DoggedHealth

When talking about exercise for your dog, you need to think about both physical exercise and mental exercise. In generations past, your dog would likely have had everyday jobs that worked both his body and his mind. Today, your dog probably is not needed to help you catch food, free your property from rodents, guide boats to shore or help deliver milk bottles, but his mind and body still need to be put to some fun use. Without enough physical and mental stimulation, your dog will likely be overweight, bored, frustrated, and even destructive. A happy and healthy dog is a dog who gets to use his brawn AND his brain every day.

The kind and duration of physical exercise you choose for your dog should suit your dog’s age, weight, breed, health conditions, and, of course, his personality. For example, a puppy, especially, a large breed puppy, should not be encouraged to do any exercise that taxes bones, muscles or ligaments until he is about 18 months of age. In addition, your puppy should play on surfaces such as grass or rubber mats rather than on asphalt which is more jarring. Over-exercising a puppy before he is fully developed or having him run around on hard surfaces, can lead to a variety of physical problems. Similarly, an elderly dog cannot be exercised with same amount of vigor that his younger self could handle, nor can an obese dog be expected to tolerate the same level of exercise as a fit dog. And, of course, you can’t expect your thin-coated Greyhound to go on a day-long cross-country snow trek without freezing, nor will your Saint Bernard mix do well exercising on a hot beach. Also, if your dog has a health condition, your veterinarian will likely impose specific guidelines and constraints for exercise. In all cases, before embarking on an exercise program, use commonsense and check with your veterinarian for guidelines for your specific dog. And remember, to start slow and work your way up gradually to more and more exercise. Just like you, your dog needs time and practice to build strength and stamina.

Once you have a good idea of any age, weight, health, or breed-related limitations your dog might have, you can embark on an appropriate physical exercise plan for him. Generally about 60 minutes each day should be sufficient for most adult dogs – you can do something fun with him for thirty minutes each morning before work and thirty minutes again after work. However, if it fits in your schedule, younger dogs generally do better with exercise front-loaded early in the day.

Physical exercise should be an enjoyable and bonding experience for you and your dog. Think about what he likes to do most and tailor your exercise to match his tastes. Does your dog always bring you a tennis ball when you are on the couch watching t.v.? Perhaps he would love nothing more than a vigorous game of fetch for at least thirty minutes each day. Or, if you are soccer fan, maybe try using a bigger ball and turn fetch into a soccer game with your dog trying to take the ball away as you dribble past him. Does he love to run in circles in the yard and maybe even in the apartment? Maybe you have the ultimate jogging companion (just remember not to make your dog jar his body by running on pavement) or a good hiking partner if you enjoy getting out into nature. Is your dog just a couch potato? Still, you should at least take him for a good, brisk and long walk each day.

If you do a bit of Internet research or ask around in the neighborhood, chances are you will find a bunch of places – and even organized activities – geared towards physical exercise for your dog such as community dog parks, agility, disc dog, and tracking competitions.

You should complement your dog’s physical exercise with mental exercises to challenge his mind. A simple and essential way to keep his mind in shape is manners training. After you’ve mastered the basics like sit, down, come, and stay, you can teach him tricks like roll over or shaking his paw. Just a short time of reviewing his obedience skills or learning new tricks will give his mind a bit of a workout. You can also enroll your dog in formal obedience competitions or see if he can pass the Canine Good Citizen Test.

There are also a variety of toys and games that help stimulate his brain. For example, you can stuff a hollow, indestructible toy with treats. Your dog will have to work to figure out how to remove the treats. You can also play hide-and-seek around the house with your dog. Start off easy, hiding someplace your dog will surely find you, and call his name. When he locates you, give him tons of praise and maybe even a treat. As he learns the game and becomes more adept, you can hide in harder places.

Another simple game that works your dog’s mind (and nose) is the shell game. Take three cups or bowls. Put them upside down on the floor and put treats under one of them. Move them around and have your dog try to figure out which cup or bowl is hiding the treats. If he guesses correctly, he wins the treat.

Finally, depending on your dog’s personality, you might want to get your dog involved in therapy work. There are a variety of local and national organizations that evaluate, train, and then organize visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and physical rehabilitation centers where you and your dog can visit with patients. It is amazing and truly touching to see how interacting with your dog can bring such joy to other people.