ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 5, 1997 TAG: 9701060002
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-18 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Paws & claws
SOURCE: JILL BOWEN
Q: I go jogging every day and always take my dog. Just recently he seems to be having difficulty in keeping up although he is only 8 years old. I think he must have some collie in his breeding as he has a thick, shaggy coat, but I got him from the pound here in Florida. Should I make him run with me or let him go at his own pace?
A: As your dog gets older he will tire more easily. Continue to exercise daily, but reduce the length and intensity of the workouts. You may want to jog twice daily, once slowly and for a short time with the old fella and a second time to fulfill your workout needs.
You mention that you live in Florida, and this could have something to do with your dog's slowing down, as the climate there during most of the year is hot and humid. These are not ideal jogging conditions unless you go very early in the morning.
Dogs are not as efficient as we are in sweating and getting rid of excess heat, particularly if they have heavy coats. Dogs can only sweat through the pads of their feet. They mainly get rid of excess heat by panting. So weather plays a larger part in the effect it has on your dog's endurance than it does on yours.
Perhaps you could consider varying the type of exercise for your dog, which might be a little less stressful. Retrieving, herding or chasing games or even just a neighborhood walk or maybe swimming are good options, although be careful of alligators in Florida even in domestic ponds.
As a rule of thumb, puppies under 6 months of age need only moderate exercise. They should not be taken on runs and other endurance exercises until they are fully mature, which is 12 months for small dogs, 18-24 months for bigger dogs.
If you decide that your older dog is overweight and needs to start exercising, begin slowly and have your local veterinarian check out your dog in case there is an underlying problem such as heart condition or arthritis. If your dog shows any sign of getting tired such as excessive panting, slowing down or stopping, appearing to grimace, or toe scuffing, stop and give him a breather. If the weather is warm, you run the risk of giving him heat stroke if you push him beyond his limits.
If you have a big yard, your dog will probably get all the exercise he needs out there in hot weather, supplemented by a stroll in the cool of the evening. Rather than taking your dog out with you on your jog, you might consider throwing a tennis ball or a frisbee for him to retrieve. This would allow him to get the right amount of exercise in a short period of time, while allowing you to gauge when he is getting tired and the exercise should cease.
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