Dogs are much more like humans than we seem to realize. Something we humans inherently know is that running is healthy. There are tons of benefits to it like burning of extra energy, improved cardiovascular health, weight management, and mental health improvements. Guess what…every single one of these can also be true for your dog!
Energy: When our dogs have excess energy, they have to get it out somewhere. Directing it towards positive outlets is the best way to ensure healthy habits are forming. If a dog is understimulated, it tends to lead to some unwanted behavior that can even end up being destructive to our homes. Running can be an excellent outlet!
Physical Health: Running, like other cardiovascular activities help train your heart and lungs to work together to supply the most oxygenated blood as efficiently to the body as possible.
Weight Management: Continuing the benefits on physical health, active workouts for your pet can burn more calories than your daily walks or potty breaks. With a rise in overweight animals, it is more important now than ever that we focus on a balanced diet and exercise routine for our pets. We want them to live the longest, healthiest life possible!
Mental Health: Since this month is Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s only right that we touch on the subject. Mental health is something overlooked in both humans and animals. Mental and physical health go hand-in-hand. People don’t always realize that negative mental health can cause things like physical ailments, such as stomach or sleep issues, higher susceptibility to illness, and an increased amount of inflammation in the body. All of this is true in animals too. The more active and stimulated your pet, the better quality of life they have and the better their mental health will be. Besides, to many dogs, running isn’t a workout, it’s another fun way to spend time outside with a companion.
You likely know your dog better than anyone. This doesn’t mean you should go out and run marathons with your dog. You can start with just adding a few short intervals of jogging into your walks, increasing the duration of these intervals and speed overtime time. Even if changes are small, they can add up to big differences in overall quality of life and potentially even lifespan. This can be another way for you to crush goals together.
If you think your dog would benefit from incorporating running into their physical regimen, but you don’t have the time or energy to accommodate them, then you may be in luck! We will be offering dog running in the Sterling, VA service area on a trial basis.
Comment “Please tell me more” below if you’d like your dog to be considered as a candidate.
Well wishes & puppy kisses,
Akira
*Disclaimer: We are not veterinary professionals. These general tips are from our dog care experience. Any specific medical advice for your dog should come from your vet.
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