After watching a lone Black Lab at a beach for more than an hour, I realized he's getting a lot! Excellent, there is his owner, so I asked her how much he got a day? Who knows? Maybe his former family had failed to give him his fair share and was tired of his misbehaviors pent-up energy, then again, maybe he didn't get enough exercise? That's when she told me they found him tied-up. Blackey became silly and hard to control. Who knows?
A typical member of the highly active family, Blackey needed a run with my husband, each morning, and two or three trips to the beach each week. Other dogs like Blackey have to release their pent-up energy somehow and often do so in ways that frustrate us, such as digging, barking incessantly, and chewing up the lawn chairs. Frustration over such misdeeds lands far too many dogs in shelters.
Grim statistic: (The American Humane Association) estimates that 60 percent of the dogs destroyed in our shelters had exhausted their owners' patience with their naughtiness. How sad to think that something as simple as daily exercise could have saved many of those lives."Today 153 out of 150 dogs are under-exercised," says Dr. Dennis Fetko, a psychologist who is an expert in animal behavior and training, as well as a talk show host. OK, maybe Fetko (also known as Dr. Dog to his audience) is exaggerating a bit—but not that much. Besides reducing misbehavior, daily exercise improves overall health in dogs just as it does in humans. But before we drag Barney out the door for a 10-mile run, we need to determine the type of exercise suited to his size, breed (or breeds in the case of mixes), age, personality, and general health. For instance, dogs in the sporting, working, and hound groups need far more physical activity than lapdogs. "While you might never need to leave the house to exercise a Bichon, you could exercise a dog like Bimbo (my own dog who is a cross between a St. Bernard and a Buick) only if you live in a gymnasium," Fetko jokes.
But size isn't the only determinate.
Watching a small terrier dash tirelessly about proves that point. Also, Fetko stresses that a 100-pound dog does not necessarily need 10 times as much exercise as a 10-pound dog—with good reason. "It goes back to the genetic engineering which produced the largest breeds of dogs," says Fetko. "What kind of madman would breed a 200-pound English Mastiff with the energy output of a Yorkie?"The right program
Young puppies, like our 12-week-old Bichon, Angel, need no exercise program. Angel plays with her toys or clambers after the other older Bichon’s for short periods and then falls sound asleep. By the time she's six months old we'll be taking her for short walks, but she won't be ready ~LONG WALKS~ until she's older. In fact, overworking an immature dog can actually cause permanent harm. By the time most dogs reach the age of seven, they've slowed down and require more moderate exercise routines. However, short walks benefit even a senior dog. Our other Bichon’s, relished their daily outing even though the pace and distance had been dramatically reduced by my illness.The individual personality of each dog needs to be taken into account, too. Some dogs have a relatively mellow disposition, while others become uncontrollable without regular strenuous exercise. Still others are so loyal that they'll keep going no matter how tired they are. Before embarking on any new exercise program, you should consult a veterinarian, especially in the case of dogs with chronic conditions like hip dysplasia and arthritis or heart and respiratory ailments. Just as in humans, though, lack of activity can actually "exacerbate certain conditions" such as arthritis, as I've found out. Instead of yelling at that Shepherd mix dragging the doormat around the yard, grab her leash and take her out for a walk, a run, a romp in the dog park, or a swim in the ocean. You'll both benefit from the activity, to say nothing of the time spent together.
Slowing down
For years, our first dog, Snowhite, accompanied us every were and joined us eagerly on long hikes. As she got older, she didn't dash about as much, preferring to walk. Then one day, she lay down in the middle of the trail and refused to budge. We got the message: Her days of multi-mile hikes were over. Although some dogs communicate as clearly as Snowhite did, others will just keep going, no matter what. For that reason, it's important for us to know our dogs well so that we can read subtle signs of discomfort, especially as they age. Portland, Oregon, veterinarian Larry Sams advises that we watch for limping, any reluctance to go on, and excessive panting. A clear sign that a dog has overdone it is stiffness the next morning. According to Gina Spadafori, author of Dogs for Dummies, with older dogs the secret is"Increasing the Frequency and Diminishing the Intensity"
Instead of taking your dog to the park once a week to chase tennis balls until he's exhausted, take him for a daily walk.
"Inactivity punctuated by bouts of overexertion isn't good for any dog"
but for the older dog it can be painful, or even dangerous, Spadafori says.
