Last week I wrote about three important canine needs that must be met every day to ensure a healthy and emotionally well-balanced dog.
These needs are physical stimulation (exercise), social stimulation (interaction with their own kind), and mental stimulation (providing an opportunity to use their nose).
There are many other needs, such as good-quality nutrition, health care, training etc., but I am focusing on the ones dog owners tend to overlook because they may underestimate the importance of them from a dog's perspective. This week I am going to concentrate on physical stimulation, otherwise known as exercise. From a physiological point of view, exercise provides dogs with a healthy cardiovascular system, maintenance of body weight, muscle mass and strong bones. Exercise encourages healthy digestion and absorption of food. It promotes a healthy appetite as well as curbing food cravings resulting in food-demanding behaviour usually related to boredom. And of course, the obvious, it tires them out.
But exercise does more than just tire them out, it helps them be good dogs to be around. Regular moderate exercise of a minimum of 30 up to 60 minutes a day releases the "feel good" hormones called endorphins, and yes dogs have them too. As I have said in the past, dogs seek physical touch because it feels good to them due to the release of endorphins.
Dogs feel good emotionally after daily exercise, which means they are more relaxed, calm and thus pleasant to be around.
Mentally, exercise clears the cobwebs of the mind. It helps with mental focus and attention, which reduces over-stimulation by distractions resulting in hyper arousal.
Through regular moderate exercise between 30 and 60 minutes in duration, the brain produces a chemical called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). BDNF rewires memory circuits in the brain so that they work better. It allows the brain to block out unnecessary distractions and focus on the task at hand. In short, it means that the more exercise your dog gets, the smarter they get. The amount of exercise a dog receives does not have to be to the point of physical collapse every day, but rather a moderate pace over a period of an hour or so. Puppies, senior dogs with medical issues, or dogs with physical limitations can have their exercise routine split into shorter but frequent sessions throughout the day. Dogs don't fret about having to exercise like most people do, they instinctively know the full-spectrum value they receive from it, and willingly participate at the slightest encouragement.
How many dog owners have to speak in an alien language or in acronyms around their dog when discussing or using the word walk? Just whispering it or leaning in the direction of a leash can send a dog into enthusiastic convulsions.
Us human folk find many-o-excuses to avoid exercise, but following the theme of Be More Dog from past columns maybe we should reconsider our avoidance behaviour regarding exercise.
If a dog loves and finds so much joy in going for a simple walk around the block or a hike on an easy local trail then why can't humans do the same thing? Why do so many people dread exercising or even taking the dog for a walk? Personally, I think it's because of the pessimistic view embedded in our brains that if there is no pain there will be no gain. Your dog is a good example of the fallacy of that statement.
When out on a walk, a dog moves effortlessly, finding a pace that is comfortable and able to carry them a great distance with a moderate amount of exertion. They never over-exert themselves to the point of discomfort, unless they are being forced to by repeatedly chasing a ball, or not being allowed to set their own pace, such as when running alongside of a bike.
Limiting the amount of repetitive exercise with your dog helps prevent acute injuries, which could turn into chronic conditions. Moderation is the key.
Physical exercise does more than just tire out your dog. It is a fundamental need that assists your dog in maintaining a state of optimum homeostasis.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her via her website k9kinship.com.
