New Year’s Resolution for Your Dog

Exercise More!

Exercise is essential for dogs of all types and sizes. In today’s busy world many dogs don’t receive adequate exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to physical problems such as obesity, higher likelihood of injury and more noticeable joint problems. Insufficient exercise may also lead to behavioral problems including hyperactivity, chewing and dogs who just “can’t sit still” or “won’t listen”.

So what are some ways to exercise your dog? A young, active dog needs hard exercise several times a week. Hard exercise is like a canine workout, it is exercise which gets the dog’s heart rate up and makes them pant. If your dog is a willing retriever, playing ball may be all you have to do. If not you will have to be more creative. Many people train their dogs to jog along beside their bike, which can provide excellent muscle conditioning. You can also build your dog’s muscle by training them to pull things in a non restrictive harness. You will want to start with light loads and gradually build up to heavier loads. A fun way for both you and your dog to get a little exercise is to build some jumps for your backyard and practice agility. Train your dog to jump starting with low jumps and slowly moving up. Some people even train their dog to trot on a treadmill! Keep in mind these suggestions are for adult dogs. Puppies under 14 months should not be forced into a lot of hard exercise. Save biking and the treadmill until your pup is older, keep pulling loads light and jumps under their elbow height.

Our Doggy Daycare is an excellent way to provide exercise for your dog while you are at work. At Daycare your dog gets as much running and playing as he wants and goes home ready to relax with you. Doggy Daycare is every weekday from 7am-6pm. Every Saturday 11am-2pm is Playday at A Place for Paws. Bring your dog and watch him run and play while you socialize with fellow dog lovers. Cost is $5 per dog.