Work Out With Your Dog

The amount of daily physical activity your dog needs depends on her age, breed and current state of health. However, every dog requires and thrives on at least 30 minutes of vigorous daily exercise. Practicing dog training cues with your dog can help satisfy some of this daily requirement, but you’ll still need to supplement it with some light exercise.

Benefits of Exercising With Your Dog

If you’re an active person with an established exercise regimen, try incorporating your dog’s exercise into your own routine. Involving your pet will brighten up her day. Not only will she be getting extra time to spend with you, but she’ll also get to socialize, become more focused, sharpen her training skills and maintain her fitness and health.

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Dog Exercising Tips

When exercising with your dog, there are several things to keep in mind. First of all, make sure your dog is properly hydrated and has access to a sufficient amount of water during and after exercising. Secondly, if running on concrete or other rough surfaces, check the pads of her feet frequently for cuts and scrapes.

Change up the surfaces on which you walk or run. Constant running on concrete can be hard on a dog’s joints and bones. Your dog trainer can give you advice on suitable, safe surfaces for your dog to run on. Additionally, don’t let your dog’s training skills slack. She should still obey all of her obedience cues while exercising.

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Also, make sure to follow all leash laws at all times. Allowing your dog to run off-leash can not only earn you a ticket, but it could also cause her to dash out into the street or up to another less friendly dog. Socializing with other dogs should be done in a controlled environment. Finally, make sure you start off slowly and gradually build up the distance you run.

Workout Suggestions

Not all dogs will enjoy all activities so determine the best workout routine for both you and your canine. Here are some ideas for working out with your dog.

• • Walking or running
  • Hiking
  • Mountain biking
  • Rollerblading
  • Playing fetch
  • Playing hide-and-seek

Both you and your canine companion will benefit from brisk activities like these. May you and your dog have many enjoyable, healthy outings together!

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