Some dogs enjoy spending much of their time lazing on a large cushion while others seem to have endless amounts of energy. For every type of dog, however, some exercise is needed and beneficial. While it's important to speak with your vet about the amount and type of exercise your dog can handle, here are a few examples of what your dog might need and enjoy.
Of course, just as people prefer a variety of activities, so do our dogs, and different breeds are built to be able handle different levels of exercise. Some dogs and breeds simply have more stamina than others. In addition, older dogs or dogs with health problems might need to take things a bit easier, perhaps an easy walk in the morning and evening. You can also make the walk more interesting for both of you by driving to a different neighborhood park or nature area once in awhile. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor exercise, there are doggie treadmills that can be helpful even for dogs with arthritis. Physical exercise actually can alleviate the discomfort of arthritis, and doctors often recommend that pets have daily walks.
Of course, other dogs are in great health and have tons of energy and they need a bit more strenuous activity. If you love to run or jog, your dog might also benefit from this exercise. Some people even take their dog along for a bike ride, and certain breeds are definitely fond of this activity. If you have a pet such as a Bassett hound or a dachshund, running and biking are probably not wise, as these pets have short legs. Still, they love to go on walks and scamper about. Some breeds will keep going and going, even when they need to stop, so be sure to provide water and don't overdo the exercise.
Some dogs can become bored quite easily, so for many animals it is wise to schedule some interesting play activities in addition to daily walks or runs. Dogs that are bored can become quite destructive and unhappy, so investing in some different types of toys is a good idea. You can play together with the toys and also provide toys that the dog can use by himself, such as a chew toy or a toy that holds a treat and the dog must figure out a way to get the treat out.
One activity that is fun for everyone and provides plenty of exercise is dog agility. Even the small breeds can get in on the fun because you can purchase smaller versions of all types of agility equipment. Many dogs love agility because it mimics instinctive behavior such as running after prey in the wild. As they jump and leap and crawl through tunnels, it's just like the ancient times when they would scamper after their food. While you might think agility training is just for dogs that are going to compete, this is definitely not the case. Most dogs will enjoy and benefit from training, even if they never enter a contest.
Obviously, agility training provides a good amount of exercise, but this type of training simulates many instinctual behaviors such as chasing after prey. Dogs who train using agility equipment often exhibit fewer behavior issues, and certainly agility training reinforces behavior training and improves upon all the basic skills you have taught them. So through agility training, you will have a happier, healthier and better behaved canine companion. To get going, take a look at the agility equipment selection at Carlson Agility. They sell all types of agility obstacles, such as a-frames, dog walks, pause tables, jumps, tunnels, see-saws and weave poles. They even sell all of the contact equipment in small sizes, perfect for puppies and smaller dogs.
Of course, just as people prefer a variety of activities, so do our dogs, and different breeds are built to be able handle different levels of exercise. Some dogs and breeds simply have more stamina than others. In addition, older dogs or dogs with health problems might need to take things a bit easier, perhaps an easy walk in the morning and evening. You can also make the walk more interesting for both of you by driving to a different neighborhood park or nature area once in awhile. If the weather is not conducive to outdoor exercise, there are doggie treadmills that can be helpful even for dogs with arthritis. Physical exercise actually can alleviate the discomfort of arthritis, and doctors often recommend that pets have daily walks.
Of course, other dogs are in great health and have tons of energy and they need a bit more strenuous activity. If you love to run or jog, your dog might also benefit from this exercise. Some people even take their dog along for a bike ride, and certain breeds are definitely fond of this activity. If you have a pet such as a Bassett hound or a dachshund, running and biking are probably not wise, as these pets have short legs. Still, they love to go on walks and scamper about. Some breeds will keep going and going, even when they need to stop, so be sure to provide water and don't overdo the exercise.
Some dogs can become bored quite easily, so for many animals it is wise to schedule some interesting play activities in addition to daily walks or runs. Dogs that are bored can become quite destructive and unhappy, so investing in some different types of toys is a good idea. You can play together with the toys and also provide toys that the dog can use by himself, such as a chew toy or a toy that holds a treat and the dog must figure out a way to get the treat out.
One activity that is fun for everyone and provides plenty of exercise is dog agility. Even the small breeds can get in on the fun because you can purchase smaller versions of all types of agility equipment. Many dogs love agility because it mimics instinctive behavior such as running after prey in the wild. As they jump and leap and crawl through tunnels, it's just like the ancient times when they would scamper after their food. While you might think agility training is just for dogs that are going to compete, this is definitely not the case. Most dogs will enjoy and benefit from training, even if they never enter a contest.
Obviously, agility training provides a good amount of exercise, but this type of training simulates many instinctual behaviors such as chasing after prey. Dogs who train using agility equipment often exhibit fewer behavior issues, and certainly agility training reinforces behavior training and improves upon all the basic skills you have taught them. So through agility training, you will have a happier, healthier and better behaved canine companion. To get going, take a look at the agility equipment selection at Carlson Agility. They sell all types of agility obstacles, such as a-frames, dog walks, pause tables, jumps, tunnels, see-saws and weave poles. They even sell all of the contact equipment in small sizes, perfect for puppies and smaller dogs.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To discover an agility equipment for dogs, or to know more about other equipment such as dog agility tunnels, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com site now.
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