Exercising your dog


Ease him into it

For the purpose of developing an exercise plan, ask your vet to provide a physical exam of your dog that includes a look at his cardiac and circulatory systems, and rules out any skeletal or joint disorders. Based on the test results, your dog's size, his breed and age, your vet can advise how much activity your dog needs.

While waiting for test results, ease your dog into exercise that's appropriate for his current activity level. Take him for a moderately paced walk or for a swim. Observe how active he is and how long he can sustain higher activity levels for. Be sure to watch for any unusual signs of fatigue or trouble breathing. If he wants to stop, by all means, let him.
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Consider his size and breed

If you have a small dog, he may be getting all the exercise he needs just by scampering around the house and going on moderate walks. Larger dogs, on the other hand, often will just hang out inside. Sometimes they move around the house with their owners, sometimes they don't. But the house is usually too small for them to get most of the exercise they need.

Something else to consider is what your dog was bred to do. Is he a lap dog, bred to sit around and look pretty all day? Or is he a hunter or retriever who would rather be outside staking out a squirrel or rabbit?

Personal training 101

Once you have the "go-ahead" from your vet to start a new exercise routine, start him off with gradual conditioning, just as you'd do for yourself. This is far better for him than just jumping into a strenuous program. Dogs need to strengthen their muscles, joints, cardiac systems and even their footpads.

There are a few reasons why your adult dog loves getting outside. First, to "correspond" with other dogs, by both sniffing and marking hydrants, trees, newspaper boxes etc. Second, to actually meet his friends face-to-face or nose-to-butt�and third, to have some serious chase-time.

In order to let him enjoy all aspects of being outdoors, cross-train him. First, warm him up with a slow-paced casual "social" walk. Then, at the dog park, let him frolic and connect with his pals. Once he gets into high gear, pull out the Frisbee or ball and give him a good work-out playing fetch or jogging with him around the park. Be sure to follow your vet's recommendations on how long your dog should sustain high-impact activity. Then give him a final "cool-down" with a few final sniffs on the return home.

Older "athletes"

If your adopted dog is older, you need to encourage him to get up and go out every day. Don't push him too hard, though. Walking is better than running. But also don't let him get fat. Just like with humans, as your dog gets older, his body slows down, and he'll be more apt to put on weight. Moderate exercise will help stave off joint problems and ease arthritis, as well.

Easing your adopted dog into a suitable exercise plan, no matter what his age, not only improves his overall health, it can also help his temperament, too. The phrase "a good dog is a tired dog" is a truism, especially when first getting to know your newly adopted dog. After all, consistent exercise can help your dog release stress as he adjusts to his new living situation.
source www.pedigree.com

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