The Importance of Exercise for Dogs

Having a dog as a pet can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. A well cared for dog can be a delight to have around, providing its owners with love, loyalty and even entertainment, and becoming a much-loved member of the household.

However, any responsible dog owner needs to keep in mind that all dogs have needs that play a dominant part in maintaining both their physical and mental well-being.

In today’s world, where we all lead busy lifestyles and have little time to relax, it is all too easy to forget about the needs of your pet. Many dog owners are- after coming home from a hard day’s work- find their dog loyally waiting and hoping for a walk, but deciding that they are too tired and that it can wait until tomorrow – which then rolls on to the next day and so on.

It is extremely important to remember that your dog’s exercise needs are vital to its wellbeing so you should never just pass them off as an inconvenience that can be ignored if you don’t have enough time available.

Dogs are able to get exercise and mental stimulation in a number of ways, such as daily walks or regular playtime in the garden. If you are away or do not have the time to do this each day, you should make sure there is someone available to help out and provide your dog with the fresh air, exercise and stimulation that it needs.

How lack of exercise can impact  your dog’s health

There are a number of ways in which lack of regular exercise can impact upon your dog’s physical and mental health. This includes:

• Fitness levels: If your dog does not get enough physical exercise then, like humans, weight gain and fitness issues can become a problem. Your dog may become overweight (some dog breeds are more susceptible than others when it comes to obesity) and this could lead to all sorts of weight related health issues that could become serious or even fatal. Not only is this a problem for your dog but you could find yourself footing increasingly costly veterinary bills if and when the dog needs treatment

• Mental health: Imagine how you would feel if you were locked in the house day in, day out with no opportunity to go outside, get some fresh air and stretch your legs, and interact with other people. Dogs can go stir crazy just like humans and the effects of lack of exercise and stimulation can takes its toll on a dog’s psyche in a number of ways. Your dog could become very bored, which can lead to destructive behaviour – so you might come home from work to find the dog has ripped your favourite cushions apart, chewed your shoes or slippers beyond recognition or caused chaos across your home! Without exercise and stimulation dogs can also begin to suffer from conditions such as anxiety, aggression, biting, sleeping problems, excessive barking and other behavioural issues

• Stress related problems: If your dog is regularly deprived of activity and mental stimulation, stress could become an ongoing issue. This in itself can lead to many other mental and physical problems for your pet, which could range from irritability and snappiness to poor condition of its coat and general appearance, weight related issues, and more.