OVERWEIGHT DOGS

Just like people, dogs can become overweight-even obese. As a many as 1/3rd of all dogs are overweight. Excess pounds are hazardous to your dog's health for many of the same reasons theyíre hazardous to our health: they can lead to heart problems, diabetes and a shortened lifespan.

Sometimes people can overcome a weight problem without assistance. But if your dog weighs too much, heís going to need your help to get back in shape.

Here are some of the reasons dogs become overweight:

• Lack of physical activity
• Poor eating habits
• Treats, rawhides, bones that contain too many calories
• Food is available to him outside of normal meal-time
• Food is available to him from people other than his owner (table scraps are a good example)
• Medical conditions like Hypothyroidism
• Behavior adapted from the owner (a dog might adopt the nervous habits of his OCD owner)

Getting your overweight dog back in shape requires a plan, and some changes in lifestyle. And it's a good idea to consult with your veterinarian. Remember that effective weight control depends on reducing your dog's food intake and increasing his exercise. But improving his diet is key-a better diet alone has more impact on your dog's health than does exercise alone.

How will you know when your dog has hit his ideal weight? Here are some signs:

• You can feel his ribs easily, but cannot see them easily
• He's "cut" (defined) in the loin area
• You can feel or see a bit of his spine
• Your dog does not have a back so flat and wide you could rest a beer on it
  

Some of the most effective weight control for your dog involves exercises both you and your pooch can do.

EXERCISING WITH YOUR DOG

Just like us, dogs need exercise. Exercise does the same things for dogs that it does for us: it keeps them healthy and happy.

For dogs-and dog owners-there are even more benefits to a regular exercise routine: it helps to curb behavioral issues, like hyperactivity, aggression and destruction. When you exercise with your dog, you get a chance to bond with your pet and help to establish your leadership.

BEFORE YOU START
It's always a good idea to check with your veterinarian before your dog begins participating in a regular exercise routine. Keep these other guidelines in mind, too:

• Puppies younger than 16 months should not take part in a vigorous exercise routine because their bones are still growing, and the stress of a difficult routine could lead to early hip and joint issues.
• Overweight and senior dogs should get a vet's OK before starting a vigorous exercise routine.
• Pugs, boxers and other breeds with shorter noses tend to get winded sooner than other dogs, so keep the exercises less vigorous and the session shorter.
• Dachshunds, Bassett Hounds and other breeds with short legs and long backs can develop back problems, so check with your vet before beginning an exercise routine.
• Food is just as effective of a motivator for your dog during exercise as it is at other times-but if you use food as a reward during a workout, use it sparingly: keep the pieces of food very small (about the size of a pea) and limit the total amount of food. Don't feed your dog a full meal's worth of food during active exercise or he may fall victim to a potentially fatal stomach condition called bloat. Great Danes, Bloodhounds and Weimaraners are especially
  susceptible, but the condition can afflict any breed.
  

HOW MUCH EXERCISE?
A normal, healthy, adult dog needs about an hour of exercise a day. You can break that up into two sessions.

Puppies and senior dogs require roughly two 15 minute sessions per day.

HOW TO STAY ON TRACK
It's called an exercise routine for a reason-it works best if you do it regularly. So make it a commitment-and a priority in your life-to exercise with your dog (it'll be good for your health, too).

Here are some other tips for making your routine a habit:

• Schedule a specific time every day thatís just for you and your dog to exercise
• Start slowly and work up in intensity and duration as you and your pooch make progress
• Vary the exercises to keep from getting bored
• Make it fun.

WHAT TYPES OF EXERCISES?
To your dog, exercise is no different than almost everything else in his universe: it's more fun when he's doing it with you. A big flat grassy back-yard may strike you as an open invitation to your dog to run and play, but once you turn around and go back inside the house, your dog probably sees the yard as the perfect place to lay in the shade and catch some shut-eye.

You've made the commitment to exercise with your dog. Find exercises that engage both of you, and it'll be easier to keep that commitment.

You've heard me say this before: "Like people, all dogs are different." Remember that when you're planning your dog's exercise routine. Dogs of different breeds, ages, sizes and abilities require different levels and types of activities.
Here are some other things to remember:

• Some dogs may be fulfilled by a simple walk around the block, while others may require something more active
• Retrievers like fetching and swimming
• Sledding dogs like pulling carts and jogging
• Dock-diving, agility, fly-ball, tracking, herding and protection and tricks are other activities that might interest your dog
  

IF YOU GO TO A DOG PARK
Dog parks and similar facilities offer lots of wide open space for you and your dog to exercise, but also some dangers. You may not know the other dogs, how well they are trained, or how attentive are their owners. So enter at your own risk, use caution-and be prepared.

Before you take your dog to a dog park-or to any off-leash environment, even if it's just the sidewalk in your neighborhood-be sure he knows Steve's Four Commandments .

• Come
• Stay
• Heel
• No

Be aware of your dogís limitations, and what might set him/her off. You know that your kids are little angels, but you also know that if a scuffle breaks out on the playground, you have to be open to the idea that your little angel might have started it. Hard as it may be to believe, the same wisdom applies to your four-footed canine angel.

SWIMMING IN A POOL
Retrievers like fetching and swimming. If you allow them to do so in a pool, make sure they know the way out. This can be done by placing a marker- a planter, a cone, anything visable from his vantage point- and place it near the steps or other major exit points. It's important to make sure good things happen when they reach that marker.

EXERCISES FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG

THE 3-PACED WALK
You and your dog walk for 30 seconds, then jog for 30 seconds, then sprint for 30 seconds, then repeat.

BENEFITS: Aerobic conditioning; strengthens the heart and lungs, boosts metabolism so it burns more calories on a daily basis (the more frequently you do this, the greater the effect over time)

BEFORE YOU START: Your dog should know Heel and how to walk properly

BROOKS' TIP: For an overall body effect and greater impact, move your arms as vigorously as you do your legs

SPRINTS
You sprint to a nearby tree and call to your dog to Come. When he's midway to reaching you, yell "Down" and Stay Then, do some jumping jacks or squats. Your dog should remain in the Stay. Release the dog on your terms and repeat.

BENEFITS: Increased cardiovascular strength and endurance

BEFORE YOU START: Your dog should know Heel and Stay

BROOKS' TIP: While your dog is sprinting and you are resting, work on breathing properly. While you're moving, take long strides to have more of an impact on your leg muscles

THE WEAVING GRAPEVINE
You perform walking lunges while your dog weaves through your legs. Start with a small handfull of treats
in each hand. Step forward into a lunge. Guide dog through legs and reward dog with kibble each step.

As you progress, reward dog every two lunges and then every four lunges. Increase the number of lunges between treats as you and your dog improve.

BENEFITS: Strengthens and tones your inner thighs and butt

BEFORE YOU START: Be sure your dog knows what youíre doing and what you want him to do, or youíll end up on the ground

BROOKS' TIP: Keep your knees in alignment with your feet, not ahead of them. To keep your balance, focus on something at eye level in front of you and don't look down-at your feet or the ground. Breathe consistently for better cardiovascular effect

THE SHUFFLE
You shuffle sideways while your dog heels forward.

BENEFITS: Increases your range of motion, particularly at the hip joint area; works the muscles of the inner and outer thighs; strengthens the ankles and knees. Based on your pace, can improve your cardiovascular endurance, too

BEFORE YOU START: Your dog should know Heel.

BROOKS' TIP: Extend your arms straight out at shoulder level for some upper body involvement and shoulder muscle stimulus

RETRIEVE AND REPEAT
Throw a ball or dog toy that your dog can run, retrieve and return to you. Alternate throwing to the left and right to focus on both sides of your body.

BENEFITS: Aerobic exercise thatís fun for both of you

BEFORE YOU START: Be sure your dog wonít have to run into the street to retrieve what you throw, and make sure he knows Come and Stay.

BROOKS' TIP: To increase the aerobic intensityóand the fun factoró once your dog retrieves the ball runaway and have them chase you.


TUG O'WAR
NOTE: Not for all dogs! See BEFORE YOU START, below.
This game is a favorite of almost every dog, and depending on the size of your pet, can be a real strength exercise for you. But your dog must know the rules of the game: that the game starts only when you say so, and that when you say the game is over, it means right now.

BENEFITS: Strengthens your arms and shoulders

BEFORE YOU START: Be certain that your dog is not aggressive; that he does not have a tendency to bite; that he knows and immediately obeys a "drop it" command

BROOKS' TIP: Use a rope long enough that your dog can't accidentally bite your finger; do not lift your dog off the ground by the rope in his teeth


THE STAIRS
You and your dog run up a flight of stairs, run down, repeat.

BENEFITS: Aerobic exercise for both of you

BEFORE YOU START: Your dog should sit this one out if he's overweight; if he's a breed with short legs and/or a long back; if heís very young or very old; or if the stairs are in a public place and are crowded

BROOKS' TIP: If your dog gets tired and is good with a "Stay". Let him rest at the top or bottom of the stairs while you complete our exercise

DOWN AND STAY
Put your dog in a down and stay while you perform a set of cardiovascular exercises. He must maintain down and stay.

BENEFITS: Your dog learns self control which could save his life, while you work your cardiovascular fitness.

BEFORE YOU START: Your dog must master down and stay.

BROOKS' TIP: You can do jumping jacks, squats, squat jumps or even running in circles while the dog maintains a down and stay.

THE TWO DOG RACE
Place both dogs in a Stay, then run 25 yards or so away and stop. Face the dogs and yell "Come". The first dog to Come and Sit (or Down) wins a
reward (a treat or a hug).

BENEIFTS: Sprints for you, then a sprint for the dogs

BEFORE YOU START: If your dog isnít safe off-leash, use a 20 or 25-foot leash and run only that distance away

BROOKS' TIP: Work on your breathing while the dogs are running

Once you and your dog get the hang of your regular routine, you can get creative and add some new exercises, like Doggie Pushups: Command your dog to Sit. Then issue a Down command. Keep the
repetitions to a maximum of 4 or 5, otherwise your dog may become confused and frustrated. Take a break, then repeat.

Freestyle dancing and good old fashioned stretching are also fun and effective elements of any workout-for you and your dog.

Frisbee is an classic activity that some some dogs really enjoy. Simply having your dog carry a toy or the owners purse can be an addition that leads to extra burned calories.

For some older dogs you might try a food hunt, where, much like an easter egg hunt, you hide food through your yard. A good low impact exercise is dissecting a Kong toy sutff with a low calorie treat. These can be both mentally and physically challeges.

Treadmills may be popular, but beware because they can be dangerous. If you put your dog on a treadmill, make sure you constantly monitor them. However, if you're going to spend you time monitoring, you might as well spend some quality time with them and take them for a walk.

~ Steve Brooks K9U Family