JANUARY IS NATIONAL WALK YOUR DOG MONTH!
January is national walk your dog month and what a great way to kick off the new year with your dog! Did you know that the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reported 44% of dogs are overweight? Give your pooch a smooch and make a point to take him or her for a few extra walks this month. Let’s promote good pet health!
Some things to remember about exercising your dog:
- Daily exercise is important for dogs, not only to keep their weight in check but to keep joints and muscles healthy.
- Healthy adult dogs can require up to two hours exercise each day
- It is suggested Italian Greyhounds get 5+ miles of walks in each week
- Arthritic pets can enjoy water exercises as it keeps their muscles moving without the pressure of land activity, check to see if your community offers a pet friendly indoor or outdoor pool if you have a pet with arthritis
- If you have a pet with arthritis, it is better to walk them a little than to not walk them at all. It keeps their joints moving which will help reduce stiffness throughout the day
- For dogs that were not regularly exercised, walking should be introduced in steps. Always keep the dog on a leash so you can control the amount of exercise they receive Just as people need to work up to longer workouts, dogs do too: start off slow and in time, increase the length of the walk.
- Couch pet-atoes are at risk for heart disease, diabetes and a whole host of life shortening consequences
We are a dog rescue organization of our Chicago focusing on rescuing Mill pups and Italian Greyhounds. If you are interested in fostering a dog or adopting a dog, browse our site and feel free to contact us today! Oh, and don’t forget to it’s walk your dog month – hooray for January!