What should I do when excerising my pet.

Our pets benefit from exercise as much as their mortal keepers do. Besides the health aspect, other benefits include not having an errant, disruptive, overweight, pet that chews on your priceless possessions, and steals or tears apart everything within whiskers distance.

Think for a moment how you feel when you don’t “get out”. We experience general malaise. We become tired, lethargic, slothful, irritable, or all of the above.

Exercise works both mentally and physically. Obesity among pets is becoming more prevalent in our society. A fat pet generally means a shorter lifespan with diabetes, joint issues, and liver disease topping the charts.

Our pets need to keep their weight in line and stay in shape just like we do, and a great way to help them do it is to have them exercise.

Here are a few easy ways to get started:

• Take your pet for at least one long walk a day.
• Bring your dog to a dog park where to run.
• Play frisbee or fetch.
• Buy a rope and have a tug-of-war.
• Invest in some paraphernalia for your cat or dog. Catnip works great for cats and dogs love tennis balls and chewy bones.

Whatever you do, just be sure to start out slowly. Unless you’re a marathoner, you’re not going to wake up tomorrow and run one. Ease your pet into exercise. Begin with 10-15 minutes of exercise and increase it accordingly. Work up to one hour in 5-10 minute increments. Remember to provide your pet with water prior to and after workouts. Be conscious of the breed. Breeds such as bulldogs, pugs, and Persian cats have flat faces which makes it harder for them to breathe.