Summer is a beautiful time in Seattle, and as the warmer weather approaches, many of us find ourselves spending more time outside. Recently, I have taken up running, completing my first half-marathon in March over on Whidbey Island. As I have continued to train outside, I notice more and more people walking, jogging, skating, and biking around town. Being a dog lover, I can’t help but notice an increase in the number of dogs enjoying outdoor activities with their owners. Therefore, I thought it would be a great time to discuss some important points that dog owners should consider when thinking about exercising with Fido.

Exercise is an important component to having a well-balanced dog. An article published in The Journal of Nutrition estimates that obesity rates range between 18-44% of the dog population and exercise is critical to their health as well. All dogs need some level of daily physical activity in order to stay happy and healthy. Lack of exercise can contribute to behavioral issues such as Destructive Chewing and Leash Reactivity. Having an overweight dog can lead to various health complications such as Heart Disease, Hip Dysplasia, and Diabetes.

However, the type, intensity, and duration of that activity depend on the individual dog. Here are some things to consider when deciding what activities are appropriate for your dog. These are also things to think about if you are considering getting a dog, and are an active person who’s goal is to have an active dog.

Breed

While this may seem obvious, it shouldn’t go without mentioning that the breed of your dog is a huge determining factor in terms of the type of exercise activities they can participate in. I love my dog Karma, but she’s an Olde English Bulldogge. While it is true she is more athletic than your standard AKC English Bulldog, I have no delusional expectations that she will be running any half marathons with me in the future. For her, a nice brisk walk around Green Lake is sufficient, and if I want to go for a run, I know I’m on my own. Even most high-energy breeds tend to be sprinters and not marathoners, so unless you are jogging with a Husky, be cognizant of the distances you are asking your dog to jog.

If you are unsure of what your dog’s breed can typically handle, do a little research. Look at a breed book, ask a breeder, or talk to your vet. If you are looking to get a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, these sources are typically very good at making sure potential adopters understand the exercise requirements of each dog. When in doubt, just think about what the dog was originally bred to do. A hunting dog like a Weimaraner is going to require and going to be able to handle a much more intense type of exercise than a lap dog like a Shih Tsu.

Age
Like human toddlers and the elderly, special consideration must be made for puppies and geriatric dogs. It is important to choose activities based on their physical ability and limitation. Be careful about having your puppy participate in any type of strenuous activities before their bodies have developed enough to tolerate it. Puppies are in a process of growing and developing their bones and joints. They cannot handle intense, strenuous activities for long periods of time. Most veterinarians hold the general stance that owners should wait until a dog is at least a year old before having them participate in consistent high-energy activities such as long-distance running. This is even a bit longer if you have a giant breed. Also avoid activities that require a lot of high jumping like Frisbee. If your dog loves this game, then limit it to low throws or rolling the Frisbee on the ground. You want to avoid damaging their bones and joints before they have had a chance to fully develop.  This will help decrease the chances of related medical issues in the future. Plus, such vigorous exercise before a puppy can tolerate it can cause pain, which means your pup isn’t having any fun. And the whole point of exercising with your dog is to have fun, right?

Health
It is very important to keep on top of both acute and chronic health problems. You wouldn’t believe how many owners I have seen biking or running while their dog is dragging behind with on obvious limp. Please keep an eye on Fido, and make sure they are able to keep up. Dogs do not make a habit of showing they are in pain, so look for resistance to activities they typically enjoy as a sign. This will be really important as your dog starts getting up there in age. Ignoring such signs will only lead to further injury down the line, so make sure you follow up with a visit to the vet. It can also affect your dog’s overall behavior. Sudden change in your dog’s behavior, such as an increase in aggression, can also be an indicator that something is wrong physically.

Your Individual Dog
Just like humans, your dog may enjoy certain activities over others. Try some different things and see which ones your dog enjoys best. Some great exercise options are swimming, jogging, and cycling. For those of you who enjoy the more rugged outdoors, try to take your dog on a hike. Swimming is especially good for dogs that need a low-impact option, such as dogs that are overweight. Dogs all have their preferences and comforts, so make sure your dog is having fun and enjoying themselves.

If they seem a little resistant, you may have to warm them up to the idea. Don’t just try and force them to participate, and expect that they will get over it. How often did you begin to love doing something after someone continually forced you to try it? You probably started disliking it even more, right? Dogs typically need some training before participating in these different types of activities. For example, you need to train your dog to properly run next to your bike. This will ensure both you and your dogs’ safety. Take baby steps and make the experience as positive as possible. Sticking with the biking example, start off slow and reward your dog when they are in the proper position. Bring treats or a favorite toy along for the ride and reward your dog handsomely for just attempting the new activity. As I said before, exercising with your dog should all be about having fun with your dog. Your exercise should be secondary. You can get exercise on your own. Find something your dog will like, and you will have a much more enjoyable time yourself, and a happier dog overall.

Some other things to remember…
As the temperature increases, so does the risk of heat stroke, or dehydration. Some common symptoms to look for are excessive panting, and increased salvation. Reduction in skin elasticity is another major symptom of dehydration. Your dog may become lethargic. Dogs will often start to be more persistent about trying to smell different locations, or try to lie down in order to take a break when they are getting winded. Take these signs seriously. Ignoring them can lead to serious health problems or even death.

Make sure you always carry water with you in case none is available where you are exercising. There are many different dog-friendly water bottles to choose from. Each allowing easy water access for Fido no matter where you are. And if you think your dog can handle it, have them wear a backpack so they can carry their own water. Just make sure you properly desensitize them to wearing the thing.

Just like humans, dogs need to be given adequate time to get into proper physical condition. Start off slow. Then gradually build up the distance and/or intensity of your workouts. This is particularly true if you have a dog that is a little overweight.

Finally, regular physical exercise will help keep your dog calmer and happier, but it is important to remember that mental exercise is just as crucial. One cannot replace the other. Boredom is a huge contributor to many of the behavioral problems we see on a daily basis. Regular positive training and the use of food puzzle toys can go a long way towards helping Fido stay calm and happy.

Ideally, dog parks are urban oases where dog lovers can get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. A place for owners to converge to spend time with their free-running canine companions. A place where dogs get a chance to run around and socialize while owners watch and chat with one another about what makes each of their furry friends so special. And for many people this is exactly what happens, but unfortunately not for everyone. At least not every time. For many, a trip to the dog park is proverbial crapshoot between dog owner bliss and a stressful fiasco.

The problem is you never know what you are going to get when you arrive at the park, and it does not take much for an enjoyable time to turn sour. Nothing kills the mood faster than a dog altercation and there are a lot of different elements that can lead to one (see my colleague Christine’s article about dog/dog aggression). Sometimes it’s due to an inattentive owner who is not controlling their bullying dog. Sometimes it is an owner bringing a dog to the park who really does not have the proper skills to deal with such a hectic environment. Other times a dog, be it yours or another owners’, is simply having a bad day. I have supervised enough dog groups through my work at dog daycares to know that even the most social and mellow dogs can be grumpy on any given day.

So what is a dog owner to do? Well, if you are an owner whose dog typically does well at the parks, but a couple of recent tiffs have made you hesitant about future visits, or it you are a cautious dog park newbie, here are some rules you can follow to increase your chances of having a positive park experience. In fact, if all people followed these rules it would go a long way to ensuring a more enjoyable environment for everyone.

The number one rule is to remember that you are there for your dog. This means your main priority should be watching your dog, and all other activities should be secondary. Feel free to converse with other owners, but don’t let it distract you from your dog. Avoid using your cell phone or PDA. The whole point of the park should be to get away from your daily responsibilities and just relax. If you are watching your dog you will be able to watch his or her body language, and how they are interacting with other dogs. Dog aggression is a ritualized behavior. Therefore, a lot of posturing goes on before any real scuffling occurs. Catching this early activity and interrupting it is the best way to avoid fights. So, if everyone does their part the chances of any serious altercations occurring will drastically diminish.

If you notice someone is blatantly breaking this rule, the best thing to do is get your dog out of that particular area. If you are in a small park, this may mean leaving altogether. This may seem unfair, but again your main priority should be to observe and protect your dog, and that means avoiding obvious potential dangers. There will always be another day to play. Don’t let your ego compromise your dog’s well being.

Avoid spending time near the entrances of the dog park. This is where the excited energy is typically highest, and this can cause dogs to be more on edge and reactive. Dogs are all excited to enter the park, and other dogs are all excited to check out any newcomers. It is best to just keep on moving until you get to a quieter spot of the park. Unfortunately, some dog parks are designed so that their main drinking water area is right by the entrance causing even more congestion. I suggest bringing your own water to these parks, or finding a secondary water location.

Do not make your dog a target. Avoid leashing up your dog while in the park. It is not uncommon for dogs to target and go after a dog simply because they are on a leash. Being leashed around loose dogs can also cause barrier frustration in your dog and lead to leash reactivity. If your dog if not comfortable with a loose dog approaching them, and their flight response is taken away due to the leash, they may resort to aggression to defend themselves.

Avoid using aromatic treats to train your dog while at the park. Other dogs will quickly swarm you when they get a whiff of what you have, setting up the strong potential for resource guarding. If you want to work on training and use a food reward, use something like Spray Cheese, which is kept under pressure and therefore will not attract other dogs so easily. Otherwise, use the Premack Principle and use toy play (as long as your dog is not toy possessive) or access to playing with other dogs as the reward.

Watch to see if you are becoming a resource that is being guarded. If you feel that your dog or other dogs are guarding you, the best way to diffuse the situation is to simply get away from the dogs.

Find parks that have special designated areas for small and shy dogs. If you have a dog that is shy, or a small dog that is not used to being around larger dogs you need to find these designated areas. Otherwise you are seriously jeopardizing the safety of your dog and those around it by increasing the chance of predatory drift. Predatory drift is when play quickly switches over into predatory behaviors such as chasing and pouncing. This can result in severe injuries. The likelihood of this behavior occurring increases as the size difference between two dogs increases, and the behavior is highly socially facilitated. This means that once one dog starts the chase it is likely other dogs will join in. There is nothing worse than a small toy breed that runs and screams when it encounters bigger dogs at the park. So unless your small dog is used to playing with much larger dogs, seek out these designated areas.

I hope these suggestions help and that you now know what to look for next time you are out at the park. Trust yourself. If you feel uncomfortable about a situation, don’t wait to see if something might develop. Get your dog away from situation altogether. Remember, you are there for your dog, so their safety should be your number one priority.