If you want your dog to live a long and healthy life, and you want to ensure that it does not become the victim of diseases such as obesity and weak muscles, and joints, you will have to make your puppy or dog exercise. You also need to make sure that your dog is getting the right kind of exercise, which is tailored for it, and is also actually benefiting it.
Customized Training for Your Dog
Age-wise, puppies can exercise more but can only do so in short bursts, and they cannot work out for long periods. Senior dogs, on the other hand, cannot do strenuous exercises and can only work out in small amounts. Puppies who are three to six months old have 16,221 Bark Points of daily activity, while adult dogs of 3 years old have just 8,163 Bark Points, which is almost half that of the pups. Smaller dogs should not even engage in workouts that are intense, such as hiking and jogging, as such activities can interfere with their growth.
Breed is also very important because some dogs are naturally active and love to play and run around, while others like to spend their time lounging and relaxing and some dogs even start to have breathing problems if they are exerted too much, and can also experience exhaustion because of the heat. There are also some health conditions, such as arthritis, obesity, and heart and respiratory diseases, that your dog may have, which come in the way of how much they can exercise. Therefore, you should only make your dog exercise as much as their bodies allow and not make them put in so much effort that they fall sick or injure themselves. Remember that dogs are also individuals who need attention that is specific to them only.
Different Ways to Exercise Your Dog
There are many ways in which you can make your dog exercise, such as going for walks, swimming, trekking, and playing ball, and usually, walking is part of a dog’s everyday routine, as they should be going for brisk walks once or twice every day. It helps them burn off any excess energy that they have and is also great for their mental health. Swimming is also another great exercise as it is good for their joints, and because dogs love water. You can also take your dog trekking, but make sure that the path is walkable for your dog and that it is not too steep. You can also play with your dogs, like you can teach them how to retrieve something that you throw or have a tug-of-war, which is why you should purchase dog-friendly toys. Pet stores in Encinitas, have toys that your dogs can play with and are also safe and do not have choking hazards.
Mix It Up
You can start training your dog by starting with short sessions so that the dog can get used to the fatigue and learn endurance. You should keep the sessions short, for 15-20 minutes, and then slowly increase the time for exercise. You should also experiment with your dog on what activity it likes. Some dogs like to play fetch, while others like to go for runs or play with balls or go exploring in new environments. You should make your dog exercise by making them do the activity they like best. You can also engage them mentally by playing games that will bring out their problem-solving skills, as such skills will complement their physical skills and help them participate in the activities better. Moreover, you should allow your dog to rest and not overexert them as they need their time to recover.
Conclusion
Your dog does need daily exercise, but the routine is specific to it. Just like humans, everything does not suit dogs, too. You will have to research and experiment with what suits your dog best. You can think of different types of exercises and different times, while also keeping the breed and age of your dog to create the perfect routine for them.
