Giving your dog exercise every day has many benefits.
Ella on a walk. Can you see the smile on her face?
As expected, this time of year brings colder weather – much colder weather in some parts of the United States!
I live in Minnesota, so our temperatures can be very frigid this time of year, to say the least. Most days it’s hard to motivate myself to get outside, even though I know that the fresh air, exercise and (on a good day) sunshine will invigorate me.
If you have a pet like many people do, he/she will benefit from the same things that you do when you get outside. When dogs get enough exercise, they are usually less hyper inside, which is an especially good thing for a dog who needs lots of exercise like a Siberian Husky. The Husky is a very inquisitive (nosy) and active (mischievous) animal. So…if you don’t keep them busy, you could pay for it in other ways if they get bored. I have witnessed first hand what a bored husky can do. Our first Husky, Camper, was able to chew through anything – and he did. We kept him active, but it never seemed to be enough.
Our Husky Ella, on the other hand is the laziest being that I have never seen, but her walks are still easily the biggest highlight of her day. The video below is actually a “calm” video of Ella getting ready for a walk…
When I get Ella out for exercise, I usually walk or jog with her. Because she is a Husky, she tolerates the cold weather much better than I do in the Winter time. However, during the Summer, it’s the other way around, so I may end up almost pulling her home if we overdo our jogging time.
There are lots of other benefits to exercising your dog. Besides keeping him/her trim, exercise also improves a dog’s heart and lung function and strengthens their bones and joints. Speaking of trim, did you know that there is an organization called the “Association for Pet Obesity Prevention?” This organization estimates that 54% of dogs and cats in the United States are Overweight or Obese. Wow! That’s probably right up there with us humans…
Also, dogs who get exercise on a regular/daily basis are usually happier and live longer. I remind my son of these two facts when I am trying to get him off the couch to walk Ella. That usually gets him (the boy) moving enough to get up and get the dog moving.
Getting exercise with your pet makes you feel more alive and gives you a break from your typical surroundings. Even though my surroundings during the long Minnesota winters involve alot of white stuff and below zero temperatures, I know I need to brace myself and get outside. Ella is my motivation to get going, but I would be lying if I said that we did not both benefit from our “winter wonderland” excursions because it’s good for me too. Thanks Ella!
Ella and Luke
Speak Your Mind