Celebrating Active Dog Month
Dog owners understand that their dogs’ health and happiness are priorities. That’s why we celebrate Active Dog Month in April – to raise awareness for keeping dogs active every day!
According to the website, daysoftheyear.com, Active Dog Month dedicates April to “keeping your dog active, happy, and healthy.”
Natasha Thompson, the creator of Om Shanti Pups, established Active Dog Month when she realized that her dogs, just like humans, experience restlessness and irritability when confined in spaces for too long. This is to remind dog owners that dogs deserve to get out and enjoy life, too.
Dog Owners’ Favorite Ways to Keeping Their Dogs Happy and Active
For Active Dog Month, a few different dog owners shared their advice and opinions on the best ways to help keep dogs active, healthy, and happy.
Elizabeth Koszter, Merci, and Maca
Elizabeth Koszter, a French Bulldog mom of nine years, shared how she keeps her dogs active and healthy,
“Well, French bulldogs are known to be dogs that may have many health issues. So, ever since I brought my babies Merci and Maca home, I’ve always made sure to walk them for at least 20 minutes a day. I also make sure to spend at least a full hour a day with them,” she said. “I work a full-time job, so it’s very important for me to make sure I’m giving my dogs the attention they deserve.”
Koszter then added that she meal preps for them every week because Frenchies are prone to various allergies.
“Their meals normally include cooked ground turkey or chicken, a variety of vegetables, and I include coconut oil in their meals,” she said. “Meal prepping has prevented my girls from becoming overweight and from having any allergies.”
Koszter makes her dogs’ health and happiness a priority in her everyday life. She enforces exercise and proper nutrition to make sure her fur babies are healthy and happy!
Sydney McPherson and Otis
Sydney McPherson, a Maltipoo dog owner of 10 years, also shared her favorite way of keeping Otis, her 10-year-old Maltipoo, healthy and active.
“My little Otis has hit a point in his life where his heart and soul are younger than his physical body. He loves life, people, and other dogs, but he has a hard time keeping up!” she said. “To keep him happy and healthy, I make sure he only eats twice a day, so he doesn’t become overweight, but I also take him on daily walks for about 10 to 15 minutes depending on how he’s feeling.”
She went on to say, “When Otis was younger, we’d go to dog parks at least three times a week, and I would even take him on runs with me. But now that he’s older, our daily walks tend to be our go-to activity.”
McPherson and her dog Otis are an excellent example of how your dog’s age plays a huge factor in how much exercise and activity is right for them.
Emily McNalli and Charlie
Emily McNalli, a Bernese Mountain Dog owner, loves to take her fur baby Charlie out to the local dog park to play. Mcnalli was asked what her favorite way of getting her 900-pound dog out and active is.
“I actually live in an apartment, so I know daily exercise is imperative for Charlie,” she said. “I try to switch it up for the both of us – one day we’ll go out to the dog park, and the next, we’ll go on a hike!”
Mcnalli also shared that nature therapy is her way of decompressing and that she’s noticed Charlie appears to be his “best self” when he’s outside too.
Emily McNalli is a prime example of how not only does keeping your dog active just benefit them, but it can also benefit you. Mcnalli and her dog, Charlie, enable each other to stay out and active!
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Veterinarian Advice
Megan Smith, a Neurology Veterinarian Tech and dog mom, was asked for her advice and favorite methods to keeping dogs healthy and happy,
“As a Vet Tech, I can confirm that the best way to keeping your fur baby healthy and happy is to ensure that they are being provided the proper nutrition and are getting the recommended amount of exercise depending on your dog breed.” Smith also includes, “Proper socialization is also very important – it is something that many dog owners forget should be a priority in our dogs’ health. Just like humans, dogs need dog interaction to keep them from becoming depressed.”
Smith emphasizes proper nutrition, exercise, and socialization are the three main keys that enable your dog to live it’s best and healthy life!
American Kennel Club Advice
According to Anna Burke, author at American Kennel Club, the age and breed of your dog influence the amount of exercise that is healthy for your furry friend. In her article, “How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need Every day?” Burke states, “Puppies generally have more energy than adult dogs and so require more exercise in short bursts — like the zoomies.” Burke then goes on to state that it is better to give your puppy multiple short walks and/or play sessions rather than one long walk or play session. However, she adds in that all puppies are different, and it requires patience to get to know your puppy well enough to pinpoint what works best for them. To view more insight on what Burke has to say in her article visit, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-much-exercise-does-dog-need/
Ensuring Your Dog’s Health and Happiness
Use Active Dog Month as a reminder to keep your dog’s health and happiness a priority in your life. They’re living beings too, and just like us, dogs become depressed if not well taken care of. Whether it be spending time with your furry friend, going on hikes, or even ensuring your pup is being fed the proper nutrition, every little thing counts. Their happiness matters, too!
And, as we approach the hot summer months, remember to find ways to keep your dogs active safely. Please don’t go for walks or hikes during the hottest parts of the day; find places to explore that are out of the heat; enroll them in doggy daycare; get them dog shoes to wear; get them a kiddy pool to play in, or take them somewhere to play in the water and keep them cool. When the ground is too hot, don’t take them out for a walk – they could burn their paws. And NEVER leave them in the car on a hot day. Those last two should be common sense, but every year we see that it’s not.
Making responsible decisions for your dog is just as important as making sure they’re getting the exercise they need. If your dog isn’t enjoying themselves, don’t force them to do something just for the sake of the activity. Find something else that works for them. Every dog is different. Some dogs LOVE the dog park, and others hate it. Some love hikes, or swimming, or agility courses, and others tire easily or get nervous doing certain tasks. You know your dog better than anyone, so advocate for them, and find ways to keep them happy while you keep them active.
#GetinMotion with the Dogs!
Ensuring your dogs are active often means you’re also getting active with them, whether it’s a run around the block or a walk to the dog park! Which means your health and their health improve over time.
Want to further that action in your own community? Don’t have your own dogs? Consider volunteering with your local shelter or rescue!
The dogs at the shelter only get walked when there are volunteers there to take them out. So if you have some extra time on the weekend or whenever, look into walking some dogs! They’ll love you for it, and it will make their stay at the shelter a little more enjoyable as they wait for their fur-ever homes.
Have extra space in your heart and home? Consider fostering a dog and get active with them every day!
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