Canine Fitness: Exercise for Your Dog’s Health

An active pup is a happy pup. Building an exercise routine for your dog can promote an array of health benefits and can even act as a tool for both training and bonding!

From puppyhood to the golden years, sticking to a fitness routine will enhance their overall well-being and maintain their vitality through all stages of life. 

Not every dog needs to follow the same routine, either, as different breeds have different abilities, limitations, and needs. An owner must think about their dog’s physical condition before arranging a fitness routine, as too intense of a routine can be counterproductive — and an over-simplistic routine may not result in the desired benefits.   

The fun in crafting your dog’s daily fitness routine is developing activities you know they would enjoy. Physical activity is adjacent to playtime in the canine fitness world, and it’s an easy way to help your dog feel closer to you as an owner.

This advantage can impact different areas of your canine-human bond, like their willingness to trust and obey you. 

In short, every pup is unique, but what’s universal is that sticking to an exercise routine is an essential part of maintaining a well-rounded, healthy, and closely bonded lifestyle. To help you along your dog’s fitness journey, we’ve suggested certain exercises and fitness strategies that can appeal to a broader range of breeds and ages, offering pet parents a general plan of action to get started.

Consult Your Vet Before Starting Any Fitness Routine

It’s essential that every dog owner consult with their vet about the potential risks their pup faces when starting a new exercise routine. As previously mentioned, some dogs have limits on their abilities because of characteristics such as their breed, age, or size. 

For example:

• Short-snouted (brachycephalic) dogs like pugs, boxers, and bulldogs require a specialized cardiovascular exercise strategy to accommodate their affected breathing abilities.
• Overweight dogs are more likely to face joint injuries, which can impact conditions like osteoarthritis (OA). Moving them to a sudden, vigorous exercise program, therefore, may be more harmful than helpful. 
• Puppies require short bursts of physical activity rather than long sessions because extended bouts without rest can cause them to suffer from too much pressure on their growing bones.

A vet can perform a series of tests to assess the canine’s physical condition, determine what healthy goals are reachable, and provide a guide for achievement. Schedule consistent check-ins with your dog’s vet to chart their progress, review improvements, and set new milestones. 

Stretching: Warm Up and Cool Down

Implementing mobility stretches into your dog’s pre-and post-workout routines can help strengthen their joints, define their muscles, and enhance their range of motion. 

Some common stretches that an individual can help their dog master include:  

Bows

Also conveniently known as the downward-facing dog, this stretch works to strengthen mobility through the shoulder flexors and extensors. This stretch engages the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, promoting spinal articulation and even improving alignment.

The motion consists of a dog reaching their front paws outward and extending their back. You can often prompt a dog to do this motion by demonstrating it yourself, with emphasis on putting both hands on the ground at the same time.

To get your dog to initiate a bow, start by having them stand on two raised platforms. These can be just a few inches, but the height can be increased as the dog progresses.

With the dog standing square, direct them with a hand motion (a tasty treat helps!) downward and towards their front paws. They will naturally bow and bend in this motion.

Shoulder Dips

The neck and shoulder musculature in dogs tends to be tight and restricted, but shoulder dip stretches work to promote mobility in this tense area. By focusing on the backs of the shoulder, the biceps and the triceps, this exercise can also strengthen carpus and foot muscles. 

Using the same two-platform setup as the bow, change the motion to one where they lean forward, bending at the neck and front legs to reach towards the hand motion (or treat). Have them relax, then repeat.

Side-stepping

This exercise can help prevent injuries in two sensitive canine areas, the knees and shoulders. The goal is to strengthen muscles engaged when shifting position in motion, such as when wrestling with another dog, avoiding obstacles on a walk, or even simply movements like walking downstairs. 

Initiate this stress by slowly walking or gently pushing into the side of the dog’s body until they sidestep with their front and back legs. You may also be able to lead them while they stand on a raised surface, like a log or some stairs.

Switch sides every few steps. Be sure to go slow to not put excess stress on the hips, especially with older dogs or dogs with hip issues.

Rock Back Sit > Push Forward Stand

This exercise is meant to build strength and power from the base of the hindlimbs. By engaging the musculature in the pelvic limb, this stretch can also improve stability.

The elevated shifts also encourage strength in the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. Doing this maneuver requires a medium-sized platform for the dog to stand on, less than half their leg height when fully standing.

Start the dog with both feet on the platform, standing square. Next, encourage them to lift their head up and back, moving them backwards and down off the platform, rocking back to sit.

Once they sit in this position for a few seconds, you can lure them up to a stand again with their front limbs raised onto the platform. 

Puppy Push-Ups

This exercise requires the repeated motion of the sit-down stand. While most dogs can grasp these commands intuitively, mixing up the sequence and promoting repeated action can add further strength and enrichment. 

Start by luring your dog into a sitting position, then command them to lie down. Next, have them stand back up, rinse and repeat!

Not only is this activity great exercise, but it also makes for productive training reinforcement.   

What Dog Exercise Does Your Pup Enjoy?

One way to help your dog exercise regularly and get a high level of enjoyment out of it is to work within their natural preferences.

Certain genetic lines, for example, are prone to specific personality traits and may enjoy specific physical activities over others. Retrievers may appreciate a game of fetch, while a breed with shorter legs and less agility may not see the appeal. 

Some enriching activities that your dog might find enriching and exciting include: 

• Fetch: You can utilize anything — a ball, stick, frisbee, etc. — to play a fun game of fetch with your dog. Some breeds, like Spaniels, Terriers, Shepherds, and Retrievers have naturally stronger instincts to go after an object when it’s thrown past them, so this exercise can feel both stimulating and rewarding. 

• Swimming: Dogs with thick coats, like Huskies, various water dogs, and even Poodles, love swimming because of how refreshing it feels on their coats. Dogs that are more comfortable in cold weather may flock to the pool during the warmer months as a way to relieve the heat. Swimming can have an impact on joints, but it’s still a full-body workout, so dogs with joint issues or other mobility limitations may find it easier to exercise in the water. Just make sure to practice water safety tips for dogs, and never let them swim unsupervised.
• Games: Excitable dogs will enjoy short, high-intensity forms of exercise like games, so they can expel some pent-up energy while still engaging in a workout. Tug-of-war, hide-and-seek, and obstacle courses can all be creative options for exercise with younger or more energetic canines. 

As with any exercise, be sure your dog is cleared by your vet prior, and follow general safety tips for keeping dogs safe during hot weather.

Back to Basics: The Benefits of a Daily Walk

Getting a daily workout doesn’t always have to be vigorous or overly complicated. In fact, a basic walk can provide a productive workout experience for dogs. 

A global survey of dog owners reports that walking is still the most common form of exercise, with 89.3% of respondents utilizing the activity as a daily workout. The best dog health exercises don’t always have to be the most intense or vigorous. 

Some of the main health benefits of committing to walking your dog every day include: 

• Weight management: Dogs that don’t get as much physical activity are prone to obesity, but walking provides simple and effective exercise for them. Without a balance between active periods and rest periods, dogs can develop conditions like hyperthyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, and arthritis as they age, which can make more vigorous exercise difficult to commit to. 

• Joint support: Use it or lose it! Joint health is dependent on physical activity because it is the only way to build up strength and stability. As dogs age, their joints deteriorate, and they become limited in their physical abilities. A daily walk can help prevent early-onset joint-related conditions from affecting your dog’s lifestyle.

• Digestive and urinary health: A daily walk on a consistent schedule can improve your dog’s overall digestive and urinary health. Dogs prefer to “go” according to their internal clock, and they have many opportunities while on their daily walk. Once they are used to this schedule, they’ll learn to better-regulate their own potty breaks. 

• Heart health: A daily walk will improve overall cardiovascular fitness by getting the body moving and the blood pumping. Incorporating a walk into your dog’s daily exercise can also reduce certain physiological indicators of stress, like high blood pressure. Heart health is nurtured most directly by a good diet and healthy exercise habits.  
• Mental and emotional wellness: On their daily walk, a dog can explore the sights and sounds of nature, find adventures in new paths, and socialize with other people and pets. This exposure is good for a dog’s spirit. The stimulation can help prevent boredom and enhance the feeling of independence, keeping their mental state sharp.   

In addition, many of the benefits that a daily walk provides can be extended to humans along with canine friends. Dog walkers are said to be less likely to face obesity, as reported in a 2008 study that concluded there are fewer obese dog walkers (17%) when compared to owners who did not walk their dogs (28%) and non-owners (22%). 

A Day at Greenlin East in Middletown Can Provide Your Pup With an Exciting Stay Full of Exercise

No two pups will have the same exact needs for physical activity and mental stimulation, but Greenlin Pet Resorts East in Middletown, PA, will take the time to understand your dog’s personality in order to give them the most engaging and exciting stay. All of our services are customizable to your dog’s breed and personality type, so your dog will never receive one-size-fits-all care. 

If your dog wants more exercise when you can’t be there during the day, or they crave socialization with other dogs, dog daycare at Greenlin East in Middletown offers spacious indoor and outdoor play areas, with a caring staff to watch over them. Daily playtime and exercise can also be added to your dog boarding stay for extra enrichment.

If you want to build a better relationship with your dog, along with the skills it takes to become top-notch workout buddies, you can always enroll them in our custom dog training courses, as well.

To learn more about how any of our services can impact your dog’s wellness and routine, call (717) 388-8110, contact us online, or come in for a visit to our Middletown location today!