Exercise with Your Dog

Both dogs and people need exercise to fight off obesity. And just letting the dog outside doesn’t guarantee proper exercise. “Obesity is a big problem in pets, just as it is with people, and exercising helps keep the dog’s weight down,” says Kansas State veterinarian Dr. Susan Nelson.

Nelson says that exercising with your dog offers more than just physical health benefits. It reinforces the human-animal bond and provides an outlet to release energy that may otherwise develop into naughty behavior.

Dogs vary in their exercises needs, but Nelson notes that all dogs should get outside twice daily for exercise periods of between 15-60 minutes. Pet owners should go with their dogs to encourage activity.

According to Nelson, medium and large dogs can make good long-distance running partners. Smaller dogs are better suited for walking or short-distance running.

Swimming is another dog exercise recommended by Nelson. She says it’s a non-joint stressing exercise for dogs and people. It’s also perfect for hot summer months. Just as they are good fetchers, retrievers are also great swimmers.

Pet exercise precautions from Dr. Nelson:

• When throwing discs, keeps them low to help avoid joint injury from high leaps.
• To prevent early joint injury, dogs should avoid long runs until they are 12-15 months old.
• Before taking your dog out for long or intense workouts, make sure he’s in shape. Also, gradually build up to long runs.
• Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, especially in dogs with short noses, like bulldogs. Signs include thick ropy saliva, acting woozy and developing a dark red-colored tongue. Frequent water breaks are important.
• No drinking from street puddles that may be contaminated with antifreeze.
• To prevent stomach bloat or twist, don’t feed your dog an hour before or after exercise.

Do you exercise with your dog?

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