Dogs need activity and exercise in order to live a healthy and long life, just like humans do!
If you have been told by your doctor that you need to get more exercise in order to live longer without medical issues, you are not alone. Most people today do not get an adequate amount of exercise that will keep them healthy. It is well researched and proven that in order to live longer and happier, we need to use our muscles every day. Unfortunately, as we have become more sedentary and out of shape, we are also forcing that lifestyle on our dogs, making them not exercise either. We control just about every aspect of our dog’s life from the food that they eat to the amount of exercise they get, and many times our own desire to relax and not exercise causes our dogs to also live shorter lives that are more prone to disease and discomfort. For humans, even the most basic act of getting off the couch and walking around the block counts for something, and ultimately is better than doing nothing at all. Your doctor is going to tell you that if you can walk around the block, it would be better to jog around the block because it will elevate your heart rate and work it out as well, as opposed to only working your leg muscles. Your dog is forced to walk at your pace when we walk with them, and is probably even yelled at or corrected if they pull on the leash. You must understand that the average pace for a human being is about half the average pace for a dog both walking and running, and we are forcing them to walk at our pace as a result. In a nutshell, this counts as almost no exercise at all for them. They need to run at their pace in order to elevate their heart rate, which for most dogs means around 10-20 miles an hour. The fastest human on earth runs at about 24 miles per hour, so there is almost no way you are going to be able to run with your dog as much as they need to stay healthy. Once again, running with them is better than walking with them, and walking is better than nothing. If you want your dog to actually get the most of what they need, you must come up with a better plan that will allow them to run. Walking and jogging with them is a great bonding experience and will give them the mental stimulation to end off boredom, but you need to turn them loose to run if you want what is best or them.
Physical Benefits Of Running
Walking or playing fetch is good exercise for your dog. Running uses different muscles and is a more constant and intense workout that walking or fetch. Your dog’s breed will determine how much energy they need to burn off to be happy, but almost every dog is going to need to burn off some. The physical benefits of this intense aerobic exercise are a stronger heart and lungs, as well as weight loss and a better appetite. If you jog with your dog the benefits will be the same for you!
Mental Benefits
Hundreds of studies prove that the best way to reduce stress in humans and dogs is through physical exercise. Under stimulated dogs will be hyper and destructive, as well as aggressive. Exposing your dog to new things helps to keep them engaged and having fun, and even exercising in a controlled environment and on a treadmill for a half an hour is going to provide an intense mental experience as they learn new skills like balance and coordination. Our treadmills are not motorized, which means that for the belt to move the dog must run or walk forward. The only way to make that happen is by continually engaging the dog during the entire process, with motivation and cheering, toys and clapping. In essence, the half hour we spend working with your dog is also a continual half hour of mental stimulation for them. Many dogs that hardly run at all during their session will still be exhausted afterward!
Motivation
Just like humans, dogs would like to take it easy when you get tired. Ask anyone who works out and they will tell you that the key to getting stronger is to push through these times when you don’t feel motivated, or are getting tired. This is why we act just like a personal trainer for your dog, we continually engage them to keep going so as to build muscle and make them stronger.
Is Walking Or Running Better For A Dog?
The answer is that walking is better than nothing, running is better than walking, and running fast for longer periods of time is the best thing of all. Dogs don’t have gyms with dozens of machines to work out different muscles, and the main form of exercise they get is running. By only walking you are not properly developing the dog’s rear legs, and are not elevating their heart rate regularly in order to strengthen it. Do as much as you can even if it is a little, but always be on the lookout for ways to get your dog running.
