exercise

Exercise is great for all dogs but depending on the age, breed and health level of  your dog, some exercises will be more suitable than others.  You should be aware of certain characteristics of your dog before you begin a regime.  If your dog has not been active in a while you should speak with your vet and approach exercise with caution.

We all know exercise and play is good for your dog but do you know all the reasons why?  Just like with people, exercising has a variety of benefits for your dog.  Some breeds require more exercise than others and the age of your dog will also affect your dogs required exercise level. 

Reduces Bad Behaviors

So you decided to get your dog a treadmill.  While there is no substitute for a good walk outside or a trip to the dog park, a treadmill can get your dog the exercise it needs when the weather is bad or you are jut under the weather.  It is important, however, to make sure that you get the right treadmill for your dog and use it safely.  Below are a few things to take into consideration when buying and using a treadmill with your dog.

If your dog has a weight problem exercise and cutting back on food are a must.  There are tools out there to make this a much more pleasant experience for you and your dog.  The following gadgets and products can help your dog increase calories burned and decrease the amount of food consumed.

If your dog is overweight there is a good chance they got that way from being a couch potato.  One of the best ways to get weight off a dog is through exercise.  However, if you are dealing with an already overweight dog you must be careful how you reintroduce exercise into their life.  Going too quickly or encouraging the wrong activities could be detrimental to your dogs health.  Below are some great options for getting your dog started in exercising to lose weight.

Swimming

All dogs can run, barring any prohibitive health issues and illnesses,  but how fast and how far is really the factor when determining which dog you should get if you want a running partner. 
You need to take into consideration your workout schedule and what type of distances you run.  Like people some dogs are really good at distance running and some are better at short  sprints, some are really fast and others are better at a jog.   Depending on your activity target you should pick a breed that can keep the pace.

 Just because you have a yard and your dog is out in it every day does not mean it is getting enough exercise.  If your dog is alone and wandering around by itself all day chances are it is very bored and needs some stimulation and exercise.  Every dog is different and every breed is different, some dogs are much lazier then others and all dogs will mellow with age.  A one year old Australian Shepherd will need much more exercise then a six year old great Dane.  Typically age will be the indicator of the activity level your dog needs.  If your pup is hyper chan