How Much Exercise is Enough?

How Much Exercise is Enough?

There is no doubt that dogs need exercise, probably even more than humans do. How much exercise your dog gets is virtually up to you since he is dependent upon you for all his daily needs, whether it be food and water, companionship, play or exercise. Be assured that a dog that gets the right amount of exercise is a healthier and happier dog, which makes a better pet for you.

There are a couple of things to consider when you are trying to determine how much exercise your dog needs. There are various factors that will dictate how much exercise is appropriate for your dog.

The first thing to consider is the age of your dog. Do you have a young puppy, a lanky adolescent, a middle-ager or a grizzled older dog? The amount of exercise your dog will require will definitely vary with his age.

As with people, an older dog will not need as much exercise as a younger dog, but will still require some to keep the joints limber and working properly. Typically, your older dog will not even be able to do as much exercise as a younger dog would, and getting him to do too much may even cause more damage to him. But, as mentioned, your older dog will still require some exercise to keep his body working properly. Regular exercise will also help his digestion.

It may not be wise, on the other hand, to take a young puppy on walks that are too long either. His young body is still growing and he will typically be able to provide his own exercise in the energy he uses in his youthful play. Still, taking him on shorter walks and getting him used to being on a leash is not a bad idea. Getting him started at a young age will help you to train him and enable you to expand his exercise routine as he grows.

An adolescent dog or a middle-aged dog will really require the most amount of exercise, as in the forms of walking or other exercise activity. As an adolescent, your dog will have a great deal of energy that will need to be expended. If you do not allow him a vent for this energy, he will devise some other means of taking out his frustrations. This could include your dog exhibiting excessive aggressiveness, chewing up objects or other unwanted behaviors. Exercise for dogs in this age group will keep him in top shape, will allow him to expend a lot of energy and will improve his mental health.

Helping your dog to get the right amount of exercise he needs daily is vital for his physical and mental health. Since you pet is dependent upon you for all his needs, setting up an appropriate exercise routine for your dog will help you to enjoy his companionship for a long, long time. Remember always to include an appropriate feeding and supplementation in order to have a healthy immune system and a pet with good energy.

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