Exercise is Important

Daily exercise is an important part of a dog’s life.

We often think of taking our dogs for a walk to burn off energy, but exercise also plays a crucial role in good mental health and quality of life.

Walks give dogs the chance to have a sniff, see and hear different things, and meet new people and dogs.

Dogs that get regular exercise are more likely to be fitter and stronger, have less mobility issues as they get older, and havefewer behaviour problems at home.

How much and what type of exercise you dog needs will vary depending on his age, breed, and health.

EVERY DOG, no matter their size or breed, should have the opportunity for daily exercise- even if they do not go far or fast.

Types of Exercise

Exercising your dog isn’t just about going for a walk around the block.

If this is all you’re doing then you and your dog are really missing out! The same walks can get boring, for you and for your dog. So mix it up!

Each place will have different smells, sounds and things for your dog to interact with, which broadens his world and stimulates his brain.

If you tend to walk your dog on the road or in the park, try going to the beach or the woods once or twice a week. Or go further afield and do a hike with your dog at the weekend.

A really simple approach is to do a more active running playing and chasing type walk in the mornings and afternoon, but go at a slower pace for your evening walk- let your dog stop to have a sniff rather than hurrying along.

Let him choose where you go- left or right? Up this street or down that one? Through the park or around? It’s his decision!

Consider what your dog likes to do and tailor your walks accordingly. Does he like to chase a ball? Socialise with other dogs? Or is he more of a stop-and-sniff sort? Do what makes him happy.

Try different types of exercise as well- let your dog have a go at swimming or agility.

They don’t have to be a superstar to enjoy it and it will work different muscles and stimulate different parts of their brain.

It’s good fun for owners as well!

Finally, get some training into your daily exercise as well -call your dog back regularly to work on recall, get him to focus on you to practice loose-lead walking, stop and wait at road crossings. Every walk is a training opportunity, for pups and adult dogs alike!

Can we do too much exercise

How much exercise is appropriate will depend on your dog’s age, breed and health.

Puppies and growing dogs should have high impact exercises like jumping, lots of running, and twisting and turning at speed limited until their bones and joints have fully developed.

Too much high impact exercise at a young age can damage developing growth plates, making joint disease and arthritis more likely later in life. Build your puppy’s exercise up slowly.

The age at which a dog’s bones and muscle are mature will vary depending on breed, with smaller dogs maturing much earlier than large breed dogs.

In some very large breed dogs their skeletons may not be fully mature until they are over two years old!

Senior dogs may need their exercise routines adjusting as well, to allow for reduced mobility, chronic disease, and deterioration in vision and hearing.

Older dogs are often better with several shorter walks throughout the day rather than one longer walk. If hearing and vision have started to cause problems for your dog then walking in familiar places,
and going at quieter times may help him cope.

If you think stiffness or age-related health changes are affecting your dog’s quality of life then speak to your vet about ways to help.

Make changes slowly

Any changes to your dog’s exercise routine should be made gradually to avoid injury.

We can’t go from couch potato to marathon finisher overnight, and neither can our dogs.

If you’ve decided that your dog needs more exercise, or if you want him to be your running or cycling buddy, then build speed and distance up slowly.

This is especially true if your dog is young, or recovering from illness or injury. If you’re unsure, then speak to your vet about a suitable plan.

Puppies

Introduce exercise for your puppy gradually and make sure that she is fully vaccinated before taking her to public spaces.

If puppies do too much high impact exercise too early it can cause long term joint disease, so keep your pup’s exercise limited at first and build it up gradually. She won’t be accompanying you on your morning run for a while yet!

While she’s growing and before she’s fully vaccinated you can use interactive toys, games, and training to provide mental stimulation and tire her brain out!

Adult Dogs

Once your dog is fully mature he can do more exercise. Make its interesting!

Don’t just go for a walk- choose activities that your dogs enjoys.

Swimming, chasing a ball, and agility are all great ways to exercise your dog and will target different muscles and parts of his brain than his usual ways will.

Senior Dogs

Older dogs often benefit from shorter but more regular walks.

Just like when he was a puppy, you can use interactive toys and brain-games to keep your golden oldie stimulated and engaged if he can’t go for long runs any longer.

What happens when we can’t go out:

Heat Waves and Illness

Sometimes there may be days or periods when your dog’s exercise has to be reduced: He may be
recovering from an injury or illness or a summer heatwave may have curtailed your usual run in the woods.

When dogs are cooped up and unable to get the exercise they need then we can see behaviour problems developing due to boredom and excess energy.

They may become down and sad, or destructive and reactive. This shows just how important exercise is to our dogs’ mental health and wellbeing: It’s not just about keeping physically fit!

At times like these you can use training and games to keep your dog engaged. Get him to work on a new trick (and practice the old ones!), use puzzle feeders or snuffle mats, play hide and seek in the house and garden… or any other game your dog enjoys.

Getting your dog to use his brain and problem-solve for 15 or twenty minutes can be as effective as
a 45 minute walk.

Also, these sorts of games use different parts of his brain, so making them part of your dog’s day to day life improves his mental well being.

Key Points

• Exercise is an essential part of your dog’s life, providing physical and mental well-being.
  
• How much exercise your dog needs will depend on his age, breed, and health.
  
• There’s more to exercise than a walk around the block. Swimming, chasing a ball, training sessions, agility courses and more will all help stimulate your dog’s mental health and improve his fitness.
  
• Walks in different places will help keep your dog (and you!) interested and give him extra mental stimulation.
  
• Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs recovering from illness and injury will need adjustments to heir exercise routines to protect their health.
  
• If your dog is unable to exercise due to his age, health or the weather you can use games, training and interactive toys at home to give his brain the stimulation it needs.
  
• Remember that exercising your dog should be fun for you too.
  
  Choose activities that bring you both joy!