If you have never exercised your dog, you need to build him or her up to the needed level of exercise, which is called conditioning. Keep in mind that there are many forms of exercise you can provide your dog with and it does not have to mean jogging three miles with your dog every day. Many people that are unable to physically walk their dogs feel they cannot provide the proper amount of exercise, but this is not true. There are many ways to give your dog the exercise he or she needs and get them in tip-top condition without the need for walking.

First, you need to start where your dog is, which means if your dog is a coach potato or is not used to any exercise other than walking to his food bowl, obviously, you need to begin slowly and work up his level. Conditioning your dog is no different than you would condition yourself, if you are not doing any exercise, you would not go to the gym and try to work out for three hours straight, your body could not take it, and therefore, you need to do the same with your dog, start him or her where she is.

If your dog is overweight, you definitely need to start out slowly because the excess weight is probably making it harder for them to breathe, so if you overdo it, you could end up overheating your dog, which can end up meaning an emergency trip to your veterinarian. Think about your dog's age, is your dog a senior, if so, he or she definitely needs exercise, but perhaps they are not physically able to do what a one-year old dog could. Imagine an 80 year old man trying to outrun a 25 year old man, you have to use common sense when it comes to exercising your dog, but all dogs, regardless of their size, weight, age, or breed need some form of exercise.

Start small, maybe take your dog for a walk around the block and see how he or she is acting, if they are panting to the point of exhaustion, get them inside and some water. On the other hand, after the block if they are not working up a minor pant, take them for another walk around the block. You know when you have provided enough exercise for your dog because when you have finished your dog should be ready to settle in for a nap, but not be at the point of exhaustion (panting heavily, drooling, etc.).

By slowly conditioning your dog you can work their exercise level up to a nice pace, get them in better shape, lose weight, and add years to their life. The same benefits of exercise for people apply to dogs and maybe even more so for dogs because when some breeds are not exercised they become bored and destructive. Therefore, begin early to condition your dog for exercise and you and your dog will have a long and happy relationship.

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