Maintaining a healthy lifestyle plays a crucial role in promoting longevity for both dogs and pet parents. Summer is a perfect opportunity to soak up the sunlight and enjoy the great weather by engaging in shared exercises that can benefit both your well-being and strengthen your bond.
Exercise plays a key role in keeping dogs healthy and happy, it supports heart health, helps maintain a healthy weight, promotes joint strength, and provides mental stimulation to relieve stress and anxiety. But by engaging in exercises together, you can both reap the benefits!
Below are some dog-friendly exercises that you can do with your pup that keep the fun summer vibes going.
However, as with any exercise, it is important to ease your dog into it to help build stamina. In hot weather, they may struggle to regulate their body temperature, resulting in overheating, dehydration, and potentially heatstroke if the overheating is not stopped in its tracks.
Check out our Summer Heat Safety Tips for Dogs to learn how to keep your pup cool this summer.
Additionally, always get the green light from your pup’s vet and your own healthcare provider before incorporating exercises into your routine.
BRISK WALK OR RUN WITH YOUR DOG
A daily walk may already be part of your and your dog’s routine, so it can be a familiar exercise to start with. Whether you choose to expand your route, pick up the pace into a brisk power walk or work your way up to a run/jog, this activity can offer a low-impact way to expend energy, burn calories, strengthen muscles, and boost heart health.
Remember, you have comfy, protective shoes to keep your feet protected, but your pup can’t say the same! If you’re going for a walk/run in the summer heat, consider the high temperature of the pavement and sidewalk.
READ MORE: Understanding the Effects of Heat on Your Dog’s Paws
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you choose this exercise:
- If it’s available, choose a soft, grassy terrain to help prevent hard, hot pavement on your dog’s paw pads.
- Consider a hands-free waist leash for a convenient and comfortable experience.
- Carry water and snacks (for both of you) so you can stay hydrated and energized during breaks. We offer a variety of reusable food and water products at our Dogtopia Shop, perfect for when you’re on the go.
SWIMMING WITH YOUR DOG
Summer and swimming are the perfect duo! Whether you have a backyard pool or are near a body of water, swimming offers an excellent way to stay cool while providing a low-impact workout for your joints. It also helps build muscle and provides all the benefits that come with a good cardiovascular workout, including improved lung function, increased endurance, and enhanced circulation.
If you choose to swim, water safety is crucial. Not all dogs are natural swimmers, so investing in a doggie life jacket is recommended. It is also important to always keep an eye on your pup when they’re in or near the water. An alternative to swimming can be playing fetch on the beach to keep paws (and feet) cool while you play.
READ MORE: Water Safety for Dogs
GO ON A HIKE WITH YOUR DOG THIS SUMMER
If you live near forests or hiking trails, take advantage of it this summer with your pup! Hiking can be a fantastic workout that offers all the advantages of going on a walk with your dog while also helping to boost coordination skills as you navigate different terrains. It can also provide significant mental stimulation, as it often requires more of your attention to scan your environment and follow a trail or navigate.
An added benefit of hiking is being surrounded by nature, which helps calm the nervous system and ease feelings of stress and anxiety. Research on the impact of nature on the body suggests that spending two hours a week in nature improves health and well-being, and a 90-minute walk in nature reduces the part of the brain associated with negative thoughts.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you choose this exercise:
- Check the weather forecast before you leave; you don’t want to be stuck on a trail during a storm.
- Tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return or share your location if you have a location and good satellite coverage.
- Review the wildlife hazards where you’ll be hiking so you can stay alert.
- Post-hike, check your dog for ticks and spiky burrs or grass heads that can get on fur, as well as any cuts or debris on their paw pads.
- Always bring food and water for both you and your pup.
BACKYARD OBSTACLE COURSE FOR DOGS
You don’t need anything fancy—just set up a simple course with some hula hoops and bars for your dog to jump over (using broomsticks or pool noodles) can be all they need to boost physical activity and coordination. Plus, you can run alongside them to get your cardio in!
Additionally, incorporating command training, such as “sit” and “stay,” can raise the mental stimulation factor in this exercise. Remember to use positive reinforcement to make the experience fun. As well, take each part of the obstacle course slowly at first to teach your pup how to maneuver effectively. What’s great about this exercise is that you can change it up each time, so it remains novel for you and your dog.
MONITOR YOUR DOG’S ACTIVITY WITH DASH
Seeing the benefits of exercise on your dog’s health has just become easier! The DASH activity monitor, powered by PitPat, can be added to your pup’s collar or harness and it will keep tabs on how many steps your pup takes in a day, time spent running, playing, or walking, and more. It’s a great way to gain personalized data on your dog that you can track over time.
BRING YOUR DOG TO DAYCARE THIS SUMMER
Whether you’re having a summer BBQ and need a dog-free home for the day, or you’re looking for a space that will keep your pup cool and comfortable as they play with their friends, daycare at Dogtopia can be their go-to hang-out spot! We have temperature-controlled playrooms that we group dogs in based on their size and play style, as well as a team of coaches trained in doggie body language who will supervise your pup during play.
Contact your nearest Dogtopia location today to get your dog’s daycare journey started!
This blog was reviewed/edited by Dogtopia’s Director of Health & Safety Lorraine Rhoads, an experienced animal biologist and environmental scientist.
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