April is National Canine Fitness Month. This month is the perfect opportunity to get our pups moving and grooving on a fitness routine. A good portion of our four-legged friends suffer from obesity, sedentary lives, and lack of mental stimulation. Dogs need at least 30 minutes of activity every day. Now is the time to build exercise, playtime, and games into our canine companions’ routine, so they can be mentally healthy and physically fit. Here are some activities you can start your dog on now for a healthy tomorrow.
Take Your Dog for a Swim
One minute of swimming equals four minutes of running for dogs. Many of our furry friends live for a day of water play, whether that’s in your backyard pool, running through the sprinklers, or at a nearby lake. The open water provides endless exercise from jumping in, fetching a water toy, or swimming laps with you. Just be sure to keep an eye out and notice when your pup is showing signs of tiredness. Like kids, they can get so excited that they don’t remember to rest.
Take Your Dog on Walks and Hikes
Walking around the neighborhood is one of the easiest ways to get your dog moving, especially if they’re not used to getting lots of physical activity. Start with short strolls and keep the same route as you build their confidence. Once your pup gets the hang of it, change up your route and make it a little longer. Then, elevate your furry friend’s activity by taking them on mid-day hikes for longer distances than just a walk around the block. Just be sure you choose dog-friendly hiking spots and pack everything you’ll need for a day outdoors.
Take Your Dog to Play Flyball
For the more competitive dog who loves to play ball and is motivated by the chase, you need to look into flyball. Flyball is an organized sport involving teams of four dogs and four handlers. It’s a relay race where one dog runs over a series of jumps, triggers the release of a ball and catches it, then races back over the jumps to their handler, while the next dog in line starts their turn. Dogs of any breed who are older than 15 months can compete. If your dog is social and you enjoy team sports, flyball may become a regular activity!
Take your Dog to Doggy Daycare
Maybe your day is filled to the brim with work, appointments, meetings, and everything in between. Instead of having your furry friend stuck at home, try sending them to doggy daycare! At Pawderosa, we’ve created a place for all dogs to play, interact with friends in a safe environment and improve physical fitness, all while having fun. Contact us today to find out how to get your very first visit for free! We hope this helps you stir up some ideas to get your furry friend active.
