We have another great guest author today, Jane! You can check out her bio at the end of this post. She has a lot of wonderful tips on keeping your dog healthy and physically strong, so please give her a warm welcome. 🙂


The Statistics

You have probably heard the message of living healthy and fit. Maybe you might have taken the necessary steps to stay in good shape by engaging in different kinds of health-oriented activities. However, the question is, have you ever spared a moment to think about the health and fitness of your dog? Just like human beings, dogs also need to be physically fit.

According to reliable statistics, 54% of dogs are obese and to make it worse, approximately 88% of dog owners are not aware of this situation. Here are six surefire tips that you can use to improve your dog’s physical fitness.

1. Step Outside for a Walk

If your dog always stays indoors, consider taking it outdoors. You don’t have to start with strenuous physical exercise. Some moments outside an enclosed setup can do wonders, unlike inside the house where there is limited space.

Their playful nature will be triggered, meaning that they will automatically begin engaging in physical activities such as jumping or running around. In doing so, some calories will get burned and their body metabolism will improve.

If staying in a single position is not enough, consider taking your dog for a walk. It should not be just a leisurely stroll, try to pick a fast pace and maintain it for some minutes.

2. Do Some Jogging

You may assume that dogs love to run, but that is not always the case. Some dogs, especially those that rarely do physical exercises, may experience some level of difficulties when jogging. To handle this activity well, start with short jogs. This will help to build its endurance level, and after a few weeks, your dog will be physically fit to jog for several minutes.

Alternatively, your dog can achieve the effectiveness of outdoor jogging by using a motorized animal treadmill.

3. Give Food Portions

Measuring meals is not just restricted to human beings. You also need to apply the same to your dog if you want her to grow stronger and physically fit. This technique is all about portion control whereby you feed the dog with specific quantities of food that is just enough to energize it.   As a starting point, use a simple measuring container such as a labeled cup. Try to record the amount of food that your dog consumes on a daily basis. Thanks to the power of technology, you can also use an automated dog feeder system which monitors and regulates a dog’s eating habit.

4. Get Rid of the Scraps

Nobody pays attention to the scraps and food droppings. Sometimes, they could be too meager and don’t have any significant effect on your body. On some level, this may be true, but what about your dog? Feeding your dogs scraps may have severe consequences on its weight. Instead of offering your pet scraps, consider giving it fresh vegetables.

fit dog

5. Engage in Action Games

You don’t want your dog to be unhealthy and at the same time bored. The best way to keep them fit is to engage them in super-active play sessions. There are different types of games that you can engage with the dog including ball games or even hide-and-seek. For example, you can throw a ball some distance away and let the dog follow it.

The games don’t have to be played in the perfect terrain. Go for a hilly ground where the dog will be forced to spend extra energy which will go a long way in burning calories. Apart from having fun, you will also be building stronger bonds with your dog.

6. Be Consistent

Try to be consistent in whatever activity that you are doing to keep your dog physically fit. When it comes to exercises, ensure that your dog does them for a specific period. The same applies to the food control method. Do not get tired or forget about the portions that the dog is supposed to eat. The easiest way of maintaining consistency is by writing down the fitness program for your dog and check if it matches with your schedule.

Everyone wishes to own a healthy dog. However, this may not happen if you don’t take some significant measures. By using the six tips above, you will be able to make your dog healthy and physically fit.