What is the best exercise for senior dogs?
Tristin Veum
2025-07-31 18:35:59
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There are lots of different things that you can do to keep your dog’s exercise sessions fun and ability-appropriate: Focus on pace and time, not distance. Walks should be fun and enjoyable! So, forget worrying about how far you’ve gone and instead try to establish a pace and length of walk that your dog not only enjoys but leaves them with some gas in the tank. Mix it up. Finding new walks that better suit your dog is a great opportunity to visit new terrains and environments. Try swimming. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a safe place for your dog to swim, this can be an excellent and gentle way to keep older dogs moving. As the water takes your dog’s weight, it takes all the pressure of gravity off their joints, minimising wear and tear. Make play more gentle. Rather than the explosive speed and rapid turns of running for balls, why not try something like a game of hide and seek instead?
Dominique Witting
2025-07-31 16:21:05
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Walking and playing with your dog keeps it in good shape and ensures its muscles and joints remain as flexible as possible. Modified exercise is very healthy for a senior dog. Exercise keeps the muscles flexible, strong and it stimulates the production of joint fluids which prevent wear and arthrosis. Take several walks a day for shorter distances. Limit jumping and brief, rapid movements that take a toll on muscles and joints. Swimming is perfect for older dogs. It doesn’t stress the muscles and joints as much as walking does. Keep your dog young at heart by challenging its mind. You could hide its food or favourite toy and have the dog find it.