Training: Dog Fitness, Some Exercise Tips

Fetch is a fantastic way to give your dog aerobic exercise. Get an old tennis racket to get some real distance on those tennis balls.

Jogging is another way to get canine hearts pumping. If you don't jog and your dog is well-behaved on his leash, you may have a friend or neighbor who'd welcome the company and the added security.

Swimming is a natural for retriever types, and if you're lucky enough to be near an off-leash dog park, play with other dogs is a first-rate exercise option.

Bicycling is another great exercise, and three products are on the market designed to help you bicycle safely. They attach to the bicycle and so allow you to keep both of your hands on the handlebars - a much safer plan than holding onto a leash with onehand and the bike with the other. The three products on the marketare the Springer, the Bicycle Dog Leash, and the K9 Cruiser.

Roadwork such as jogging or tagging alongside a bicycle can be good for dogs, but remember to pace your dog properly: A brisk trot is ideal.

Thinking of inventing an indoor dog exerciser? A tread mill for dogs? Don't bother: They've been around for years. One such productis The Trotter, a variable-speed treadmill used by show-doghandlers to keep dogs in top condition for the ring. The Trotter can be yours for a mere $1,000 or more, so keep that high price in mind.
Or you can just buy a regular treadmill down at your local Sears...and it even comes with a warranty!

A few caveats about exercise, especially roadwork:
Have your veterinarian sign off on any exercise program, making sure that your dog hasn't any joint problems that rule out any particular kind of exercise. Make sure that you build up slowly,especially if your dog is overweight. Let your dog set the pace,and check the bottoms of his feet often for tears or cuts.

Exercise when the weather is cool - dogs aren't as efficient at lowering their body temperature as we are - carry water, always,and know the signs of heat stress: glassy eyes, frantic panting. If your dog gets in trouble, get him wet and call your veterinarian immediately.

Do not force puppies to sustain a pounding pace, especially on pavement, lest you injure their developing bones. That means no jogging or bicycling until they're through adolescence - one year old is a good ballpark figure, but check with your veterinarian.