Regardless of your dog’s breed or age, all dogs need physical exercise in order to stay healthy, happy, and well-balanced.
Exercise is a huge part of a dog’s life, especially if you have a high-energy or high-drive dog. Physical activity encourages the heart and lungs to work harder and requires the use of muscles that allow for greater flexibility and coordination. Exercising or playing together promotes communication and relationship building, which gives the dog more positive experiences.
Exercise not only benefits a dog physically, it provides a different environment that challenges and stimulates the senses. Among other benefits exercise increases serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for regulating emotions. This increase promotes a feeling of calm and lowers stress both in people and in dogs.
If you have a dog that barks excessively or is destructive in your home, chances are that the prescription is more exercise. Exercise helps reduce boredom and anxiety-based behaviors in your dog such as barking and chewing, so you will be amazed by the changes you see in your dog when you implement a regular exercise routine.
The benefits of good exercise for dogs and people are well known. Exercise improves physical fitness and releases endorphins and opioids in the brain, promoting an overall feeling of wellbeing.
When my dogs first get outside, they take care of all their business before they truly put their noses down on the ground to sniff and catch up on all the neighborhood news left by other dogs, animals, or people. I would love to see the rafts of air my dogs’ smell – a rich tapestry of scent that guides their noses and bodies on sometimes erratic trails to an unseen source. This is the ‘sniffy’ part of the walk where my dogs get to explore and investigate the world around them. Once they have gained as much information as they can, it’s time for me to lead the walk. There might be more forward and uninterrupted movement than my nose-driven dogs would like, but it’s important for them to build up strength and stamina with some physical exercise. This is the way I "share" walks with my dogs, and understanding each other’s exercise needs makes walks more enjoyable for us all. - Victoria
Dogs and humans have lived side by side for thousands of years but that doesn’t mean that our homes are natural environments for our dogs. The kind of sensory stimulation that a dog particularly enjoys can’t be found in the average living room – it’s out in the open air.
The walk is the highlight of the day for most dogs
When it comes to exercise, quality is just as important as quantity. Taking the same route to the same park twice a day and letting your dog off the lead to run free in the same area becomes repetitive. Even though smells change throughout the day and there is always something new to sniff, changing the location of a walk can be invigorating. Environmental enrichment should provide both positive mental and physical experiences for you and your dog.
Exercise helps maintain muscle tone and mass and promotes healthy skeletal development. It raises a dog’s metabolic rate so that toxins are flushed out of the system more efficiently and helps the digestive system work more effectively, keeping weight down. As well as toning muscles and reducing fat, a good workout is a powerful de stressor for both dogs and humans and stimulates the production of serotonin and other powerful endorphins in the brain. These are the chemicals that give dogs and people pleasure, promoting calmness and reducing stress.
The Reward System is a group of neural structures responsible for reward-related cognition and includes desire (otherwise known as the Seeking System), pleasure (the Consummatory System), and positive reinforcement. Homeostasis is a physiological state where the internal environment is regulated in order to maintain a stable, relatively constant level of a given characteristic. Achieving this state is highly reinforcing and engages the Reward System.
The emotional system is concerned with the ultimate goal of an action. The mammalian brain contains a foraging, investigatory, curious and expectant seeking system that leads an organism to eagerly explore their environment. When this system is aroused, the animal or person feels invigorated with a feeling of anticipation and is motivated to actively seek out rewards and experiences. This is what makes walking and sniffing so exciting for dogs.
Exercise the brain
The brain is the most under-used “muscle” in pet dogs. While dogs need appropriate physical exercise, many people fail to enrich their dogs’ lives with mental and cognitive stimulation. This becomes most evident when a dog is going through adolescence, and when most people are challenged with adolescent canine behavior.
If dogs are left to their own devices, they will do what dogs love to do best. They will scavenge, hunt, roam the neighborhood, mate with other dogs, mark things that are important to them and protect things of value. These behaviors make perfect sense to dogs but are not appropriate in the human world. Lack of positive and appropriate enrichment encourages dogs to seek their stimulation elsewhere, and leads to the development of stereotypic behaviors such as incessant barking, inappropriate chewing, hyperactivity, and intense licking.
Training, exercise, food puzzles, dog sports and other activities provide physical and mental stimulation for dogs of all ages and is especially beneficial for dogs that have behavioral issues. Solving puzzles can be intrinsically rewarding. Dogs that voluntarily work on puzzle toys or other enriching activities are much more fulfilled because just seeking for something is intrinsically rewarding. Nose driven games like scent work and seeking games engage the entire cycle of the Reward System.
In Temple Grandin’s amazing book, Animals Make Us Human, she outlines how important enrichment is for all animals. “Everyone who is responsible for animals – farmers, ranchers, zookeepers, and pet owners –,” she writes, “need a set of simple, reliable guidelines for creating good mental welfare that can be applied to any animal in any situation… The rule is simple: Don’t stimulate rage, fear, and panic if you can help it. Do stimulate seeking and also play.”
Walking might sometimes be an exhausting prospect for you especially after a long day at work, but as soon as you attach the lead, put your walking boots on and step out of the door, you are not only improving you and your dog’s physical and mental fitness, you are enriching your lives together.
Top 10 tips for exercising your dog
- Take into account your dog’s age, weight, size and the temperature outside so that once exercise is underway it is not uncomfortable. Large breed dogs might find vigorous exercise puts undue pressure on their joints while brachycephalic (short nosed dogs) such as pugs and bulldogs will have difficulty breathing if the exercise is too long or vigorous.
- Dogs, like people, should build up stamina first before embarking on a five mile run, and need a warm up and cool down period before vigorous exercise, so if you are considering increasing your dog’s daily exercise, do so slowly to ensure your dog is fit enough for more active exercise.
- Be aware of the temperature. A dog is closer to the ground than you are and can heat up or a lot faster than you.
- If you exercise at night, make sure you and your dog are clearly visible to oncoming traffic. Reflective collars, leashes and dog coats are vital for safety.
- A dog’s primary sense is smell, which can be a problem if you want to run and your dog wants to stop and smell everything. Start with a fifteen minute walk for your dog so that he or she can toilet, smell and explore before you begin more vigorous exercise. It will make a run a lot more enjoyable for both of you.
- Do not run with a young puppy as this can damage growing joints and muscles and similarly avoid vigorous exercise with a senior dog. If your dog drags behind you when you run, it is probably best to leave him at home. Also do not run with your dog if she is a ‘brachycephalic’ or short-nosed breed such as an English bulldog, Pug or Pekingese. Their nasal structure makes breathing difficult and as a result puts undue pressure on their internal organs.
- There are great sports you can do with your dog including agility, canine freestyle, field training and more.
- Take plenty of water for both of you to prevent dehydration. Allow your dog frequent small drinks throughout the exercise period rather than one long drink at the end.
- Be observant for signs of fatigue and give your dog plenty of rest or cool down breaks in between.
- Doing a variety of different exercise (such as running followed by a period of swimming) allows the dog to use different muscles and prevents wear and tear from sustained use.
Exercise with your dog
A wonderful thing about dogs is that they make fantastic exercise partners. If you are looking to get into shape, what better motivation is there than a dog waiting at the door for his walk? Many dog owners choose to run, walk, or cycle with their dogs, all of which are great ways to keep you and your dog in tip-top shape.
If you prefer to stay on the sidelines and let your dog do the exercising, swimming is a great option. Swimming might be especially beneficial for dogs who need to lose weight or who have issues with their joints or muscles.
Dogs, like people, also need times when they can relax and slow down, as too much exercise can cause unwanted stress, so periods of quiet time to chew on a favorite bone or space just to sleep is important throughout the day.
Running with your dog
Follow these steps to see if running with your dog is right for both of you
In today’s time-crunched lifestyles, people are often looking for ways to combine activities, and bringing your dog along for your run might fit the bill. This will vary greatly depending on the dog, because longer-distance runs or jogs aren’t for all dogs. But for some, running might be a great way for you and your four-legged friend to exercise together.
Before getting started with a running routine, check out these tips to see if running with your dog is the right move for both of you.
Safety tips for running with your dog
- Talk to your vet before running with your dog to ensure she is healthy and is the right age for running. Too much physical exercise can damage growing bones and muscles and put undue pressure on aging bodies.
- When starting a running habit with any dog, start slowly and build endurance gradually. Just like humans, dogs need time to develop the appropriate fitness levels.
- Use a harness. Harnesses distribute pressure more evenly around your dog’s body and take pressure off her neck.
- Use a four- or six-foot leash. This will ensure your dog stays close to you while running and makes it easier for you to hold and handle the leash.
- If you run at night or in low light, use a reflective leash, collar or harness to increase visibility.
- Take water and allow your dog to drink small quantities at regular intervals rather than a large amount at the end of your run.
- Make sure your dog is happy to run with you. There is nothing worse than seeing a dog being dragged by a well-meaning runner unaware of their dog’s discomfort. If your dog doesn’t enjoy running, build time into your day for the exercise your dog does enjoy.
Things to avoid when running with your dog
- Never use a choke chain or prong collar. These collars can do a lot of damage to your dog’s neck, causing pain, discomfort and severe physical problems that result from pressure and constriction.
- Don’t let your dog pull you along. Take a little time to teach them not to pull by going to a training class or hiring a private trainer to help you. Avoid running with your dog just after she has eaten. Wait for an hour to run after a meal and once the run is over, wait another hour before you give food again. This will ensure your dog does not develop a potentially lethal condition called bloat that can occur when food mixes with too much air that enters the stomach during exercise.
- Don’t run in the heat of the day. Dogs are sensitive to heat and overheat more quickly than humans. Running in hot weather can cause heatstroke and be fatal to your dog. Also, hot pavement can injure sensitive paw pads.
Cycling with your dog
Learn if cycling is right for you and your dog
Cycling with your dog can be a great way to exercise together, especially if you have a high-energy dog who likes to run. There are several different ways to bike with your dog, and getting your dog in shape and teaching them how to run with your bike will take some time and patience. Follow these tips to determine if this is the right activity for you and your dog and if so, how to do so safely.
Tips for cycling with your dog
- Before you cycle, check with your vet to be sure your dog is healthy and is the right age for running alongside your bike. Too much physical exercise can damage growing bones and muscles and put undue pressure on aging bodies.
- Dogs with slight builds are more likely to keep up with a bike’s fast pace than large, heavy breeds. Biking is not recommended for puppies, or dogs with flat faces such as pugs or bulldogs. These dogs tend to overheat quickly and cannot move air in and out as efficiently as longer-nosed breeds. Dogs should be at least 18 months before they can safely run with a bike.
- Cycling on a softer surface such as grass is safer for your dog than running on concrete. It’s best to run your dog on soft surfaces such as grass, earthy trails, or along the sandy beach. If your only option is pavement, consider teaching your dog to walk or trot in front of or next to your bike for short distances.
- Invest in a canine bike attachment and bungee leash in order to keep you and your dog safe. Pay close attention to the surrounding environment and cycle away from busy streets.
- If your dog is new to cycling, leash walk with her next to your bicycle until she is comfortable. When he has acclimated, climb onto your bike and cycle slowly with him by your side. Don’t attempt anything too vigorous or ride on challenging terrain until your dog is confident about running as you cycle. If your dog gets nervous and pulls back, don’t pull her towards you. Go back to the level with which she was last comfortable. Feel free to use treats when conditioning your dog to the bicycle and employ a positive trainer for quick help!
- When starting any exercise habit with your dog, start slowly and build endurance gradually. Just like humans, dogs need time to develop the appropriate fitness levels, especially for the vigorous exercise required to keep up with a bike.
- Attach the leash to a body harness with padding and never your dog’s collar. Harnesses distribute pressure more evenly around your dog’s body and take pressure off her neck and throat. Always use a bungee leash when attaching your dog to a bicycle.
- Never use a choke collar, prong collar or head collar when cycling with your dog. Choke and prong collars can damage your dog’s neck and throat even when leash walking, and cause severe injury if there was a biking accident. Head collars can be useful tools for strong pullers, but could also cause injury if used when attached to a bike.
- Watch your dog to make sure she doesn’t become overtired or overheated, as keeping up with a bicycle requires going at a faster pace than most dogs are comfortable with. Pay close attention to the surrounding environment and cycle away from busy streets. Pay close attention to outside temperature and give your dog regular cool down and water breaks throughout. While cycling with your dog can be a lot of fun, some dogs just don’t get used to or want to run with a bicycle. If this is the case, find the type of exercise and outings that your dog enjoys and work those into your routines. Check out cani-hiking with your dog!
- It can be helpful to teach your dog some cues before embarking on cycling. For example, concepts like speed up, slow down, stop, turning right, turning left, and straight on or steady can be helpful. Be sure to teach these behaviors at the walk before hopping on the bike together.
If you and your dog love cycling, or you think you’d like to give it a try, check out the sport of bike-joring with your dog! This dog-powered activity is an amazing physical and mental challenge for both you and your dog at any level.
Swimming for low-impact dog exercise
Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise your dog can participate in, as it has low impact on joints while still having the benefits of aerobic exercise. Some dog sports like dock diving harness certain dogs' love of water and retrieving to create very happy, tired dogs.
Swimming is perfect for the older dog or one that is recovering from surgery or has painful joints. Working with your dog on swimming is best done under the supervision of a canine hydrotherapist that can help build up your dog’s stamina slowly and knows what type of swimming is best for your dog’s specific needs.
- If your dog is hesitant to go into the water, then going in yourself or encouraging your dog to fetch his favorite toy from the water is a good way to get him swimming.
- You might have to hold your dog in the water first so that he feels confident, then you can move on to encouraging him to swim on his own.
- Dogs with deep chests such as boxers or short nosed dogs might have difficulty staying afloat and should only swim while wearing a life jacket to support them in the water.
Bottom line
The key to a happy, healthy dog is exercise. A slow walk around the block is not going to provide your dog with the mental and physical stimulation he needs. Even the laziest of dogs can get bored and destructive without proper stimulation and exercise.
