Dogs require different care to maintain their he alth, nutrition, hygiene and physical activity depending on the stage of their life in which they are find. While a senior animal needs to compensate for the loss of muscle mass and the reduction of its metabolism, a puppy needs to guarantee the optimal development of its organism and strengthen its immune system to reach adulthood in good he alth.
If you decided to adopt a new best friend to fill your home with joy, it is important that you know the importance of exercising him early to promote his he althy and happy growth. And to find out how much exercise a puppy should get,we invite you to continue reading this article on our site.
Tips to start exercising your puppy
Before taking your puppy to exercise and expose him to outdoor walks, it is essential to confirm that his vaccination and deworming schedule are up to date. It is also essential to consult your trusted veterinarian regarding the state of he alth of the animal to guarantee its physical fitness.
If your puppy has not yet completed his basic vaccination cycle, you can use early stimulation exercises to promote the development of his physical, emotional, cognitive and social abilities from his first weeks of life.
With the “suitable” vet, your puppy will be happy and ready to discover a new world with you. But we must think about your physical preparation slowly and gradually So, ideally, start with gentle, low-impact activities, such asshort walks interspersed with rest periods. Little by little, your best friend will become stronger and will be able to incorporate new exercises progressively. So, runs, gallops, ups and downs, etc., always interspersed with walks and rest periods, of course, will be welcome. This is so because excessive exercise, or physical activity that is too intense, can seriously harm the development of bones and joints in a puppy, and we will explain why later.
Other important care to avoid compromising your puppy's well-being with physical activity during the hottest days is to prevent heat stroke, burns and dehydration. Remember to provide it with shade and fresh water during walks, and to prefer to exercise it during the early morning, late afternoon or at night. And be careful with surfaces that get very hot, such as cement and asph alt.
And how much exercise does a puppy need?
Depends. Most specialists recommend 1 to 2 daily walks, 20 to 40 minutes each, for he althy puppies with the approval of the veterinarian. However, to know exactly how much exercise a puppy should get, you must consider factors such as its breed, size, weight, he alth status, etc.
For example: Breeds with larger muscles, such as Rottweilers, Argentine Dogos or Pit Bulls, often require more intense exercise to achieve optimal physical conditioning. If we also talk about breeds considered potentially dangerous, such as those mentioned above, regular physical activity is essential to help in their socialization and training process, and also to avoid tension overload that can lead to aggressive behavior associated with stress, present not only in these breeds, but in any dog. However, the benefits of physical exercise for a puppy do not depend only on the amount or intensity. Consistency is decisive when we want to provide the positive effects of physical activity for the development of our best friend. Exercises should be part of a he althy routine, which also requires a balanced diet and adequate preventive medicine.
Excessive exercise is a he alth risk for the puppy
We talk a lot about the risks of a sedentary lifestyle for the he alth of our furry loved ones, but we must understand that excessive exercise can be harmful for the he althy development of a puppy. Your little companion will need plenty of rest and a few hours of sleep to grow up he althy and happy.
Excessive physical activity usually has a direct impact on the joints of dogs, accelerating the natural wear and tear to which they are subjected. In large or giant dogs, whether mixed-breed or of a defined breed, this phenomenon significantly increases the risk of degenerative musculoskeletal diseases, such as hip and elbow dysplasia.
And flat-nosed dogs, often associated with brachycephalic dog syndrome, such as the French bulldog or the pug, can suffer from shortness of breath when subjected to excessive or very intense exercises. For this reason, many times, owners are scared when they think that their dog is drowning thanks to his respiratory difficulty, and for this reason it is important to emphasize the importance of not causing such difficulty. To avoid these extreme situations, we should prefer to use a harness during walks and take frequent breaks to recover our cardiorespiratory rhythm.
If you notice that your dog is breathing with difficulty or irregularly, he has a cough or is panting very strongly during walks, do not hesitate to go quickly to the vet
Training is also an exercise
Training is one of the best exercises you can propose to your new best friend, since it allows you to stimulate not only her body, but also his cognitive and social skills. And you can propose yourself the basic obedience exercises to start teaching him the fundamental orders of his education, how to recognize his name, answer your calls, sit, walk next to you etc. That yes, at the same time, do not neglect the socialization of him, so important to get him to learn to relate to other animals and people, as well as teach him to inhibit his bite and where he should relieve himself.
And to help you get started right, we've got the best tips in our Entry-Level Training Guide. What are you waiting for to train your best friend?
