If you already have a dog and are considering jogging with him/her

In my opinion, no breed is completely “un-joggable”. However, I am not a vet and every dog is different. If you’re worried, get your dog checked out by a veterenary professional before starting to take him/her out for jogs. I’d definitely recommend that any owners of breeds like Dachshunds or Pugs do see a vet before starting an exercise routine that involves more than walking.

Remember that if you have an overweight or overall unfit dog, you shouldn’t take it for a long jog straight away. If yours is a smaller breed (or is in a very unfit condition), jog down the street. Then take it around the blog. As your dog becomes more conditioned and healthy it will be able to run faster and farther.

If you’re buying a dog and want it to be a jogging partner

Some breeds are certainly more suited to jogging and running with you than others. The first thing you need to figure out is how often, how far, and how fast you want to jog. Fit Border Collies and other working breeds will probably outlast you when running any day. If you do long distance runs, look into breeds known for their endurance – such as herding breeds. If you only take jogs around the block, you can consider something with a bit less stamina and energy.

If you’re just starting out jogging and specifically want your dog to jog with you, I’d suggest jogging on your own first and seeing how you feel about it. Doing it yourself will give you a good idea of how dedicated you are to sticking with the program and keeping up that distance. You don’t want to get a Border Collie thinking that it’ll get plenty of exercise on your daily runs, only to realize that you don’t really like running all that much, or can’t maintain the distance you set.

Dog jogging equipment

If you’re just starting out with jogging with your dog, see how you go on your first few runs. If it’s something you feel you want to continue to puruse you could consider investing in some dog jogging equipment to make jogging with your dog more pleasant. Keeda and I use a hands free dog leash on our jogs.

Remember, though – no piece of equipment will substitute training your dog how to jog beside you on a loose lead. Your experience will be much more positive and pleasurable for both of you if you teach your dog to behave on your jogs.

The Shar Pei were originally bred to be protection dogs in China. Proper socialization is crucial to this breed as poorly trained and socialized dogs can develop aggressive tendencies due to their natural instinct to guard and protect their owner and territory. With their family, the Shar Pei can be extremely affectionate, playful, and loyal.

The Shar Pei could do well as an apartment dog as long as they get sufficient exercise. Their exercise requirements aren’t overly great, but just as with any dog they do need to stay fit and not be cooped up inside 24 hours a day seven days a week. Even an hour-long power walk per day can be sufficient for some Shar Pei (of course each individual is different). Try to avoid exercising your Shar Pei in very hot weather and go for walks either in the morning or evening during the summer as opposed to taking your Shar Pei out for a walk in the heat of the day. Unlike herding breeds like Border Collies or Australian Cattle Dogs, the Shar Pei does not cope as well in the heat.

As you can see, the Shar Pei can be a great breed if they’re properly socialized and get a daily walk to keep them happy and healthy.

Obesity can cause serious health problems in dogs. Weight gain and loss can also be caused by underlying health problems. If your Shar Pei is obese or experiences sudden weight gain or weight loss, it is always recommended to take it to a vet for a checkup.

The Rottweiler has a strong willingness to work and can be quite independent, though always loyal to its owner. Irresponsible ownership can bring out potentially dangerous behavior in the Rottweiler. Rottweilers have a strong instinct to protect. If this instinct is not nurtured and is guided in the wrong direction, the Rottweiler can be a handful indeed. This breed is an excellent herding dog, thought to be one of the oldest herding breeds, and is known for its forceful method of herding. Rottweilers are known to be able to herd especially tough stock, but have also been known to bond and be affectionate with the sheep it may be in charge of herding as long as the sheep do as the dog commands.

It’s obvious that the Rottweiler can be a tough and independent breed to own. The Rottweiler is certainly not suited to every owner. So how much exercise do Rottweilers require to stay in their prime mental and physical condition?

A daily run, walk, and active in-yard play is the minimum amount of exercise that your Rottweiler should be getting daily. If you feed your Rottweiler too much or exercise it too little, this breed can be prone to gaining weight quickly. While many Rottweilers are known for their placid and calm demeanor, exercise is very important to maintain this temperament.

The Rottweiler is a very versatile breed and is suited for many different types of exercise and dog sports. It can handle and enjoy anything from personal protection sports like Schutzhund to Carting and, of course, Herding.

Make sure to socialize your Rottweiler from a young age with people and other dogs. They are known to be quite aloof and may not warm up to strangers easily. Socialization and play with other dogs from a young age will help you to raise a fit, balanced dog.

If you live in an apartment and are considering getting a Rottweiler, please think long and hard about whether or not you’ll be able to give this amazing, independent, active breed the exercise it needs to stay healthy and happy. Sure, your Rottweiler will survive in an apartment. But this is a breed that was born to run, herd, protect, and do a job. Beware potential behavioral and physical health problems should you fail to provide it with sufficient exercise.

Obesity can cause serious health problems in dogs. Weight gain and loss can also be caused by underlying health problems. If your Rottweiler is obese or experiences sudden weight gain or weight loss, it is always recommended to take it to a vet for a checkup.

Great Dane Exercise Requirements

Great Danes need a moderate amount of exercise. Unlike herding breeds such as German Shepherds, Border Collies, or Australian Kelpies, Great Danes don’t need intense amounts of exercise. A long walk each day, balanced with a proper diet, should be enough. This lack of intensive exercise may come as a surprise for a dog as large as the Great Dane and they could certainly handle more exercise than the required amount.

Great Dane Exercise Issues to Watch Out For

You must remember to not put any great deal of strain on your Great Dane’s bones and joints during exercise, especially when your Great Dane is young. In fact, I wouldn’t suggest doing any sort of jump training or long distance running until your Great Dane is at least two years old and is fully grown.

Not being able to put strain on your young Great Dane may mean that you’ll end up with quite a rambunctious puppy in your dog’s first year or two of life. Make sure that you’re able to spend time with your Great Dane and provide companionship. Here are some exercise ideas for Great Danes which don’t cause too much impact on their bones and joints:

Young Great Dane Exercise Ideas

• Play Catch – toss the ball up lightly so that your Great Dane doesn’t have to perform a huge leap to catch it.
• Play Fetch
• Jog – Take light jogs when your Great Dane reaches 1 or 1 and a half years of age (it’s always recommended to consult with a vet first, however).
• Take your Great Dane to the beach – Take your Great Dane to the beach to play in the water, or a dog beach where he/she can interact with other dogs. Just try not to allow your young Great Dane to leap in and out of your car if you do take it on many car trips. This repeated strain can damage your Great Dane’s growing bones and joints.

If you hope to participate in Agility with your Great Dane when he/she has reached adulthood, you can set up ‘mock’ obstacle courses to train. For example, place straight wooden bars for your Great Dane to walk across, have it step (not jump) through a tire, and place some upright poles at a comfortable distance apart for your Great Dane to “weave” through. These mock obstacle courses can get you and your Great Dane started on the course of learning Agility commands. Competition-sized courses should not be set up until your Great Dane is at least two years old and has been checked up by the vet.

Adult Great Dane Exercise

When your Great Dane is at least two years old, has reached adulthood, and its body is fully developed, you can take up some more intensive workouts and start participating in dog sports like Agility. Get your Great Dane checked up by the vet before competing in sports like Agility, paying close attention to hips and elbows.

Check out this video of a Great Dane running an Agility course:

Great Danes can very much enjoy an active lifestyle – it’s simply important to be mindful of their rapidly growing bodies, which grow faster but develop slower than many other breeds.

Huskies were bred to be used as sled dogs in the cold northern climates, but now many are kept as pets. Unfortunately while Huskies can make excellent pets, a lot of people don’t realize just how much exercise they require.

If you love running, hiking, various sledding-type dog sports like Skijoring, Bikejoring, and others, and have a large enclosure (by enclosure I mean a fence tall enough to prevent your Husky jumping out and a ground surface that won’t allow it to dig under), the Husky may just be the perfect dog for you. Here are some ideas for exercising with your Husky:

Husky Exercise

Husky Exercise Tips

• Get up early and go for a 5km run or 10km cycle before work. Especially if you live in a hot climate, try to exercise your dog when it’s cool – this might mean early morning or late evening Husky exercise sessions.
• Get a long rope. Unless your Husky is amazingly well trained, you probably shouldn’t risk allowing it to run free in your front yard or park. Huskies are escape artists and you don’t want one running off. Not to mention an untrained Husky can cause a lot of damage to a smaller (or even larger) dog should it run off and get into a fight. Many Huskies have a strong hunting drive, so even the best trained Husky has been known to bolt after smaller animals, mistaking them for prey. Huskies were bred to run – your Husky may take off and not realize that you’re nowhere in sight until it’s too late. To be safe, keep your Husky on a 15 meter lead at the park. This will allow it to still have a run around and stay safe.
• Take your Husky to obedience classes. Mental exercise can be just as tiring and challenging as physical exercise for dogs. Besides this, Huskies are also an independent, bold, and dominant breed of dog. Without proper obedience training they will establish themselves as the head of your pack. When this happens, you’re in trouble.
• Take up a dog sport like Bikejoring, Cani Cross, Skijoring, Scootering, or even Weight Pulling.
• Play with a toy daily and make sure your Husky has a dog toy to play with when alone. Huskies get bored easily – they need something to keep them occupied. Consider investing in a Kong treat toy.

If you have a Husky or are considering getting one, remember to keep its exercise requirements in mind.

Obesity can cause serious health problems in dogs. Weight gain and loss can also be caused by underlying health problems. If your Husky is obese or experiences sudden weight gain or weight loss, it is always recommended to take it to a vet for a checkup.

Border Collies live to work and please their owners. They are extremely intelligent and need a job to do. Sometimes bored Border Collies take it upon themselves to create jobs to perform: you may find them attempting to herd family members, other people, and other animals.

Exercising Your Border Collie

• Agility – Because Border Collies crave mental and physical stimulation so much, they often excel at dog sports like Agility. Agility requires learning various commands, working with the handler, and traversing obstacle courses at great speed – all activities which Border Collies love. If you aren’t able to join an Agility club and start training and competing in the sport, consider setting up an obstacle course in your backyard or even finding obstacles for your dog on your walks. You have no idea how much joy a Border Collie can get out of a couple of jumps and a tunnel. You can get your Border Collie to jump over logs and streams, weave posts around your neighborhood, climb sand dunes, duck under branches, and other natural obstacles you come across.
• Running and Cycling – Border Collies have such great endurance that they can make perfect running and cycling partners. They can also handle day-long hikes.
• Other Dog Sports - Border Collies can excel in virtually any dog sport. As long as they have a job to do, they’ll give it their all. The Border Collie is the perfect breed if you want to try your hand at various canine sports.A one-hour walk per day or a 10 minute game of fetch is likely to not be enough for a Border Collie. If you’re thinking about getting this lovable, intelligent breed, make sure that you can keep up with their energy and demands for mental and physical stimulation. And if you already have one, time to start exercising!

Obesity can cause serious health problems in dogs. Weight gain and loss can also be caused by underlying health problems. If your Border Collie is obese or experiences sudden weight gain or weight loss, it is always recommended to take it to a vet for a checkup.

If kept on a strict and regular feeding routine with no human tidbits or leftovers included, Chihuahuas should not have much of a problem with weight gain. However, due to the Chihuahua’s tiny size and their child-like ability to bend even the most stern owners to their will by begging, they are quite often overfed. Some owners have the propensity to drop little treats or bits of food from the table to their dogs throughout the day. This may not make too much of a difference for a larger dog, but all of this extra food visibly puts pounds on a tiny Chihuahua.

Therefore, if you have an overweight, unfit Chihuahua the first thing to look at would be the food intake of your dog. Are you giving the Chihuahua extra treats, snacks, or full meals throughout the day? Are you feeding it fatty and unhealthy human food such as dinner leftovers? In many cases you’ll find that you have been overfeeding your Chihuahua without realizing it.

Exercising your Chihuahua

For truly obese Chihuahuas, simply cutting down on unnecessary food intake may not be enough to help it shed those pounds as quickly as possible. Obese pets are known to suffer from lack of energy and stamina, so your Chihuahua is still likely to not be getting enough exercise to shed the pounds. Exercising your Chihuahua will not only help the weight loss effort, but can rekindle its spark and desire to play and run. Try the following games and activities with your Chihuahua:

• Playing fetch- Use small balls and toys that your Chihuahua can easily grasp in its mouth, but not choke on.
• Train to “come”- Kill two birds in one stone with a few 5-10 minutes obedience training sessions throughout the day. Position your Chihuahua on one side of the room or backyard and call it from the other side. Not only will this help your dog’s recall, but get your dog some running time as well.
• Play Chase- Play a game of chase with your Chihuahua, getting your pet to chase you as you’re running away (I wouldn’t recommend running after your Chihuahua – with its tiny size you don’t want to risk stepping on your dog).
• Go for a Walk- Go for a walk around the block with your Chihuahua.

Obesity can cause serious health problems in dogs. Weight gain and loss can also be caused by underlying health problems. If your Chihuahua is obese or experiences sudden weight gain or weight loss, it is always recommended to take it to a vet for a checkup.