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Last Update: 7/5/2008 12:44:00 PM
Your dog might make a good exercise companion
By Elizabeth Giorgi
Reading Eagle
Experts say finding an exercise buddy can be a great motivator
for people who have trouble sticking with a workout routine.
But between issues like scheduling and pacing - or how fast
people run and walk - finding a workout buddy can be a
challenge for some.
"It's very difficult to find another person to run with," said Renee
Waring of Douglassville, who said she's run into some of these
problems.
At the same time, Waring said, "It can get pretty lonely out on the trails."
So Waring did what many people do: She looked for a workout
buddy in man's - or in her case, woman's - best friend.
She and her 1-year-old border collie Cooper run about three
times a week on area trails and around her neighborhood.
Training him took time and patience, she said, but now she
has a companion who's happy to keep up with her.
The key to keeping Cooper and other dogs happy when
exercising with them is being tuned in to their health and
well-being, vets say.
Since dogs can't voice their problems - from hot paws to
exhaustion - owners need to be vigilant, and be mindful of
good athletic training practices for their dogs, even if they
don't follow them themselves.
"Like in most things, moderation is essential," said Dr. Lee
Pickett, a veterinary medical doctor with the Humane Society
of Berks County and author of the Reading Eagle's "Ask the
Vet's Pets" column. "A lot of the rules are the same."
That includes building up slowly, taking into account natural
ability, warming up and keeping out of the heat.
"A lot of it is common sense," said Dr. Jim Priebe, a doctor of
veterinary medicine with the Leesport Animal Hospital.
But the consequences of ignoring that common sense can be
severe.
Every spring, Priebe said he sees a spate of orthopedic injuries
in dogs in his office, as owners take pets, unconditioned after
a winter of sitting at home, out for runs or other strenuous
exercise.
And heatstroke is of special concern in dogs, whose fur coats
and cooling mechanism - panting, rather than sweating -
can make keeping cool in the sun a bigger problem than it is
for humans.
"And animals can die," he said. "Heatstroke can occur (even) in
animals that run all the time."
But lest these warnings scare you off, keep in mind that dogs
need exercise as much as people do, and that many people
exercise safely with their pets.
Most who do it successfully are aware of the risks.
Waring, for example, chose her dog Cooper knowing she
wanted a running companion.
Border collies, a herding breed, may make better running
companions than breeds meant for other functions - a toy
breed, for example.
She and Cooper take it slow and avoid running on hot days.
During the summer, they run on trails, where the ground is
cooler, and she consulted with several veterinarians about
how to train Cooper to run before beginning his training as a
puppy.
She said they started with short distances of only a quarter-
or half-mile.
And since she's been training him since he was a puppy, she's
quite familiar with the signs that he's getting tired.
Clyde Godschall is a hike coordinator and often hike leader
with the Elverson Walking Club, which allows hikers to bring
their dogs with them on many area hikes.
Their small groups make bringing dogs easier, he said.
He counsels hikers with dogs to be sure the area they want to
hike allows dogs, to bring along water and cups for dogs and
to check dogs - and themselves - for ticks after the hike.
During hunting season, he said many hikers bring vests for their dogs.
"The dog might not like it, but they put up with it," he said.
George Hetrick Jr. of Bernville is a lifelong dog owner.
He tries to accumulate 10,000 steps throughout the day,
and many of those steps are accumulated on his twice-daily
hikes and walks with his three dogs - two Jack Russell
terriers and a toy Australian shepherd.
He also leads an annual dog-friendly hike with the Blue Mountain
Eagle Climbing Club.
He had some advice for hikers with dogs.
"The animal needs to work into it gradually and consistently,"
he said, citing the need for the dogs' pads to get toughened
as an example.
Walking in the woods, he said he also has to be aware of his
dogs' potential to interact with other animals. Hunting breeds
will be attracted to those animals, he said.
And he said that he treats his dogs for ticks, but also goes
over them daily.
He said his dogs have too much energy to sit around all day.
"You certainly don't need a club membership if you have a Jack
Russell," he said
•Contact reporter Elizabeth Giorgi at 610-371-5016 or
egiorgi@readingeagle.com.
Find out which sports are best for which dogs
Vets' advice for specific sports
Area veterinarians Dr. Lee Pickett, who works at the Humane
Society of Berks County and writes the Reading Eagle's "Ask the
Vet's Pets" column, and Dr. Jim Priebe of the Leesport Animal
Hospital, offered sport-specific advice for exercising with dogs.
•Walking: "That's the best thing," Pickett said. "Most dogs enjoy
some kind of walk."
Walks provide both physical and mental stimulation, she said.
Smaller toy breeds may even enjoy snuggling against their owners
on longer walks inside a baby carrier, she said.
In hot weather, early morning and dusk are good times to get
out, Priebe said.
•Running: "People who jog have to watch," Priebe said.
Dogs aren't built to run long distances, he said, "And they trot -
they don't run."
Running with dogs can increase the risk of heatstroke, and can
put stress on joints, he said.
"It's all right to jog, but I'd say keep it under two miles," he said,
and on days when it's less than 80 degrees outside.
Pickett was less quick to name a maximum distance, saying it's
up to the individual dog. The key, she said, is paying attention
to signs that the dog is tiring or overheated.
Priebe recommends taking breaks, or doing a walk/jog routine
with dogs, and sticking to walking on hot days.
As with humans, softer surfaces like trails are easier on joints
than firm surfaces like pavement. Pavement and asphalt also can
burn foot pads on hot, sunny days.
Working breeds bred for going long distances at a fairly quick
pace - hunting dogs, herding dogs, or breeds like greyhounds -
will be better running companions.
But don't assume that your working breed dog is built for
running, Priebe said. Dogs that come from show lines may be
bred more for aesthetics - how they look - than performance.
•Backpacking: Working dogs up gradually is important when
backpacking, Pickett said.
Buy a good-quality, well-fitting, well-padded dog backpack.
Start dogs off with an empty pack, and gradually increase the
weight, making sure that weight is well-balanced in the pack.
Don't ask dogs to carry a weight more than 25 percent of their
body weight.
•Swimming: "A good exercise in the summer is swimming,"
Priebe said.
And the activity is an obvious fit for breeds, like retrievers,
bred for the water, Pickett noted.
Dog flotation devices are available, she said.
Priebe warned owners who have a pool in their yard to be
careful, however.
Above-ground pools especially are hazardous, as are pool covers,
as dogs can jump in when their owners are away, get tired or
trapped below a cover, and drown.
•Biking: Pickett doesn't recommend biking with dogs, saying the
fast pace is rough, and keeping an eye on them difficult, when on
a bike.
Here are some tips for exercising with your pet
Area veterinarians Dr. Lee Pickett and Dr. Jim Priebe offered
some advice for people looking to get active with their pets.
Pets and owners
Much of the advice the vets offered apply equally to people and
pets. For example, when starting a new program, go slowly and
get a doctor's OK.
Even if you overlook such advice yourself, vets ask that you not
ignore such advice when it comes to your dog, who can't tell
you when he or she is hurting or overtired.
•Get a vet's OK: Vets can evaluate a dog's musculoskeletal
and cardiovascular systems.
•Go slowly: As with humans, work up slowly when introducing
a new activity. Deconditioned dogs can get injured just as
people can.
•Don't be a weekend warrior: Along the same lines, a consistent
routine is important. As with people, infrequent vigorous activity
sets pets up for problems.
•Sunburn: Light-colored and short-haired dogs are at risk of
sunburn. Sunscreen for pets can be purchased at pet supply stores.
Dogs-only advice
Even though a lot of advice for exercising with pets applies to
humans as well, there are some concerns that dogs don't share
with their human family.
•Heatstroke: "Dogs have a real tough time thermoregulating,"
Pickett said.
Rather than sweat, dogs keep cool by panting.
Hot weather can overwhelm dogs engaged in vigorous activity,
possibly resulting in death, Priebe said.
Heatstroke symptoms in dogs are similar to humans:
disorientation, uncoordinated movement, lagging, glassy
eyes and excessive panting.
The next step is a collapse, Pickett said, so be alert for
earlier warning signs.
Flat-faced breeds, young and old dogs and dogs with a black
coat may have particular problems, Pickett said.
Heavier-muscled dogs like Rottweilers and retrievers are more
prone to heatstroke than lighter dogs like pointers or
greyhounds, but even well-conditioned dogs can develop heat
stroke, Priebe said.
•Tender paws: Imagine walking over hot asphalt or sharp rocks
in your bare feet, and you'll have an idea what your dog is feeling
when you take him or her out on the street on a hot day, or out
on the trail anytime.
To avoid burns on hot streets and pavement, don't walk during
the middle of the day, Priebe advised, and test the heat of the
sidewalk with your own feet or hands.
"If you can't keep you hand on there for five minutes, it's
too hot," he said.
Likewise, taking it slow when introducing a new activity can
reduce the wear and tear on foot pads and allow them to
toughen up, whether you're talking about pavements or trails.
Leather boots for dogs are available for hiking, Pickett said.
•Keep breed in mind: A Chihuahua won't make a good running
companion, but neither will a Siberian husky on a sunny
summer day.
To make sure both you and your dog are happy exercising
together, consider what your dog was bred for.
"The water breeds are going to enjoy swimming," Pickett said.
Arctic sled dogs are good fits for backpackers - but be mindful
of their heavy coats in the heat.
And runners should find a working breed known for traveling
distances at a steady pace, such as hunting dogs - those
breeds that precede hunters casting about for game - or
herding dogs such as collies.
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