Playtime benefits our dogs mental and physically, but how much is enough? Here are some guidelines to help prioritize play with your pet.
How much playtime does my dog need?
Between busy work schedules and spending time with your human family, it can be easy to let quality time with Fido fall to the wayside. Depending on his age and breed, your dog has specific exercise and activity needs that are important to prioritize, however, for his mental and physical wellbeing. In turn, a calm and happy pet will contribute to your overall quality of life, too.
Many factors come into play when determining how much playtime your canine companion truly needs and age is one of the most important. Puppies need plenty of quality time as they master basic motor skills, obedience and other crucial components of growing into an adult. A good rule of thumb is to offer your young pup at least five minutes of exercise for each month of age until he is fully grown, and do this twice a day. If your pet is four months old, for example, try to take him on two twenty-minute jaunts a day.
As dogs mature, they require less attention, but have much more stamina for sustained activity from hiking and walking to playing games of fetch at the dog park. While you should work to meet your individual dog’s playtime and exercise needs, must adult dogs dog do well with 30 minutes to two hours of exercise spread across a day. These can be a range of activities from trips to the dog park to agility training, walking or playing fetch in the back yard. These activities do not just stimulate your dog both physically and mentally, but also improve the bond you share and can help a range of behavioral problems by keeping Fido from becoming overly bored or energetic.
As he enters his senior years, your pet will lead a slower pace of life. Though aging dogs’ activities levels may change, however, they still need plenty of quality time with their human family. Continue to spend at least 30 minutes a day actively engaging with your pet in gentler playtime, based around his specific physical abilities and needs. Many older pet parents take their dogs swimming, which allows Fido to engage in activity without putting pressure on sensitive joints.
Dogs’ exercise needs also vary by breed, with many smaller pets requiring lower activity levels then their mid- to large- size peers. Likewise, giant breed such as Newfoundlands tend to require slightly less activity, as do short-nosed dogs such as bulldogs and pugs, which are prone to labored breathing and require less-active lifestyles.
Playing with your pet not only improves his quality of life, but helps get you up and moving. Watch your individual dog to make sure you are meeting his unique exercise needs. If he is restless, overweight, or engaging in destructive behaviors, chances are both you and your companion will benefit from increased time engaged in play or training.
Whether he wants to greet every dog on the street or is protective of his owner, a dog barks on walks. Here’s when it can become a problem.
Why do dogs bark at each other during walks?
Many dogs bark at other dogs on walks, but it can be uncomfortable when your pet is the one instigating a noisy exchange. To help Fido stay calm during his daily stroll, you must first figure out the underlying trigger causing him to snap at other animals as they pass. Here are a few likely culprits behind a reactive Rover’s behavior:
1. He is frustrated. We walk our pets on leashes to ensure their own safety and the safety of those nearby. Though many dogs respond well to leash walking, it can create what is known as barrier frustration for pets eager to explore. Friendly dogs can feel irritated by this lack of freedom to greet each passing pet, leading to barking that can be misconstrued as aggressive or inappropriate behavior. This is a particular problem in energetic youngsters, so it is important to address the behavior from an early age.
2. He wants his space. Not all dogs who bark at other animals want to make friends. Some dogs use their voices to communicate a “stay back” message to four-legged passersby. This is likely due to a lack of socialization with other dogs and often stems from fear or a negative past experience with strange animals.
3. He is protective of you. Known as resource guarding, this type of barking is another “stand back” message, but it is aimed to keep other animals away from a valuable resource—mostly likely, you. Though Fido could be protecting a bag of treats or toy you are carrying, he is most likely vocalizing to let other animals know you are his person. This jealous barking can escalate if two dogs meet and may even lead to a fight if another animal gets too close to a protective pet.
Watch your dog and what triggers his barking during walks. To address it, start with the root of the problem. If Fido is fighting to greet every potential friend he sees, practice obedience training before ever taking to the streets. While letting him sniff each new friend may seem like a good idea, this actually teaches him to continue barking to seek his “reward” and will escalate the behavior. Instead, practice the “heel” command at home and ask your dog to do this whenever he becomes excited at a new potential playmate. Lavish him with praise and treats when he follows the command and his behavior should improve with time. If, however, your dog’s vocalizations are a warning to other animals, you will need to take a different approach to the problem.
For dogs barking to assert their space, try a front-attaching harness to more easily bring your pet’s attention back to you when he begins to become assertive around other animals. After refocusing his attention on you, give him a treat to build positive associations with seeing other animals. Offering treats when protective pets begin to bark is effective, too, as your dog will learn that he gets your attention when other animals are near. In many cases, these methods will be enough to modifying Fido’s behavior with practice and time, but some owners will need the help of a behavior specialist to address their dog’s excessive vocalizations during walk.
Dogs tremble when they are scared, excited or cold, and some pets seem to shake for no reason at all. Read on to learn about canine tremors.
My dog’s legs are shaking—What does it mean?
Dogs shiver for a variety of reasons, from excitement to pain or intense cold. Whatever is causing Fido to tremble is telling you something about his health and it is important to find out the root of the problem.
Tremors are involuntary, rhythmic twitching of the muscles that typically result in shaking of a particular part of your pet’s body. While these back-and-forth movements vary in speed, they are typically easy to tell apart from seizures, as tremors tend to be more regular and localized in one part of the body. Though they may occur anywhere, they are particularly common in dogs’ hind legs. Many potential causes lead to canine tremors, though often the source can be tricky to identify. Some dogs are simply more prone to generalized tremor syndrome, fincluding Chow Chows, Dalmatians, Doberman Pinschers, English Bulldogs, Labrador Retrievers, Samoyeds, Springer Spaniels and Weimaraners. There are a wide range of other potential causes behind shaking, too, from exposure to toxins to an illness or simply old age. Because treatments for tremors vary depending on their root source, you should take your companion to the veterinarian to get to the bottom of what is causing your companion to quiver.
One common, non-medical reason for trembling is temperature. Just like humans, if your dog gets too cold, his entire body will shake—a symptom that will disappear when he is warm again. Similar full-body tremors can occur when a pet is shaking due to fear, and symptoms will likewise subside when the source of Fido’s stress is removed. If your pet’s tremors are not a temporary reaction to his environment, however, it is important to visit the veterinarian to determine the cause and treatment for your pet’s condition. Using a combination of your pet’s history, a physical exam and routine blood work, your vet can help develop a plan to treat trembling at its source.
Pain is one of the most common causes behind tremors and can be caused by muscle, bone, joint or nerve damage due to either an injury or chronic condition such as arthritis. Older dogs are particularly prone to tremoring due to muscle fatigue either combined with another condition or simply related to age. Corticosteroids such as prednisone, sedatives or pain relieving medicine can help treat general tremor syndrome. Similar prescriptions to relieve pain or relax the muscles may also help reduce symptoms while your veterinarian searches out the root cause behind Fido’s muscle spasms. If your veterinarian cannot identify any specific cause for your senior pet’s shaky legs and it is does not appear to be harming your pet, there is often no need for treatment beyond keeping your companion warm, watered and fed and ensuring he gets light, but not excessive, exercise to keep his muscles active. If your pet is in pain, your veterinarian can create a plan to manage his symptoms. Limit the amount of exercise he gets, as this can exacerbate tremors, and help keep your dog from getting overly excited, which can create bursts of energy that cause further inflammation.
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