This is one lucky dog who found not just one happy home but two.
{ 0 comments }
All dogs need some form of exercise if they are to maintain health and vigour and this includes mental health as well. Dogs lacking exercise tend to become bored and eventually lethargic which leads to problem behaviour and to obesity with all it’s attendant problems of heart and kidney disease joint weakness and bone thinning all of which can shorten the lives of animals just as they do for humans.
15-20 mins. exercise twice a day or 30-40 mins. once a day is sufficient for most dogs although the more active breeds such as Border Collies thrive on much more than than this as this breed is a very active working breed, bred to be active all day.
Dogs need someone to interact with when exercising, even when they have access to a large garden they will not exercise as such on their own but may instead rest and snooze or invent activities for their own amusement such as digging, which their owners see as problems.
It is not sufficient to just exercise your dog at the weekends, he will need regular exercise several times a week if not every day. If you cannot exercise him before or after work see if some other responsible member of the family can take him on daily walks or consider hiring a dog walker 2-3 times a week.
With a large garden available one of your children at least 10 years old ( remember kids and dogs safety rules) may be able to play fetch with the dog as both dogs and children usually enjoy this. However, a good walk at a brisk pace on a regular basis is the simplest and easiest way of keeping both dog and owner fit.
Some things to consider before exercising your dog.
- Health – You need to make sure that your dog is in good health before you start exercising so a visit to your veterinarian for a general check up is a good idea.
- Age – Puppies and elderly dogs should be exercised carefully and gently. Watch for signs of stress and if they appear cease exercising at once.
- Weight- Should your dog be over weight and the primary aim of exercising to reduce this weight consult a veterinarian first and get a program which will do this gently over time.
Be careful not to over do exercise. Some dogs of working breeds will run all day long and can in fact do themselves harm unless their owners restrict strenuous exercise to a reasonable limit. Remember also before getting your dog to perform any strenuous exercise to warm up gently before starting and to warm down afterward.
Take some water with you to quench thirst after warm down but do not give too much at once.
Another way of exercising is to participate in dog sports, there are many of these and many levels at which to participate.
If you are using one or more of your local dog parks be aware of potential problems and make sure you apply appropriate dog park etiquette which includes as always using those little plastic bags to clean up afterwards.
{ 0 comments }
