Practical Tips for Dog Exercises

Dog owners need to provide their dogs with regular exercise. A dog should have enough exercise to keep the animal fit and healthy. Furthermore, exercise helps to improve a dog’s behavior. Dogs that do not receive enough exercise often become restless when bored. This can lead to the animal being destructive.

Therefore, aside from food, shelter, affection, and the occasional bath, a dog should be given sufficient physical activity. It keeps the dog fit, healthy and well-behaved (in most cases).

Nevertheless, exercise can be detrimental to a dog’s health if done incorrectly. There is always the chance for strain or injury. Also, any strenuous physical activity can exacerbate the destruction of cartilage in the joints. This can lead to the early development of dog arthritis. To avoid this, here are some dog exercise tips any dog owner can follow:

1. Exercise in moderation. Dog owners should know when their dog is “dog tired.” Pushing your dog to its limits defeats the purpose of exercise. The goal here is to keep the dog active, not to break records in dog sports.

2. Choose an exercise that is appropriate for your dog. If you are unsure, it would be best to consult your vet before you adopt an exercise for your pet. The dog’s breed, size, age and overall health condition should be considered. 

3. Enrol your dog in obedience classes. These classes provide a healthy amount of physical activity. It also sharpens a dog’s mind. Another advantage is that the interaction with other people and other dogs help transform the animal into a well-adjusted dog. You can take it up a notch by enrolling in a canine agility class. 

4. You do not need to spend a lot of money on exercise for your dog. If you do not have the change to spare for obedience classes, then there are many dog exercises that you can do for free. Walking your dog is a good example. Another example is retrieving. Just be careful with the object or toy used for fetching. Dog owners are advised not to use heavy objects or items that could cause choking hazards. It is also advisable not to throw the toy or object too high. The dog can get injured when the animal jumps and lands on its hind legs.

5. Have fun. Exercise should be viewed as an opportunity to bond with your pet. Exercise, ideally, should strengthen the dog’s body and sharpen the animal’s mind; but above all else, it should be fun.