Around 56% of dogs are obese in the U.S, which is indicative of one thing – they need to be more active! Exercise is essential for all pets, and while cats can get fairly active jumping up and down structures and fences, dogs need their owners to take them for at least a half hour walk daily. As stated by the American Kennel Club, the exact amount of exercise your pooch needs varies very much on breed, age and state of health. However, in general, the recommended guidelines work well for active, healthy dogs that do not have a condition such as hip dysplasia or heart and/or respiratory issues. If one of the highlights of your day is taking Fido out to the park, you may wonder what is taking place inside that little body. These are just a few scientific processes that take place during exercise, boosting the physical and mental health of your pooch.

Exercise And Stress

Exercise is a powerful way to naturally lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is known as nature’s ‘in-built alarm system,’ and it is produced when dogs are stressed, scared, anxious or angry. Its role is to put your dog into ‘fight or flight’ mode, and it can therefore be very useful when he is in a situation of real danger. When your dog is not in danger but is simply stressed because he is bored or lacks stimulation, he can display behavioral problems such as pacing or shaking, excessive whining or barking, yawning, shedding, panting, frequent urinating, hiding, and even escaping. Bringing cortisol levels down through exercise is key, so if your dog is stressed, extend your time outside and ensure he has plenty of opportunity to run, play fetch, and simply smell the flowers. Exercise is recommended for all pets, but working out with your dog helps you too, since it has similar effects on the human system. Aerobic, strength and holistic exercises (like yoga) will also help reduce your stress levels and improve your mood and vitality.

Aerobic Exercise For Dogs

When your dog runs or walks briskly, vital changes take place in the body. The heart and breathing rates increase, the heart pumps more blood, and more oxygen reaches all the tissues of the body. It also reaches the brain; indeed, in studies on human beings, being physically active has been shown to improve memory and learning and to help battle depression. Scientists do not know the exact reason why exercise improves brain health, but they believe it is linked to improved blood circulation to this vital organ. In the brain, it feeds the growth of new blood vessels and brain cells, thanks to a protein in blood called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). The reparative action exerted by exercise on the brain and other organs is thought to be one reason why people who exercise have a significantly longer lifespan than those who don’t.

Resistance For Greater Muscular Strength

If you are a regular gym goer yourself, then you probably know how important strength (resistance or weights) exercises are. You can extend the benefits of this type of exercise to your pooch as well, using games like tug of war, the use of weighted vests (only if vet-approved and apt for your dog’s physical condition), hiking and doggy ‘parachutes,’ which add a bit of wind resistance into your dog’s workout. The science of resistance training is that of opposing forces. When you stress muscles by resisting natural movements, you increase muscular strength and mass. Resistance triggers hormonal responses that trigger muscular growth. One 2013 study also showed that intense strength training improves endurance. Of course, the key with your dog is not to add much weight at all, but rather, to increase exercise difficulty slightly to encourage muscular growth.

There are many scientific principles that go into a doggy workout – including that of opposing forces. Exercise also reduces overall cortisol levels by stressing the body out so that it improves its ability to adapt to other types of stressors. Finally, physical activity causes your dog’s heart to pump, bringing blood to the brain and exerting powerful reparative action.

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