Once again... Welcome to the new Indian Trail Animal Hospital blog! We are excited to be offered this opportunity to communicate with our clients and the community about points of interest and importance in the world of veterinary medicine. Please feel free to comment or make suggestions as this blog matures.
After a season filled with cakes, sweets, and enormous meals, many of us have new year's resolutions concerning physical fitness (as cliche as that may sound). Physical fitness is as important for our four legged companions as it is for us. Which brings me to my unofficial resolution: To exercise with my dogs more this year.
My dogs need two things that are often overlooked in my busy schedule; exercise and quality time with me. Taking the dogs for good long walks three times a week can go a long way to fulfilling these needs. It gets them (and me) out of the house, and provides them with a chance to enjoy some exercise, training, and one-on-one time.
If you have a high-energy dog who is hard to control or is on the "naughty" side when it comes to obedience, exercise should be the cornerstone of your training regimen. A tired dog is a good dog. Living in north Spokane, we are blessed with many opportunities for outdoor recreation with our dogs. Taking advantage of the trails around Riverside State Park or the long rolling Centennial Trail is a relatively easy way to start an exercise program.
I started out taking walks around my neighborhood with my Corgi and Great Dane. The walks have now been extended to two hour hikes over rough terrain. I get up early on Saturday and Sunday and head out before the trails get busy. I have been working on commands while off leash, and the pups are able to obey commands and stay behind me without the use of a leash.
I used to be a runner and regular at the gym. However, with my busy work schedule and family, I don't have the time to devote to physical fitness I once did. Taking the dogs for a short walk with a ball session used to be an "extra activity" that I would fit in on lazy mornings. Now, exercise with my dogs is the basis of my workout schedule. We are all better off for it!
