More and more people don't just want to go for a walk with their four-legged friend and romp around a little, but want to try their hand at joint sporting activities.
Beside train dog sport, as for example Canicross, also the leisure activities in the form of jogging or bicycle riding with dog arouses the interest of owners.
Ideally, this will provide both people and animals with fun and a welcome change in everyday life. In order not to damage the health of the four-legged friend, it is necessary to consider however some things. In this article you will find out what these are and how to approach the topic of sport with dogs correctly.
Before you start sporting activities with your dog, you should first be aware that not every breed is suitable for every form of sport.
While a Border Collie or a Weimaraner, for example, is a persistent runner, a Pug will have little pleasure if you force it to move excessively.
In order not to overload your dog during sport, it is therefore essential that you pay attention to breed specific characteristics. Allow the four-legged friend sufficient rest breaks in which he can recover. After all, your common activities should not only be fun for you, but also for your dog.
Before you start jogging together, it is essential that your dog is fully grown. Otherwise, serious joint problems are only a matter of time.
In addition, it is important that your four-legged friend is well educated and runs without problems on the leash next to you. Only then can you jog with your dog on a leash and finally even without a leash.
Also be aware that jogging is not only exhausting for you, but also for your four-legged friend. So start slowly. For the beginning five minutes of jogging in one piece are enough. Over time you can then increase your workload.
In addition, try to find a good middle ground at the pace with which you both feel comfortable. After all, it is useless if your dog can hardly keep up with you or if you have to rush after him.
The basic requirements that your dog should meet to ride a bicycle do not differ significantly from those for jogging. Again, your dog must be fully grown and you should start training slowly.
You should also keep in mind that your bike can reach much higher speeds than if you were walking. For this reason, you must pay particular attention to maintaining an appropriate speed when cycling with a dog.
Also be aware that it is much easier to have a serious accident if your leashed dog suddenly pulls you off the bike. A good education of the four-legged is therefore indispensable for the common bicycle riding.
It doesn't matter whether you want to jog with your dog or ride a bike. If you are hot in summer, you can be sure that the high temperatures will cause even more trouble for your four-legged friend.
This is partly due to the coat and partly to the fact that dogs have almost no sweat glands. From outside temperatures of about 28 degrees, they can no longer cool their bodies sufficiently.
Plan the sport with your dog during the warm season in such a way that your training rounds fall on the cooler morning or evening hours. If it is still too hot, you should refrain from physical exertion, otherwise your dog can quickly suffer a life-threatening heat stroke.
When jogging and cycling with your dog, give preference to routes with a soft surface, such as forest and field paths. This protects the animal's joints and prevents excessive wear over time and the associated discomfort.
Nevertheless, small stones and unevenness in the ground can lead to minor injuries to the paws. For this reason, it is advisable to regularly apply a suitable ointment such as Bellfor paw protection.
If you want to do sports with your dog, you must not make the mistake of neglecting the nutrition of the four-legged friend. Depending on the amount of training, sports dogs have special nutritional needs.
This includes not only a sufficient supply of fluids before and after training, but also an increased energy requirement. Because the more your dog moves, the more calories his body will consume. In addition, it is important to provide the four-legged friend with sufficient proteins. These serve in particular the preservation of the musculature as well as the regeneration.
In addition, you should be aware of the fact that sporting activities are always accompanied by an increased strain on the dog's musculoskeletal system. It is also important to counteract this with the right nutrients in the right quantity.
The combination of regular exercise with a dog and a poor diet is bad for your health in the long run. Among other things, it can lead to problems with regeneration, joint diseases and a weakening of the immune system.
In order to prevent all this, Bellfor has developed a nutrition concept that is geared to the special needs of sporty active dogs.
Sports activities are a great way to challenge and keep dogs busy and to strengthen the bond between the four-legged friend and his owner.
Of course cycling and jogging are not suitable for all dogs. But if you keep breed specific characteristics in mind when choosing the sport and do not overdo it with the training workload, you can be sure of the enthusiasm of your dog.
If you also adapt the diet to the changed needs of the animal, nothing stands in the way of having fun together with your dog.