You need regular exercise to be healthy, and your dog too, so why not exercise together? You might discover that Fido, Rufus or Pluto is the most enthusiastic and reliable workout partner you've ever had. However, when setting up an exercise routine for both of you, remember that your canine companion can not say "Enough is enough" or "I can not keep up" or "I'm not feeling well." So, in addition to knowing how to exercise with your dog, you also have to learn to identify the signs that you are overdoing it.
Method 1 Exercise Safely and Smartly.
1) Evaluates the fitness level of both. Your dog's ability to perform the same exercises as you will depend on your level of fitness. If you are not very fit, you will have to adapt the exercise to help you improve and, if you have health problems, talk to your veterinarian about the difficulties your dog might have to exercise. In fact, it is advisable for your veterinarian to do a thorough checkup on your dog before beginning any exercise regimen.
- Before running with you, your dog should be able to walk for 30 to 60 minutes without getting tired. A dog that can not do it will have to concentrate first on improving this base.
- A shaped dog should eventually be able to run about 5 km (3 miles) with you, gradually increasing them until you reach 10 km (6 miles). If you want to go beyond this, talk to your vet.
- Do not forget to talk to your own doctor about starting an exercise regimen, especially if you have a sedentary lifestyle, or underlying health or injury problems.
2) Choose the right moment of the day to exercise. Dogs pant to release heat, which limits their ability to cool compared to sweat in a human. Therefore, it limits the exercise time to the coolest moments of the day, either early in the morning or towards the end of the afternoon. This will also be best for you because it will help you avoid the heat and ultraviolet rays of the sun when it is at its hottest, and could best suit your schedule.
- You should always pay attention to the signs of overheating or even heat stroke in your dog. You can find more information here.
3) Properly socialize your dog. Do you know how your dog reacts to meeting other dogs? The last thing you want to know is when you decide to fight another dog while you are exercising away from home. Make sure you ignore the other dogs or behave in a civilized way in their presence.
- It is also important to know how you feel when you meet other dogs when you go out to exercise. Be sure to be able to handle situations of possible confrontations with other dogs and also to be able to handle your dog properly.
4) Teach your dog to follow you. The only way you can achieve an effective exercise routine with your dog is if he is in sync with the movements of your body. Teaching your dog the basic "follow me" command will allow you to keep it under control while on or off the leash. Take a look at the article How to teach a dog to walk with its owner for detailed instructions or try the following summary method:
- Put the leash on your dog and have it stand next to your left leg while both look in the same direction.
- Carry a bag with small treats as you will often reward your dog.
- Say the name of your dog, make eye contact with him and go two steps. If your dog walks next to you, reward him with a treat. If he does not follow you, go back and repeat this step until he walks with you.
- Repeat the two steps several times until following you becomes instinctive for your dog.
- Increase the number of steps to four and then six, rewarding your dog each time.
- If your dog gets bored or stays behind, take a break. However, if you continue with this behavior, say "Ah-ah" and your name to get your attention again. Go back to the basic steps and then recompense it.
- Practice as often as possible. Twice a day is ideal.
5) Warm up with your dog before exercising. Although some experts doubt the need for your hot dog, consider your individual personality and your level of fitness. If you have a few extra pounds, have joint problems or are already in years, it would not be a bad idea to make it hot a little while you stretch. [4] Here are some easy heating methods you can try:
- Play for a few minutes throwing things to bring them. Let your dog release some of that suppressed energy by throwing a ball or a Frisbee several times and letting it run after them. However, just do it for a few minutes not to exhaust it completely. Keep in mind that playing frisbee for half an hour in the park can work as an exercise for both.
- Try a slow and slow pace to warm up. Work to the rhythm of a quick hike starting with a casual hike. This will also give you the opportunity to practice and reinforce the "follow me" command before you leave.
6) Know the signs that you are over exercising your dog. A sporting dog will look happy and alert, not tired or restless. Sitting or lying down, staying behind or just stopping are good indicators that your dog has had enough. Do not misunderstand these signals as stubbornness in the context of exercise routines. Also, you should take any signs of lameness seriously, and a veterinarian should review it as soon as possible.
7) Hydrate yourself and reward your canine companion (and yourself) after the routine. Hydrate with cool, cool water. As a reward after a good routine, consider also offering your dog a special healthy treat that does not make him gain weight but has a great taste.
- You can offer bananas or frozen blueberries. If your dog has been outdoors on a hot day, recompense it with a piece of frozen banana or blueberry. Both have plenty of vitamins and a great taste, especially when frozen.
- Make sure your dog has drunk enough water. Let him drink as much as he wants after an exercise routine. Your dog will let you know when you feel hydrated. Add a few cubes of ice to your dog's water to keep it particularly cold or simply give it ice as a treat.
- Give her some rest. Take your dog to his favorite resting place for a nap after the exercise routine. In fact, consider taking a nap yourself as restful sleep is one of the best ways to keep at bay the extra pounds.
Method 2 Walk and run.
1) Consider your suitability for jogging, running or walking. These simple but beneficial exercises can work for both you and your dog. However, keep in mind that some breeds of dogs are more suitable for running than others. Dogs with a slender complexion, a deep chest and a long snout tend to be the most suitable for running. You should not run with a dog until its skeleton matures. If you do it before this, you could cause damage.
If jogging or jogging is too much for one of you or both, stick to walking, gradually increasing the pace as you progress. Talk to your veterinarian and your own doctor if you have concerns about their fitness levels or if you experience any discomfort.
2) Start at the right pace. You may not raise your heart rate well above your resting level if you walk to the rhythm of a normal walk. Instead of letting your dog sniff, chase, or research every shrub or tree, you should let him know that you take exercise seriously. It may take several days to establish a routine with a more intense rhythm, so be patient.
- Start walking or jogging by making eye contact with your dog and practicing the "follow me" command. After a while, your dog will associate this behavior with exercise.
- Start the routine by walking at a rapid pace. Even an initial pace of 12 minutes per mile (19 minutes per mile) will make your dog focus on the task.
- Keep the strap relatively tight, but not so tight that the dog can not move. You need a little stress on the leash, but your dog should also be free to keep a rhythm similar to yours without having to pull or drag it.
It is recommended that you stick to soft surfaces when jogging or running to protect your dog's pads.
3) Start to move a little faster. After walking approximately 1 km (0.5 miles), increase the pace until jogging or walking at 9 minutes per mile (15 minutes per mile) if your dog is in good shape. Unfortunately, if you want to run several miles at a rate of 5 minutes per mile (8 minutes per mile), you may have to leave your dog at home and just run the miles of cooling with it.
- Consider doing a "walk in intervals". This is to alternate the walk with the trot, to run backwards and the shuffle to the sides increasing the time in small amounts. This varies the pace and technique and is helpful in getting your dog to accept the exercise routine and make exercise more enjoyable.
- Playing chasing your dog in the park can be a fun way to exercise while having fun. You only have to release your dog in places where the rules allow, but if you find places where you can do it, it will be an excellent exercise for him (and for you).
4) Work until you reach longer distances and a faster step. If you just start running or walking with your dog, take it easy and gradually increase distance and speed. Observe where your dog is in relation to you. Dogs tend to prefer to be in front of you so if your dog slows down and walks or runs to your side or behind you, it's time to stop.
- During the first few weeks, just walk or jog slowly between 30 and 40 minutes. Take lots of breaks, let your dog drink lots of water and consider interval training. At first, you can jog at a rate of 9 minutes per mile (15 minutes per mile) for 5 minutes and then decrease the intensity to a leisurely walk for 10 minutes.
- After about six weeks of regular exercise, your canine companion might be ready to perform a full hour of cardiovascular exercise with enthusiasm.
Method 3 Follow the step to your dog
1) Create an exercise routine based on your dog's normal behavior. With a little creativity, you can turn ordinary dog instincts, such as bringing things around, chasing, circling, and jumping into a complete exercise routine that fits your own. The way you actually do it will depend on the type of routine and your dog's reaction to it.
- When doing sit-ups, hold a dog toy. Every time you get up, pretend to throw the toy. Your dog will think that you threw it and will go looking for it. One variation is to have a basket full of toys to throw, take one and throw it really each time you get up. You can take the toys that your dog brings back every time you get up again.
- When you reach up, hold a toy in front of your dog and lift it to the sky, stimulating him to jump to get it. This is very good for your upward stretches and it is fun for him.
2) Create an interval training track with your exercise equipment. Put your usual exercise equipment in your backyard when the weather is good. Make sure that the equipment is placed at even intervals since you will become an exercise trail for yourself and an obstacle course for your dog.
- Put the leash on your dog and use everything you have placed, such as a rope to jump, a hula hoop and elastic bands to stretch. At each interval, have your dog wait for you or, if you get bored, try to involve him in some way.
- Each time your dog runs, take it as an opportunity to speed up your exercise routine by chasing it back. A variation includes agility style obstacles made especially for your dog. In this way, he can also do special exercises.
3) Run like a dog with your dog. When running, take the natural inclination of your dog to stop and sniff at random intervals as an opportunity to improve your own agility. Being able to stop or turn immediately during a race is an excellent skill that you can develop for sports and general fitness.
- If your dog stops to sniff for a long time or to do their needs, do some dynamic stretching, scissor heels, lizards, etc.
- Of course, you have to make sure that you can control your dog with the "follow me" command and make you spend more time exercising than sniffing.
4) Turn your regular games into a real workout routine. This approach is great if you are athletic since both you and your dog will exercise in a very complete way. Playing throwing things to bring them, throwing a ball or haggling with your dog, playing tug-of-war and playing hide-and-seek with him can be a good material for an exercise routine that does not involve many difficulties in the execution.
- Like other fun options, you can try flyball, frisbee and freestyle dance.
- Playing throwing things to bring them can be especially fun for retrievers and sports races like labradors and spaniels.
- Terriers love the tug of war because they love to hold on to things. However, avoid playing with your dog until you learn to let go as soon as you order or you risk exalting it (in which case, it could become aggressive).
- Shepherds like sheep, collies and corgis can enjoy playing football with you.
- Although your dog may prefer some games over others, try to include a variety of activities to avoid boredom or exhaustion of certain muscles or joints.
Tips
- After spending time on the street, in the parks, on the beach, etc., check your dog's paws for scratches, thorns or other objects embedded in that area.
- Make sure your dog has a plaque or chip, received all of his shots, and has an ID.
- Take with you a folding plate and a bottle of water for your dog so that you can give water no matter where you go. Know the location of drinking fountains and other safe sources of water.
- It is recommended that you read some books on agility training. These will help you plan the right track for your dog. If you really take it seriously, you can dedicate yourself to it as a sport.
- Before you remove the leash from your dog, know your city ordinances regarding the leashes and consider what would happen if your dog encountered other people or animals on a crowded street.
- Younger dogs tend to be more active exercise partners than older dogs. Keep this in mind when organizing your exercise schedule.
- Consider using a soft guide belt or a harness for more control, especially if your dog is overly curious or has not yet mastered the "follow me" command.
- Have children also participate in exercise. Regular exercise is good for your health and the incentive to play with the dog at the same time will make it more fun for everyone.
- Be careful when running with your dog in the winter months. Ice can be very slippery for both.
- Make sure your dog gets along with other dogs so you do not get hurt.
Warnings
- If your dog begins to limp or howl during the exercise routine, take it to the veterinarian immediately. Dislocated knees or hips are common in some breeds and require immediate medical attention.
- Take into consideration the external temperatures. If you feel hot during the routine, consider how your dog should feel as dogs tend to overheat very quickly. Avoid strenuous exercise on hot days. When your dog shows signs of overheating, stop and put indoors to avoid heat stroke. Be careful with hot asphalt as it can cause burns on the pads and quickly overheat your dog.
- Is your dog overweight or obese? Check it out before you set up an exercise plan as you may have to adjust the amount of exercise to your dog's needs for weight loss. To find out if your dog is overweight, visit this link for more details.
- If your dog gasps a lot, he coughs, breathes with difficulty, foams at the mouth, shows signs of lethargy or pulls the strap back, lowers the rhythm or stops. Be sure to give yourself time to walk and hydrate before you start running or walking again.
- It is highly recommended that your veterinarian do a checkup on your dog before starting the exercise program.
- It is possible to play games with your dog while you are inactive. Avoid the temptation and really get involved in running and changing positions throughout the routine.
- Some breeds are not designed for exercise because they have difficulty breathing with ease, such as Pug or Boston terriers (brachycephalic or short-faced dogs). Others may have legs too short for long walks or periods of exercise, but they may perform shorter routines. For dogs like dachshunds and basset hounds, excess exercise, especially running, may exacerbate their predisposition to back problems.
