Unfortunately at home I really don’t have a private place outdoors such as garden where the dog can run around, so when lockdown came into force I was pretty worried about where the dog would be able to get out and have a run. Thankfully I only have a small Yorkshire Terrier but they still need to get some exercise in their legs. The first week of lockdown I contacted the AV Veterinary Center to see if they had some tips for me and they were most kind in the info that they gave me. Naturally many dog owners are worried about this, and of course don’t want their animals getting overweight, so here is what I have been doing to keep the dog fit.
Stairs
By now my little Yorkie must absolutely despise the stairs because I’ve had her running up and down them at least 5 times per day. To be honest she will follow us up and down the stairs a couple of times per day, but we have been really putting her to work on those stairs, throwing a dog chew or a treat from top to bottom so that she has to get those little legs going. If you have some stairs in your home or to access your home then these can be used daily to help the dog stay sharp and fit.
Using Your Time
People in most places are able to go out once per day to do some grocery shopping or perhaps even to get some exercise, and it is essential that you do so with your dog. If you are heading to the grocery store then take the dog with you, even if you have to go with a family member to leave it with them once you go inside. You have to ensure that you are maximizing the time that you have outside and using it to keep your dog fit as well.
Time Spent
Under normal circumstances you would never have to invest much time with the dog unless you wanted to but given the circumstances it is going to be very important that you spend at least 30 minutes per day playing with the dog and getting them running around the house. If you are able to do this then at the very least your pooch will be able to burn some calories and they can prevent excessive weight gain during this tough time.
Always remember that your dog knows their body very well, they are very intuitive, and if you see that they are looking to expel a lot of energy then help them do it by playing and running around with them. You’ll see right away when the dog is looking to have a good pelt around the home, so just let them go or give them some inspiration, perhaps even some edible inspiration which will get them going, just make sure the treats aren’t too fatty.
