The Zen of Having An Active Dog

Every dog wants to be active. Yes, even yours. It may not be how your dog acts now but trust me, deep down she yearns for a jog through the neighborhood, a hike in the woods or to come along for some cross country skiing. Beyond that desire being fulfilled, the many benefits of having an active dog far outweigh the “ease” of spending your time lounging around with a canine couch potato. The main result you’ll see by keeping your dog physically fit will be a greatly improved quality of life throughout their entire life process. And when your dog one day encounters old age they’ll be much more able to maintain a mobile, alert and enthusiastically active lifestyle. This higher quality of life, throughout the entire life, is well worth the effort for you and your dog. Simply put, any physically active dog will be far better off than one that leads a lazy, sedentary lifestyle. A regimen of regular exercise and an overall fit lifestyle have the same beneficial affects in dogs as they do in us humans. It will keep unwanted weight off & builds the lean muscle dogs should have naturally. Another important benefit that regular exercise will have on the dog is the positive effect on its mental well being. It also goes without saying that a lazy, sedentary dog will have a much higher risk of general health problems than their more active canine counterparts.

Beginning An Exercise Routine

The first step before you begin any drastic changes in your dog’s activity level is to consult with your veterinarian. You should get her a full physical check up, make sure all her vaccines are up to date and that she’s on a quality heartworm/flea & tick preventative. Be sure that you also make your vet well aware of the activities you have in mind for your dog so that the doctor can confirm she’ll be fully capable of participating. Once you’ve got the vet’s approval you’ll still not want to jump your dog right into a heavy activity. If your normal daily routine is to run a 10k you’ll need to ease your pooch up to that level. Start with short jogs around the neighborhood to gauge how far and at what pace you can run her. Remember to pack along a collapsible bowl and extra water for your new training partner, hydration is key. It’s always a good idea to pace water intake for your dog to avoid the discomfort that can occur if they guzzle on a “hot belly”. Once you get your dog accustomed to the new increased level of activity you can begin to step it up for her. In no time you’ll have her joining you on those 10k runs you love so much.

Variety Is The Spice of Life

No one loves cross training as much as dogs do, but they will perform best when they are under the illusion that exercise time is playtime. Mix up your activities and you’ll see the appreciation from your dog. More than a human exercise partner your dog will really respond to your words of encouragement in any new activities. Be sure to take advantage of seasonal opportunities to include your dog in everything you do. Whether playing catch or Frisbee in the park, jogging through the neighborhood, running along while you cycle or swimming along while you canoe, your dog may just surprise you with what she is capable of.

Where the Zen Comes In

One of the activities most dogs enjoy to wind down a bit is creating zen sand paintings. No, not really. The “zen” in this case is the residual effects you’ll notice in other areas of your relationship with your dog. Combining a regular active routine with your practice of NILIF will simply help you create a very well balanced canine. She’ll get to know her place in your “pack”, be hungry at mealtime and calmer for you in the house. This is the type of zen that will definitely help you chill out… but first your dog wants to go jogging.