Exercise is physical activity that is done with the intention of improving or maintaining physical fitness and overall health. Exercise helps increase strength, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and overall physical and mental health.
The goal is to improve the physical condition and health of the dog. A relaxed twenty minute walk is not enough to benefit a dog's physical condition and health.
Lack of exercise is the number one cause of unwanted behaviour and health issues in dogs.
Exercise also benefits the dog- dog owner relationship. Doing something enjoyable together with your dog and trying new things frequently, strengthens the bond between dog and dog owner.
In order to get the maximum benefits out of an exercise program , it has to be whole.
This means it has to contain endurance training, resistance training, balance and coordination training. Remember that the dog's physical condition should always be taken in consideration before starting any form of exercise.
Endurance training to improve and maintain good cardiovascular function and health.
Resistance training to strengthen the dog's muscular system. This is important for the protection of the joints .When muscles are strong, they provide better support for the joints, reducing the stress and strain during physical activity.
Balance and coordination training will improve a dog's ability to control their body, their balance, and coordination. The dog will be able to perform physical tasks more efficiently and effectively. Balance and coordination training also offers mental stimulation for dogs, as they learn new skills and engage in challenging activities.
The approach to creating an exercise program is to create blocks. This means, emphasizing on a specific type of exercise for a specific period of time. For example, emphasize on resistance training for a month. On a following block , emphasize on balance and coordination training. Any and every training block must include some form of cardio. Optimal heart function is very important so cardio is included in all training blocks.
Before we suggest exercise you can include in your training plan, we will refer to the basic training rules. Always follow these rules to avoid injury and make the best out of your training plan.
1 Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes before exercise begins.
2 Cool down for 5 to 10 minutes at the end of every training session.
3 Chose activities the dog enjoys.
4 Every training plan should be customized to the specific needs and physical condition of
the specific dog.
5 Gradually increase the duration and intensity of the exercise.
6 Every week has two recovery days. Depending on the dog's physical condition and
exercising plan, this may vary and more days may be needed.
7 Stretching exercises are necessary two to three days per week depending on the intensity
and frequency of the exercise.
Please note that the exercises we suggest are for adult dogs in good health condition . Βefore starting a new exercising program we recommend that you always consult with your vet to confirm your dog's health condition is up to it.
Endurance training is split in two categories. Slow steady cardio and High Intensity interval training.
For the first category you can chose any of the following. Swimming, walking and running. The goal is for the exercise to last more than twenty minutes and gradually increase duration in analogy to the dog's improving endurance.
For the second category HIIT , the most popular exercises you can easily use in your plan is to play Fetch or Flirt pole. Depending on your dog's physical condition, the duration varies from 5 to 20 minutes. If your dog's condition permits it, you can play fetch on a slope to increase difficulty.
Resistance exercises you can easily use are Tug of war and Weight pulling.
For tug of war, the dogs must be trained in Basic Obedience and know the “out” command.
For weight pulling you will need a weight-pulling harness and for weight you can use a tire or a backpack with some weight inside.
For Balance and Coordination training , you can join an agility club or work with what you have available. For example, a fallen tree log in the woods can be used for balance exercise. You can even make simple obstacles yourself using wooden planks.
When exercising your dog, remember to always follow the aforementioned rules and train your dog to his capacity , with safety.
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