Keeping Your Dog Healthy And Active

It's important to keep your dogs fit and healthy through both exercise and the food they are fed. Obesity is a big problem for dogs today as they are not getting enough exercise. Dogs on average need 1-2 hours of exercise a day. Depending on their breed and age they may require more or less. There are many different exercises you can do with your dog other than just the usual walk.

If you are a runner then why not combine the dogs walk with your run. This is an ideal way for your dog to burn that excess energy.

There's plenty of equipment from the basic hands free leash, the Ruffwear Roamer leash to the more technical CaniX equipment.

CaniX organise many events throughout the UK from August bank holiday weekend through to May. They are also holding the European Cani-Cross Championship in 2012. You can enter the events as you wish and don't have to compete in them all, whether you are doing it for fun or competing.

Other event includes the ParkRun they are free events that take place on every Saturday morning. They are staged all over the county so there will be one near you and are for runners with or without dogs.

You don't need to attend organised events to run with your dog, you can do it in your local park, countryside footpaths or a road run. Running will just help your dog burn more energy.

If you are just starting out running with your dog then you need to be careful not to over do it. Like us they need to build up their fitness levels. So keep an eye out for signs of exhaustion, heavy panting, wheezing, and lameness, disorientation, slowing or stopping. Don't take your dogs out in very hot days. Carry plenty of water to keep your dogs hydrated. There are plenty of useful products available so you don't have to carry big bowls around, the EzyDog Fold-a-Bowl or the Bowl n' Bottle.

In warm weather your dog will be hot when they finish their run, so a Ruffwear Swamp Cooler coat is ideal you just soak the coat, wring it out and put it on the dog, it will keep your dog cool, this can be used during or after exercise. Other useful products you could when running with your dog are to protect their paws are dog boots or Shaw's paw wax this is also good in cold weather and on slippy tile or laminate floors.

If running is not your sport and cycling is then the Walkydog would be ideal. It attaches to your bike seat post and the dog runs safely along side you and burns plenty of energy in the process.

If you like to get out and about yourself in the countryside with your dog then why not try a backpack for your dog the EzyDog Summit Backpack or the Ruffwear Approach Pack. Your dog can then carry their own poo bags, treats, water and bowl. Or on longer hikes their own roll up bed. The increased weight in the back pack can also help your dog loose weight and even calm over active dogs on walks. It's recommended that the dog carries no more than 25-30% of their weight. So 25kg = 7.5kg in the bag. This weight must be increased gradually, again the help the dogs fitness build up to heavier weights.

There are other activities that you've probably not thought of that will help your dog keep fit and healthy. There is scootering the dog will do most of the work pulling you along while you"'e standing on the scooter (it's similar to mushing which is a winter sport). The Dax Scooter is a good lightweight, foldable scooter. The dog wears a harness that's attached to the scooter via a gang line you will need to start the dog off with a little push and up hills; once they are off they will pull you around so providing plenty of exercise. This type of activity is best done in the countryside or an open field, where you have permission, as it's safer than trying to avoid traffic or people.

Alternatively to using the scooter you could use your bike with an attachment on the front, this is called Bikejoring Again the dog is harnessed up and attached to the bikejor via a Bikejor Converter and bungee gang line. The dog then runs along pulling you on your bike. Again a great form of exercise for your dog that will help burn all that energy, and a great way to start your dog off if you are looking to move on to scootering because the bike allows you to do some of the work so that initially and it is not all on the dog.

As it's important for us to fuel our system when regularly exercising its also important for dogs to do the same. There's plenty of good notorious food on the market such as Chudleys Working Crunch or Orijen. Orijen is a totally natural feed, high in protein and doesn't contain any grain fillers an unnecessary part of a dog's diet (excessive carbohydrate) so ideal for active healthy dogs. There are also a number of supplements on the market that can be added to your dogs food to health keep them and their joints healthy.

Please do avoid doing any of these activities in the summer heat of the day. Leave it until evening or early morning.

So overall dogs in many ways are like humans they need regular exercise and a healthy diet to keep them fit and healthy.