5 Tips to Exercising Your Dog

Dogs need exercise. They don't just want it, they need it. Some breeds in particular are bred in a way that guarantees they will have enough energy to pull a sled, herd sheep, or track down animals for hours at a time.

If you have them sitting in a plush bed in your living room day after day, you can bet they'll get anxious, over excited and even overweight to the point of unhealthiness.

You have to exercise your dog and you have to do it regularly.

So, to help out with the seemingly impossible task of wearing out a dog, here are five top tips that the experts say can reduce that excess energy load and make your life a little less stressful.

   1. How Much Exercise - The amount of exercise you give your dog will depend largely on their breed and their likes. Some dogs, despite breed don't need much in the way of exercise.

Others never seem to be worn out. Also, take into consideration how hot it is outside and how tired you are. If it's 90 degrees outside, your dog isn't going to want to go for a run...neither are you.

   2. Scaling Up - If you decide your dog needs 2+ miles a day of walking to get them in shape and happy, don't just do it all at once. You and you dog both need time to adjust to the walking routine.

Add 10 minutes at a time to your walk until you reach your target distance and you'll both be much better prepared.

   3. Choosing the Right Exercise - Each breed needs different exercise. Small dogs like Chihuahuas only need a single walk a day. Other small dogs like terriers need a lot of exercise, plus playing time to stimulate their minds.

Hounds and Retrievers need long walks for the entirety of their lives. Working dogs like herders and sledders need to actually work. Run them or even add back packs with weight to help them keep moving.

   4. Play Games With Your Dog - A dog can get exercise in the house too with simple games. Wrestling with your dog is a great way to wear you both out. It will also teach them boundaries and limits in play with humans.

Make sure to train them with appropriate stop words to keep them from hurting anyone. Other games they make like include hide and seek, fetch, catch, and pulling.

   5. Running and Hiking - If you like to run or go on hikes, make sure your dog is well suited for this type of exercise. Some smaller breeds can get overheated very easily, to the point of sickness or even death (such as pugs or smaller bull dogs).

Additionally, make sure your dog is protected against ticks, heart worm and fleas before taking them into the woods. It wouldn't do you any good to get them exercised only to bring home a disease instead. A dog that has been well exercised is going to always behave better than an over active, bouncy dog with too much energy to spare. It will also make it much easier to know if your dog has other behaviour problems that can be confused for over excitement.

And best of all, these exercises will all allow you to enjoy your do in many more ways, having fun and playing games that will bring you both closer together. You can't beat solid bonding and nothing helps a dog and its owner bond better than a few hours outdoors wearing each other out.

I hope you enjoyed today's newsletter. These exercises are just a small part of your dog's overall health. Another part is the food that they eat...

I recently watched a video that showcased some shocking truths about the foods that most people feed their dogs along with some other scary details about how most dogs don't live as long as they should.

   Here's the video: http://gooddogtrainingadvice.com/dogvideo.html