In today’s fast-paced world you likely have many demands on your time. For dog owners this often makes it difficult to spend sufficient time with their dogs.

Now, while it may be easy to assign exercising your dog to the “optional” list - after all, the dog’s not going to file a complaint - I would strongly urge you not to do this.

All dogs, regardless of their breed, age, or size need regular exercise. And as a dog owner it is your responsibility to see that they get it.

In this article I discuss 5 important things to consider about exercising your dog.

1. What Is The Right Amount of Exercise?

There are a number of factors that will determine how much exercise is appropriate for your dog. The first of these is breed, with herding, working and sporting dogs needing more exercise than companion and guarding breeds.

Larger breeds often need more exercise than smaller, although this is a generalization. Terriers for example need more exercise than large “guarding” breeds. Puppies and older dogs don’t need as much exercise as healthy, adult dogs.

Theses are, of course, generalizations, but it’s quite easy to do a bit of research and find out exactly what your breed’s exercise needs are.

2. Start Slowly, Scale Up Gradually

If you’ve just started a regular exercise routine with your dog, don’t over do it. Start with a short walk and increase it by 10 minutes or so each day. You wouldn’t want to do your dog (and possibly yourself!) and injury.

3. Choose the Right Level For Your Dog

Not all dogs have the same level of energy. A two mile walk would just be getting started for a Border Collie, while for a Pekingese it would be exhausting.

Don’t over-exert your dog. Find out about your breed and adjust your exercise routine accordingly.

4. Play Games

So far we’ve spoken mainly about walking, but you should also make games part of your routine. The great thing about games is that they challenge the dog physically, as well as mentally.

Find a game your dog loves. For example, retrievers will chase and retrieve a ball all day long, while hounds love the challenge of finding hidden objects.

Just about all dogs love tug-a-war, and games like tag and hide-and-seek are also quite popular with the canine fraternity.

5. Running and Hiking With Your Dog

If you’re a person who loves the great outdoors, you should involve your dog in these activities. What better way to bond with your dog?

Do remember though that strenuous outdoor activities are not suited to all dogs. Some toy breeds can be quite fragile, while breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs can develop breathing problems if over-exerted.

Hopefully, these five tips will help you to enjoy the time you spend exercising your dog. The pay-off is a calm, balanced dog, and a deep bond between dog and owner.

Read more about dog training tips, dogs 101, dog health and other interesting dog info at dogsanddogtraining.com.