Thinking of getting into shape in 2022 and wondering if your dog could join in too? The good news is, there are many different ways you can exercise your dog and get them feeling healthier and stronger!
Table of contents
- Why is my pet overweight?
- Dog walkers can be a great addition to your dog’s life.
- Other ways to get moving
- There are also physiotherapists working in the canine world.
- But don’t forget to get the diet right, too.
- Measuring your dog’s progress is important.
- Weight management is important for many reasons.
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Why is my pet overweight?
The 2 reasons your pet may be overweight include them eating too much food and/or them not getting enough exercise, most commonly it is a mixture of the two. In order to get your dog fit, you need them to have a good body condition. It is much more difficult for them to move around freely if they are overweight. So losing weight may be the first thing that needs to happen on their fitness journey.
Dog walkers can be a great addition to your dog’s life.
Having a dog walker means your pet is definitely going to get a walk which you may not be able to fit in due to other commitments. You can select different lengths of walk. If it is a group walk, your dog may socialise and play with other dogs, increasing their calorie burn during the same amount of time. Dog walkers are a great choice if you feel you do not have the time to walk your dog enough.
Doggy day care is a great way to increase the energy output of your dog; especially if your dog loves playing with others. At doggy day care, the dogs play freely and have access to lots of toys. This means they often get carried away chasing each other or playing tug of war. These games require muscular strength and endurance, helping to develop different aspects of fitness.
Using dog toys whilst your pet is outdoors, and exercising will encourage movement and therefore increase their calorie burn. You can encourage other people to play with your pet too. Any movement at all is better than no movement and most dogs will move when stimulated to do so!
Other ways to get moving
Agility courses can be a super fun way of improving your dog’s fitness. Teaching your dog different tricks whilst running around disguises the fitness aspect with fun! You’ll get the opportunity to develop a closer bond through training together too. But for more extreme levels of exercise like agility, and even more so Flyball and Canicross, consider working up to it gently!
Hydrotherapy and swimming are great options for pets who suffer with joint problems. Many older dogs have arthritis, so opting for these low impact sports is beneficial. Swimming is non-weight bearing and, therefore, there is no load moving through their joints, but their soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, and muscles) are all still being exercised. If your pet has healthy joints, you could encourage them to move up and down the stairs. When performed at speed, this is very intense, so ensure your pet is able to rest too.
There are also physiotherapists working in the canine world.
If your dog needs help building muscle up around a certain area, or if they are recovering from an injury, physiotherapists are great. They are able to manipulate body parts to isolate different areas allowing assessment of pain. Your veterinary practice will be able to recommend a local physiotherapist.
Exercise can sometimes even help behavioural problems
Many behavioural problems stem from a lack of stimulation within the home. Ensuring your pet has been exercised well and has toys to play with when left alone will reduce the risk of them causing chaos in your home! However, if there is an established issue, then seeing a qualified Clinical Animal Behaviourist is always wise.
But don’t forget to get the diet right, too.
Whilst exercising your pet in a variety of ways will optimise your pets muscular development, you must ensure they are eating the correct quality and quantity of food. Dogs exercising more need more calories. If you want them to lose weight, this may not be a problem, as your pet needs to be in a calorie deficit in order to lose weight. This means eating fewer calories than they are burning during exercise and living. However, if you want to maintain body condition, then they may require a larger amount of carbohydrate and fat in their diet. Carbohydrates and fats are the main food group used for energy.
Your dog may also need more protein if they are to put on muscle; protein is the main food group used for building and repairing muscles.
Measuring your dog’s progress is important.
Remember you are responsible for your dog’s health: they will need you to keep putting exercise in place for them to continue to benefit from it. Measuring your dog’s waist and chest using a tape measure is a great way of recording their progress. In addition to measurements, you could weigh your pet, although, remember 1g fat weighs less than 1g of muscle, so sometimes measuring weight is inaccurate for a goal of increasing your fitness level. To weigh your pet, weigh yourself, then pick up your pet and stand on the scales again. You then need to subtract your individual weight from the weight of both of you to obtain your pet’s weight.
Doing weigh-ins every 2-4 weeks is recommended. It is recommended that you visit your vet to ensure your dog’s weight loss journey is progressing at a safe and healthy pace, and to make weigh-ins easier. Vet practices often have nurse clinics to help with weight management and the expert advice and encouragement from vet nurses can help you stick to the plan.
Weight management is important for many reasons.
Joint disease is the most common disease affected by weight. Obese animals are more likely to suffer from arthritis sooner and the deterioration is quicker. Overweight animals are also more likely to suffer from endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Weight management involves regulating your pet’s calorie input compared to output. With forward planning and consistency, you will have your pet feeling and looking fitter in no time!
While finding professionals to help is really important, at the end of the day you will be your dog’s lead personal trainer because there are many decisions that need to be made at home in order for your dog to reach their fitness goals!
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