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.
Every dog is different and there also are many differences among breeds. Some dogs have more energy and stamina than others. In addition, some dogs might have age-related health issues or perhaps other issues that might prevent them from highly strenuous activities. For these more sedentary dogs, an easy walk every day is a good idea. If you get tired of the same walk every day, consider going to a different park or neighborhood occasionally to mix it up a bit. If it's too hot outside or too cold for your furry pal, you might consider investing in a dog treadmill. Even a dog with arthritis will benefit from a short, easy walk every day. It can be difficult, but movement actually can reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
For a dog with more stamina and energy, running can be a fun activity that the two of you can do together. You can even bike alongside your dog if he or she can keep up with the pace and is well-trained. Some dogs, such as those with short legs, probably shouldn't be running but they might have the stamina for a good long walk. Just talk to your vet and look for clues from your dog as to whether he or she has had enough exercise.
Walking and running are obvious exercise choices, but dogs often appreciate more cerebral types of activities. Certainly a good regimen of exercise can keep a pet happy and relieve boredom, but you also can have some fun, structured play time or even independent play activities set up for your pet. For instance, throwing a toy and having your dog fetch is fun for them. You also can play with tug toys or provide toys upon which your dog can chew. Most dogs need to chew, so providing this option is a way to keep them from chewing on your furnishings. In addition, there are fun toys that hold treats and dogs must work to get the treats out, and this can keep them busy for quite awhile.
Dogs love running on agility courses and dog agility provides plenty of interesting exercise for your pet. Not only will your dog have a great time, owners enjoy it as well. You might think it's just for larger dogs such as shepherds, but most breeds will enjoy some level of agility training. For a small-sized animal, simply use mini agility equipment so that they are safe and obstacles are manageable. Competitions are fun, as well, but you don't have to compete in order to get a lot out of dog agility training.
Dogs who work on agility equipment not only have a great time, they also tend to improve their overall behavior. This is because with challenging, interesting exercise, dogs are less like to dig, bark, scratch or exhibit other irksome behavior, and they will be learning how to follow directions and this also increases their level of obedience. To get started with agility, check out the agility equipment available from Carlson Agility. They have all the agility equipment you will need, both full-size and miniature as well as offering helpful tips and advice.
Every dog is different and there also are many differences among breeds. Some dogs have more energy and stamina than others. In addition, some dogs might have age-related health issues or perhaps other issues that might prevent them from highly strenuous activities. For these more sedentary dogs, an easy walk every day is a good idea. If you get tired of the same walk every day, consider going to a different park or neighborhood occasionally to mix it up a bit. If it's too hot outside or too cold for your furry pal, you might consider investing in a dog treadmill. Even a dog with arthritis will benefit from a short, easy walk every day. It can be difficult, but movement actually can reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
For a dog with more stamina and energy, running can be a fun activity that the two of you can do together. You can even bike alongside your dog if he or she can keep up with the pace and is well-trained. Some dogs, such as those with short legs, probably shouldn't be running but they might have the stamina for a good long walk. Just talk to your vet and look for clues from your dog as to whether he or she has had enough exercise.
Walking and running are obvious exercise choices, but dogs often appreciate more cerebral types of activities. Certainly a good regimen of exercise can keep a pet happy and relieve boredom, but you also can have some fun, structured play time or even independent play activities set up for your pet. For instance, throwing a toy and having your dog fetch is fun for them. You also can play with tug toys or provide toys upon which your dog can chew. Most dogs need to chew, so providing this option is a way to keep them from chewing on your furnishings. In addition, there are fun toys that hold treats and dogs must work to get the treats out, and this can keep them busy for quite awhile.
Dogs love running on agility courses and dog agility provides plenty of interesting exercise for your pet. Not only will your dog have a great time, owners enjoy it as well. You might think it's just for larger dogs such as shepherds, but most breeds will enjoy some level of agility training. For a small-sized animal, simply use mini agility equipment so that they are safe and obstacles are manageable. Competitions are fun, as well, but you don't have to compete in order to get a lot out of dog agility training.
Dogs who work on agility equipment not only have a great time, they also tend to improve their overall behavior. This is because with challenging, interesting exercise, dogs are less like to dig, bark, scratch or exhibit other irksome behavior, and they will be learning how to follow directions and this also increases their level of obedience. To get started with agility, check out the agility equipment available from Carlson Agility. They have all the agility equipment you will need, both full-size and miniature as well as offering helpful tips and advice.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To discover an agility equipment for dogs, or to learn more about other equipment such as dog agility tunnels, please go to the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
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