Most veterinarians will caution pet owners not
to exercise a dog right after feeding him. This is certainly
true of strenuous exercise, which can make a dog throw up and
can lead to gastric torsion. A recent study by the Divisions
of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University proved that
exercise after eating seems to burn up more calories by
raising the body's rate of metabolism.
After eating, many dogs will lie down to digest their
food. While sleeping a pet will burn up a few calories in just
keeping his heart and lungs going. This sluggish behaviour can
only encourage the animal to put on weight and to put on fat.
It now makes sense to take your dog for a walk not more than a
half-hour after his big meal of the day. This very gentle
exercise will also stimulate his digestion. Then after a few
hours have gone by, you can put him through a more demanding
regimen of activity.
For smaller breeds, simply taking a dog outdoors to relieve
himself constitutes a certain amount of exercise. Exercise
assists but does not cause defecation and a dog does not need
exercise to loosen his bowels unless he is ill.
RUNNING
The cheetah is the fastest land animal known and has been
clocked in short bursts up to sixty miles an hour. Dogs in the
wild do a lot of running but mostly when they are hunting or
chasing prey. Taking a dog on a daily run is not necessarily
in its best interest. Dogs should never be run on hard
surfaces like pavements or paved roads but on earth. If you
insist on having your dog jog then make certain that the pace
is a fast walk or trot rather than a run, of course this
should never be allowed in hot weather. Always check the dog's
feet after a run for cuts and rawness.
DANGERS OF HEAT
A dog can sweat through his feet pads, and tongue. He does not
have the heat releasing mechanisms of many other animals. Dogs
are susceptible to heatstroke and other related problems. Dogs
that were bred for cold climates such as Huskies, Akita's have
been transplanted by people to warm climates this is not
natural and one can expect behavioural and health problems.
Dogs react to heat by panting or digging holes in the earth
under shady trees or bushes. Locking dogs in closed cars can
be because a car heats up and so do dogs. Exercise raises your
dog's metabolism and boosts his temperature, which in turn can
turn to heatstroke. For obese dogs the problem is worse. Never
exercise a dog in the heat of the day and keep his weight
under control. It also a good idea to give your dog his water
dish to enable him to drink before a walk.
David is a Canine Behaviourist who works and lives in Marbella, Spain. Tel/Fax (00345) 2883388. His web site is located at: www.thedogman.net. David has his own radio and TV shows, and writes for many newspapers and magazines. David has been working with dogs for many years and started his career in Israel, working on the Border Police. He has been involved in all forms of training, including air sea rescue, air scent work, and has trained dogs for finding drugs. David has devoted the past 10 years to studying behaviour and the very passive approach. He does not use choke chains, check chains, or any form of aggression.
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