Exercise and fitness is crucial for your dog's health!

When we talk about exercising our dogs, what exactly do we mean? During my initial evaluations with every client, I always ask about their dog’s daily exercise routine. Often, the answer revolves around their dog spending time outdoors, perhaps frolicking in the backyard. But this leads to an important clarification: Is this activity self-initiated, or is it a result of intentional engagement by you? I’ve yet to see a dog independently engage in a rigorous workout. While it’s true that any form of movement can be considered exercise, mere backyard antics seldom provide the structured exertion needed to truly enhance their fitness.

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Here’s the reality: efficient exercise for dogs requires human involvement. It demands that we not only participate but also drive and direct their activity levels. A dog left to its own devices won’t challenge its limits or work towards increasing its stamina. For instance, a dog that tires after a mile won’t spontaneously decide to push its boundaries to increase endurance for longer hikes. Such progress necessitates our active contribution.

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The crux of the matter is, achieving and maintaining canine fitness is a responsibility that falls on our shoulders. It’s about more than just letting them out to play; it’s about actively engaging with them in a way that promotes their health, fitness, and overall well-being. If we aspire for our dogs to lead healthy, fit, and long lives, it’s incumbent upon us to take the lead in their physical training.

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Let’s make a pact to be more involved in our dogs’ physical fitness. After all, a healthy dog is a happy dog, and who doesn’t want that?