A blog for people who treat their dogs better than family
June 6th, 2013
Summertime Exercise for Your Dog
Summer has officially arrived in Florida! We have months of hot, humid weather facing us before we can cool off outdoors again. Even though it’s hot we still need to exercise our dogs. They need it, despite the weather. So what can you do to ensure your dog still gets the exercise he needs during the summer months? Here are some suggestions.
Exercise your dog early in the morning before it gets too hot, or later in the evening after the evening storms have cooled things off a bit.
Walk on grassy areas as much as possible. Grass is cooler than sidewalks.
Choose shaded walks to help keep you both out of direct sunlight.
Test the sidewalks and roadways with your bare feet. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog.
Try dog boots to help protect his paws from heat.
Exercise your dog in the water. Swimming is the ultimate full body workout. If you have a pool, teach your dog to use the pool. Always supervise your dog in the pool, never leave him alone. Some lakes here in Central Florida are also good to swim in, and there are a couple of beach dog parks nearby. If you don’t have access to any of these options, call us. If your dog doesn’t know how to swim (many dogs don’t), contact us. We can teach him.
If you go boating and take your dog, exercise caution by putting a life jacket on him.
Know the signs of heat stroke. Symptoms include excessive panting, rapid pulse and fever. If this happens, run cool water over your dog, wrap with cool towels and go to the vet.
Keep your dog hydrated. Dogs with darker coats or ones who are overweight are at greater risk of dehydration. When walking always carry a bottle of water for your dog.
Prevent sunburn. Depending on the coat, many dogs can get sunburned. Limit exposure when the sun is strong.
Exercise indoors. Treadmills, strength and conditioning equipment, and games such as chase, hide and seek, indoor agility all are great ways to provide indoor exercise. Talk to us about Barking Dog Fitness and our new day fitness and care program to give your dog a regular quality workout.
Just because it’s summer and hot outside is not a reason for not exercising your dog. Dogs need exercise, probably more than humans. Lack of exercise causes everything from obesity to behavior problems. Make a commitment to your dog to give him the quality exercise he needs despite the weather outside. You’ll be richly rewarded!
osure when the sun is strong.
