It’s time to get physical!
Love it or hate it, exercise is just as important for your dog as it is for you. As someone who is over 50, with health issues (Hashimotos, hyper mobility, et al.), I get that it can be tough to exercise regularly or at a high intensity, so I completely support doing what works for you. Just do something! If you love running, bring your dog. Running not for you, grab a leash and go for a long walk.
Over the years of doing sports with my dogs, a priority was keeping them fit to avoid injuries. Sometimes injuries happened anyway, so I've spent a lot of time talking to other pet professionals and reading articles from experts about pet fitness. So I decided to share some fitness tips that I’ve learned from others over the years. As usual, always consult with your veterinarian prior to starting any new programs with your dog.
Watch out for these fitness myths
There are some misconceptions out there about weight gain or lack of mobility that can cause pet parents to ignore signs that their dog is less fit. Here are just a few.
- My dog is just getting old. Aging is natural but that doesn’t mean problems going up or down stairs or jumping up on the couch are normal. My 15-year-old Malinois jumps into the car with such ease, I’m in awe every time I see her do it. In contrast, my 13-year-old Border Collie was lounging around more and more and having trouble getting onto the couch. After a visit to our veterinarian, it was discovered that he has a herniated disc and needed 3 weeks of crate rest and medication to keep him comfortable.
- Fitness and exercise are for injured/athletic/overweight dogs. Even young or fit-acting dogs can benefit from an exercise plan. My experience is that variety in exercise helps all dogs physically and mentally. The added bonus is, you’ll strengthen your bond by doing activities together.
- It’s normal for senior dogs to put on a little weight. NOOOOOOO. Just NO! As a dog ages, it’s even more important to avoid those extra pounds. The extra weight is tough on the joints and even more difficult for an older dog to carry around.
5 Exercises for canine fitness
The following exercises are probably quite different from how you normally play with your dog. Remember that going for daily walks and other simple activities are also great ways to help your dog stay fit.
1. Sit to stand. Getting up and down doesn’t seem like exercise until you do it repeatedly. Standing up and sitting back down repeatedly would be plenty of exercise for me! This task is great for your dog’s back legs and hip strength. Feel free to reward your dog using his or her breakfast kibble, or a low-calorie treat like Charlie Bears. You can hold the food in your hand right in front of your dog's nose to lure the position if you'd like and just repeat, sit to stand x10.
2. Advanced sit to stand. Once your dog is has mastered the original sit to stand, ask for a paw and while the front paw is in your hand and off the ground, do 10 sit to stands. Ask for the other front paw and repeat. Don't forget to reward every sit and every stand while your dog is learning, so they enjoy it. Once they are masters at it you can ask for few sits and stands before rewarding, by then, they should be excited to do them.
3. Down to stand. This is a near canine equivalent of the human burpee. Okay, maybe not quite as brutal as burpees, but close. It is a full-body workout for Fido! Again, you can hold a treat in front of your dog's nose and lure from a stand to a down, by moving the treat from the nose down towards the chest. Reward, then lure back up by pulling your hand towards you and slightly up. do 10 of these.
4. Stand still on either a cushy dog bed, pad, or dog-specific fitness item.
This is similar to if you stand on a cushy or round uneven surface. It requires different muscles than using a stable surface.
No need to purchase any expensive items. You can just use a dog bed, or rolled-up fitness mat if you'd like.
you'll just want to have your dog hold a stand on the uneven surface. If their legs are shaking, just ask them to hold it for 2 or 3 seconds at first. then gradually increase the time. Again, you can be using their breakfast or dinner to reward the stand. It's important to pay attention to your dog's posture. you want to make sure they are squished up in any way and that their back is nice and straight. You can even gently scratch or do a quick little tickle under the rib cage near the last 2 or 3 ribs. You'll see the change in posture immediately.
If you'd like to try more challenging items, you can put their front feet on something like this foam roller, or get a couple of foam balance pads.
Ready to go all in to fitness? Head over to the FitPaws for tons of videos and products to try out. But, keep in mind, you don't need to spend a ton of money, you can be creative with what you have.
5. Teaching something new. Teaching your dog new tricks or standard good-citizen and safety skills like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” “come,” and loose-leash walking, keeps them both physically and mentally stimulated. Have you tried "wave," back-up," or "roll-over"?
When you’re looking for ways to improve your pet’s health, always double-check advice you find online – even mine! – with your veterinarian or an expert source like the Pet Health Network. You can find even more exercise tips here.
Reward the human
I've mentioned rewarding your dog several times, but humans deserve rewards too, right? If rewards help keep you motivated, how about signing up for a virtual walk on The Conqueror website? You can see your daily progress on the phone app and visit someplace you've always dreamed of traveling to, while also helping our environment. I'm currently doing the Ring Road challenge, around Iceland.
Got a great dog exercise or fitness tip? Drop it in the comments below.
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