to prevent injury and to keep your dog healthy.

There are a couple of key items to keep in mind when providing activities for your dog(s). The first, is find a safe activity. Some safe activities include walking, retrieving tennis balls or a favorite toy, or going for a run (for those dogs which regularly run with their owners) to name just a few. Please keep in mind if your pet's activity is retrieving, do not throw sticks. Many dogs have ended up at the vet with them stuck in their mouths our mouths being cut from broken stems and branches. Stay with a soft toy or tennis ball.

Lastly, it is imperative that you pay very close attention to the temperatures outside when beginning any activity. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Unlike humans, they do not the ability to regulate their body temperatures. "Under ideal conditions, consider the top temperature for working a dog (or allowing a dog to play hard) to be about 85° F (29.4°C). If the dog is young, old, black, long-haired, short-muzzled, not in perfect health, not acclimated to the outdoors, etc., 85° F would be too high. That would also be too high when humidity is also high. Note that this situation can easily exist inside a house that is not air-conditioned. Some dogs are dependent upon air conditioning for their very survival in summer." (Kathy Diamond Davis: The Canine Behavior Series)

Spending time together outdoors with your pet is a great opportunity for both you and your dog to get exercise. Beginning any exercise regimen, whether for yourself, or your pet, should be done in moderation. Exercising together and building activities together creates a wonderful bonding experience between you and your dog. Plus, not only will your dog be more rested at night, so will you. So, enjoy the outdoors, play safe, and keep all exercise in moderation.

If you are looking for further information regarding exercise and yourdog, please visit veterinarypartner.com

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These articles are for your educational enjoyment. They may not be republished without the permission of Marsh View Veterinary Clinic. Please contact us at 920-326-3020 or 920-326-5738 if you have any questions.