Simple Ways To Keep Your Puppy Healthy And Fit

May 6, 2010 by Patrick Hopper
Filed under EXERCISE

Puppies make great pets for most families but their high activity levels may be a bit surprising to some. They need exercise to stay in shape; a 30 to 60 minute walk every day is enough to keep them healthy and fit.

If you don’t have the time to take your puppy on a walk every day, make sure that your yard has plenty of space for the dog to run around. If you’re low on yard space, the local high school track is a good place to walk a dog as well.

It’s possible to train a dog to run on your treadmill right along with you. This provides both of you with exercise and helps you bond as well.

It helps greatly to create a plan for getting your puppy the exercise he needs. You’ll be more likely to take the dog for a walk if you’ve budgeted the time in advance. You should also consider your dog’s age; older dogs tend to be happy going for a walk, while puppies are more energetic and tend to like running. When walking a puppy, start out with 15 minute exercise sessions then gradually lengthen this time as the dog matures.

Sometimes it’s convenient to walk your dog at night. If this is the case, wear reflective clothing so that you’re visible to cars on the road. Wearing bright-colored clothes can help as well.

Try to take your puppy out for exercise either right before or right after he eats, as this is the best time to walk them. Give him small amounts of water so that he doesn’t drink too much and get an upset stomach.

When you arrive back home from walking the dog, look at his paws to make sure there’s nothing stuck in them. Sharp objects like glass, ice, rocks, and burrs can easily get stuck in a dog’s paws and cause the dog pain. Remove these objects immediately if you find any.

Many people love playing fetch with their dogs, and it can be a great way to give them the exercise they need. You can teach a puppy to play by rolling a toy near him and giving him praise when he brings the toy back to you. As he gets older, you can begin throwing the toy longer distances. Remember to reward him each time he returns the toy.

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