“Exercising right is the right exercise.”
No pet owner must be giving
a pass on exercising their pets. We might not be able to walk them sometimes
but that’s rare. Isn’t it? This is no
new information that dogs must get enough physical as well as mental exercise
for stimulation. However, a very few dog owners may know things that they
should consider before giving the dog a tough time with workout routine. Like
the above written quote says, it may not benefit your pooch if it is not done
right. So, here are a few things to keep in mind before exercising your furry
pal:
· Underlying health issues can be deceiving. It is necessary to
get your pooch checked for them by a vet and then design the exercise routine.
Weak lungs may get weaker if you stress on heavy exercises. Thus check your
dog’s health status and then plan workout sessions for your furry friends.
· Narrow bodied breeds having deep chests and are prone to
bloat. Some of the examples are German shepherd, Doberman, Pinscher and Great
Danes. These breeds should not be exercised right after the meals because of
their bloating problems.
· If you own two different breeds, say one is large and the
other is a short legged one. The exercising needs of both would be different as
the breeds with short legs may not need walks as long as the larger breed needs.
So make different walking and working out schedules for different breeds.
· Brachycephalic breeds such as pugs, Bull dogs, Boston
terriers, Pekingese, etc. have short muzzles and noses. Because of this their
breathing passages and throat are comparatively smaller making it difficult for
them to breath normally after a heavy workout. It is recommended to take
several breaks when you walk, run or play with any of these breeds.
· It is recommended not to let your young pups that are not
fully developed to run or jog. Sustained jogging can be bad for the large
breeds too as they are the most vulnerable for Arthritis and hip dysplasia. The
jog may weaken their bones and joints at a faster pace.
· There are two kinds of hounds, sight hounds and scent hounds.
Sight hounds like greyhounds and whippets are not built for long sprints. They
prefer short sprints and runs. Scent hounds have higher exercising needs and
prefer longer sprints.
·
If you are having a herding breed and keeping him indoors for
most of the time then you are doing it wrong. Herding and sporting breeds need
maximum exercising. 60-90 minutes of intense workout session or gaming is a
must for these breeds. Apart from the physical exercises, you may also need to
keep them busy mentally as they may get bored easily which may affect their
health.
So, were you doing it
correct with your pooch? If yes then it’s awesome, and if not then try to make
the needed changes in your pooch’s exercising sessions to keep him healthy and
happy.
