Exercise for your dog

Dogs in the wild do a lot of running but mostly when they are hunting or chasing prey.

Taking a dog on a daily run is not necessarily in its best interest. Dogs should never be run on hard surfaces like pavements or paved roads but on earth.

If you insist on having your dog jog then make certain that the pace is a fast walk or trot rather than a run, of course this should never be allowed in hot weather. Always check the dog’s feet after a run for cuts and rawness.

A dog can sweat through his feet pads, anus and tongue.

He does not have the heat releasing mechanisms of many other animals. Dogs are susceptible to heatstroke and other related problems. Dogs that were bred for cold climates such as Huskies, Akita’s have been transplanted by people to warm climates this is not natural and one can expect behavioural and health problems.

Dogs react to heat by panting or digging holes in the earth under shady trees or bushes. Locking dogs in closed cars can be fatal because a car heats and so do dogs.

Exercise raises your dog’s metabolism and boosts his temperature, which in turn can turn to heatstroke.

For obese dogs the problem is worse. Never exercise a dog in the heat of the day and keep his weight under control. It also a good idea to give your dog his water bowl to enable him to drink before a walk.

Water bowls should always be on the ground.