Your dog needs to get exercise every day. In fact, depending on the breed, they may need it multiple times per day. It’s not just vital to their health—canine fitness in Georgia also keeps them emotionally healthy, and depending on the exercise, can provide socialization.

When adopting a dog, make sure you understand how often to exercise that specific dog breed in Georgia. Any dog that was bred for a “job” like herding will probably need more physical and mental stimulation than less-active breeds. As you may know, their age and health will determine how much exercise they need: puppies need lots of exercise in short bursts, while senior dogs may have health complications that rule out certain kinds of exercise.

If you neglect exercise, your dog’s health and emotional wellbeing will suffer. In some cases, they may use all that pent-up energy to get into mischief around your home. Read on to learn why canine fitness in Georgia is so important:

• Exercise keeps them physically healthy: Just like humans, dogs need physical exercise, fresh air and vitamin D to stay in good shape. Vitamin D is crucial to their bone development and melatonin production, and speeds up healing.
• It helps their emotional wellbeing: Just like you probably don’t want to be trapped in the house all day, neither does your dog. Physical exercise boosts endorphins and keeps them happy.
• It can help with their training: Having trouble training your dog? Try working off some of their energy by playing with them first—that way, they can pay more attention to your commands.
• Exercise is a good opportunity for socialization: Dogs need to learn to safely interact with their environment, including other people, animals, bikes and cars. Taking them out for exercise helps them get used to new experiences and learn what’s expected of them.

Exercises to try with your dog

Are you new to dog ownership? It can be difficult to know what types of exercise work best for dogs. Here are some simple suggestions:

• Walks in the park: Walks are a great way for both of you to get exercise—tailor the time spent to how old they are (puppy, adult or senior).
• Swimming: If your dog has joint problems, swimming is a great low-impact form of exercise. Consider getting a canine life jacket for safety.
• Fetch: Fetch is a classic for a reason, but you can spice it up by using different balls, or throwing the ball in more challenging terrain.
• Hiking: If you love to hike, think about taking your dog along. Use their age and breed as a guide to how strenuous of a hike they can handle.
• Obedience training: Obedience training is a form of exercise, too—your dog will practice mentally-challenging tasks while getting physical activity and sunshine.
• Tug of war: Playing tug of war with your dog is a fun exercise game that most dogs enjoy. There are plenty of toys designed specifically for this purpose.

If you have questions about canine fitness in Georgia and exercising the Presa Canario breed before you adopt your own, get in touch with D&G Kennels today. We can help you determine whether a Presa is right for you.