Dogs simply need food, shelter, exericise and love. Everything else is either bonus, but bonuses are good–it’s what makes life great. However bonuses that we provide don’t make up for the basics we neglect. Dressing up your dog in a cutsie t-shirt doesn’t make up for walking her only once a month. Doggie treats don’t make up for leaving him outside all day during  snowy, cold winter days.

Here are a couple of good and short stories along these lines from National Public Radio.

Dogs Make Us Human article

Doggie Well-being – recording from the NPR show Day to Day (3 minutes)

A general rule of thumb is if it is too cold for you, it’s too cold for the dog. But make sure you looking at weather fairly. “Don’t want to” and “too cold” can be two different things. It is important for your dog get some physical activity even in the winter. Read the rest of this entry

You just got a new puppy. You know the basics of dog ownership: someplace to sleep, food, training, and exercise and play. But a puppy is not an adult dog, he is still growing physically and still learning mentally. You need to approach each of these areas differently than you would an older dog.

When I see an enthusiastic new dog owner walking a puppy, I mean a little puppy not an almost-year-old-dog, I want to applaud the owner’s commitment but tell hi–scale it back just a notch for a minute. How much exercise and what kind to puppies really need?

All dogs need some movement, but for a puppy, just some playtime with you in the living room will suffice. (Not only is this enough exercise, this is crucial bonding activity to create a connection with the dog, make him feel secure, and establish your dominance.) Good puppy play can be anything unstructured and not too strenuous: chasing, running, playing with dog toys, tugging. For training purposes, you don’t want to encourage biting or gnawing and maybe even start using a command for when playtime is over so he will start to know the difference. Playing with other dogs that are in the house is good for him too, but just watch if you have older dogs. A puppy playing with an adult dog can tend to play hard to keep up, and will be more prone to injuries.

Overdoing it with your puppy can lead to problems later. Things like rough play and jumping is a bad idea for a young pup. A puppy’s bones are soft and spongy. They don’t completely harden until the puppy is 18 months to 2 year depending on your dog’s breed. High jumps, jumping over large objects and jumping out of things like porches or trucks should be discouraged. The stress soft bones, underdeveloped muscles and immature ligaments can create damage–maybe life-long issues.

More than a casual walk is not good for a young puppy either. Besides the issue of her still-developing bones, a puppy’s body is not good at controlling its body temperature, making her more prone to heat stroke. Running, jogging, rollerblading, and biking with you dog should be saved for later.

As your puppy grows, more intensive or longer workouts are fine. Here are some guidelines from Petco on appropriate physical activity for your pup:

Exercise Guidelines for Puppies

6 Weeks to 4 Months

• Short walks on soft terrain
• Playing with soft toys in a contained area, such as a fenced yard
• Swimming in warmer water for short periods

4 to 8 Months

• Longer walks on soft terrain
• Playing with soft toys
• Swimming and playing with toys in the water

8 to 12 Months

• Faster and/or longer walks on soft terrain
• Playing with soft toys
• Swimming and playing with toys in the water for longer periods

12 Months and Up

• Walks on terrain that has been checked for hazards such as unseen glass, holes, ditches, wires, stakes, and metal fragments
• Jogging with you (begin with short distances on softer terrain until endurance is built up)
• Playing with appropriate toys
• Swimming and playing with toys in the water

Remember, generally, you know any exercise is enough for your dog when he or she is laid out at the end of the day. A tired dog is a happy dog.

by Michael Selvon

One of the most popular exercise machines out today for humans is the treadmill. The reasons why treadmills are so popular are they are easy to use, they burn calories, and they create less impact on your body compared with walking or running on hard surfaces and their conveniently located inside your home. Those same reasons can apply to your dog’s exercise routine. You can train your dog to be a treadmill dog and walk on a treadmill just as you do.

A treadmill is easy to use for both humans and animals because it allows for the natural movement as walking or running outdoors. There are treadmills made especially for pets, but they work similarly to regular treadmills.

Training your pet to walk on a human treadmill is just as simple as training them to walk on a specialized dog treadmill. When you have the equipment already in your home, there is no need to be out the expense on doggie equipment.

Conveniently located in your home, you are only steps away from helping your treadmill dog maintain a health fitness program. Fluctuations in weather conditions as well as daylight or darkness have no effect on his daily workout. Rainy or snowy weather and unsafe traffic conditions are also eliminated.

The first step in the training process is always safety. Make sure you have a harness with a place to attach a leash in front of the chest. This way it’s easier to control the dog while you’re in front of them, and it will prevent unnecessary tension on a neck collar.

Another thing to keep in mind while you exercise your dog on a treadmill is that they are doing all the work, and we’re not. Treadmill activity can be a big workout for dogs because it requires a steady pace. Make sure to watch and listen for signs that your dog is getting tired or overheated just as you would for any activity.

Now, make sure the treadmill is at its lowest setting. A dog can become frightened by the intensity of the ground moving too quickly beneath him. Get yourself comfortable in a spot in front of the machine so that you will be close to your pet. If you get up and leave your dog in the middle of the training, he may become anxious. Never leave your dog unattended on a treadmill. He could lose his footing and become choked.

Next take and offer your dog a treat to lure him onto the treadmill. You will want to make this a positive experience for your dog. Once your dog is positioned on the platform, thread the leash in through the front of the treadmill and turn the machine on low. Use the treats to lure your dog forward and keep them just beyond his nose until he willingly moves forward with the machine. Don’t forget to reward the behavior with a treat.

Dogs respond positively to words of encouragement, so call to him and tell him how great he’s doing. Make sure to always start out slow and progress until your dog reaches an easy trot. Do this for five minutes a day until he moves smoothly even without a treat for a lure.

Treadmill use has grown over the years due to how simple and effective they are to get a thorough workout. There is no reason why your dog can’t benefit from the same principals as you do. With a little training and reassurance, a treadmill gets results, whether for you or your treadmill dog.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our portal for more great information on the treadmill dog, and leave a comment at our pacemaster treadmill blog.

Many of a dog’s behavioral problems can be attributed to a lack of proper exercise. Exercise plays a very important part in helping to keep your dog physically, as well as emotionally, happy.

Of course, the physical part of exercise is obvious. Exercise can keep your dog at a proper weight and help him avoid health issues that can derive from being overweight. Giving your dog the proper amount of exercise can help him avoid diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and even some forms of cancer, as well as other issues that may arise from excessive weight (like arthritis).

Read the rest of the article here.