Exercise, exercise, exercise!

The most important aspects of creating a well-balanced dog are a great diet, love, discipline, and exercise.  Without exercise, your dog will build up energy, boredom, and frustration, and, in most cases, that excess energy will be taken out on your house, other dogs, or even people.  Dogs with a lack of exercise will try your patience.  It’s so important to develop a proper exercise routine.

 

The amount of exercise your dog should get is completely dependent on its breed.  For references to a few popular dog breeds, check out my post on Choosing the Right Breed for You.  Always check with your vet before starting an exercise routine.

 

Start small.  Build up your dog’s endurance by starting with 15 to 30 minutes of moderate exercise twice a day.  This could be anything from a game of fetch, to jogging, to teaching your dog a sport, such as agility.

 

Exercise is best when it involves the mind, so I highly recommend finding a sporting club or activity to join.  There are tons of great sports, like flyball, agility, tracking, hunting, Frisbee discs, dancing, and schutzhund.  Sports like this force your dog to think, as well as get physical.

 

Hiking, biking, back packing, and swimming are also great ways to exercise your dog.  Giving your dog a back pack while walking or running not only tires your dog physically, but it also gives your dog a job, which is a mental exercise.  My large breed dogs wear packs whenever they leave the house. 

 

With a back pack, just as you would with starting an exercise regimen, start small.  When I introduce a back pack, I put it on them stuffed with plastic bags.  This gets them used to the idea that they are carrying something important, because after all, what could be more important than the bags you need to clean up after your pet?  It is also light weight, so it won’t put any added stress until the dog builds up muscle. 

 

After a couple of days, add another object (a bag of treats works well).  Once your dog is accustomed to carrying the pack, add weight gradually over the course of a few months.  Most breeds of dogs can carry up to a third of their body weight.  Never put a pack on a dog whose body isn’t fully developed. 

 

Whichever activity you decide to add to your life with dogs, both you and your partner will benefit.  Exercise results in a calmer disposition, an outlet for energy, and a closer bond.  Adventure is waiting.