To ensure that your dog is a happy as well as healthy one, exercising him is extremely important and there are many smart ways to go about it. Bear in mind that exercise on a regular basis is only a small part of what is required as in reality, about ninety per cent of the weight loss of your dog should be through calorie restriction. The regular exercising of your dog should assist in his weight loss but not be the main player.
Should you decide to shop for an exercise pen for your dog, there are a number of things to consider. Firstly, it should be manufactured from to-quality materials so that it has durability to ensure that it lasts. It also needs to be weather-resistant too if you plan to use it outside. The exercise pen for your dog must be the right size so that he can freely play but if it is too large, it becomes a nuisance to store or transport.
Being overweight results in too much strain on your dog's joints, tendons as well as ligaments. To prevent this from occurring, begin your dog's exercise program by walking him on a lead and allowing him to swim. It is best to avoid activities involving high impact exercises which means it's best to avoid jumping when beginning his program of exercise.
Should you enjoy cycling, purchase a dog exerciser manufactured with triangular shapes, designed to fit regular bikes, mountain bikes as well as touring bikes. This allows your dog to remain in place and protects it from traffic, wheels and pedals. It has a coil spring, which is mounted low and which absorbs and diminishes the sudden jerks and pulls of your dog and assists in maintaining your balance. Furthermore, the Springer also has a safety release which is patented and this allows your dog to be freed should it run on the wrong side of a pole or other obstacle such as a fire hydrant or tree.
Ensure your dog's health by showing him new tricks as even the most basic tricks can allow him to get in some good exercise. You should teach your dog to come to you when you call him, and also to sit and stay. After he has mastered this, you can continue on to more difficult tasks like not jumping on visitors when greeting them. Playing hide and seek is also good exercise as is getting your dog to go swimming by training him to chase a ball into the water.
If you wish to exercise your dog off his leash, take him to off-lead exercise areas which are usually sign-posted as such. These exercise areas are normally fenced off and usually have facilities offering plastic bags so that dog poo may be removed by the owner. It is important to remember that if your dog is unleashed in these off-lead exercise areas, you must still have control of him at all times.