Do LESS with MORE consistency

April is National Canine Fitness Month!

One of the most frequently asked questions clients ask me is “How often should I be exercising my dog?”

My answer is always, “It depends.”

Just like most things in canine fitness & conditioning, the frequency (as well as the type, duration, intensity) of exercise depends on the specific dog. Things that we need to consider include, but not limited to:

• How old is your dog?

• What is the current fitness level of your dog?

• What is the goal of the fitness/conditioning program?

• Does your dog have any pre-existing health conditions? If so, are they being addressed by a veterinarian professional?

• What can your dog currently do (in terms of fitness & conditioning exercises)?

We also need to take into consideration the human end of this partnership, for example:

• What does your regular schedule look like?

• Realistically, how much time can you allocate to exercise your dog on a regular basis?

• How often do you currently exercise your dog?

Unfortunately, there is no one-size fits all answer to the “How often should I be exercising my dog” question.

However, my key to maximizing the potential benefits of exercising is LESS IS MORE. If you are able to commit to exercising your dog 5 minutes regularly (e.g., 5 days a week), the consistency of the 5-minutes-a-day exercise is more beneficial than if you were to exercise your dog 30 minutes once a week, or 1 hour once every two weeks. Regular, low-impact exercise CAN improve your dog’s balance, body awareness, and flexibility.

Do you have 5 minutes every day in your busy schedule to spare?

Can you commit to exercising your dog 5 minutes every day?

Do you need some motivation to track your 5-minutes exercise every day?

Download this FREE 30-day 5-minute exercise tracker to help you stay motivated!