Just like us, humans, dogs need a daily dose of activities not only to keep them busy but also healthy. There are so many outdoor activities for your dog that you can also immerse yourself into them so both of you can stay active and healthy. Plus, it’s also a great bonding experience for you and your loyal companion, too!
Active lifestyle together with your dog provides several benefits to your (and their) physical and mental health. It reduces the risk of certain diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. It also helps in maintaining blood pressure, promotes bone and muscle strength, and lower risk of obesity. Moreover, it can also help in managing stress, depression and anxiety.
Since dogs are like humans, they can also suffer from mental health issues like depression and anxiety, it is important to eliminate their boredom and keep them physically active. Activities (like exercise, for example) produce serotonin (a neurotransmitter in the brain known for its “happy” chemical), which can prevent depression.
What’s one way to produce it? Performing outdoor activities with you. In this article, we will provide a list of outdoor activities that you can do with your dog that will benefit you both. We will also cover the benefits of keeping your dog physically active.
Before proceeding to the main list, let us see the benefits that our dogs can gain by engaging in outside activities. Not only will it enhance the bond between you and your dog, keeping your dog active will not only benefit your dog, it can also benefit your health as well!
Play fetch in your backyard:
Since we’re still living in a pandemic, we need to limit human contact as much as possible. Nonetheless, you can still have fun and do outdoor activities with your dog in your very own backyard! Playing fetch does not just help in improving their physical health and strength, it can also stimulate their brain. Moreover, this stimulating activity can also improve your dog’s focus and discipline.
Biking:
If you want to go for something different, biking on a safe route is a great activity for you and your dog. As long as you have a leash and the gear to keep your dog safe, specifically made for biking (such as a hands-free leash), then you’re good to go. It’s one of the activities that will surely keep your dog engaged in the moment with their full energy on.
Remember to stay at a pace that your dog can keep up with to keep them safe. To know more about biking safety with your dog, check out our other article that you can clickhere.
Swimming:
This activity can be great for your dog’s physical health as it can improve their muscular strength and endurance, as well as release extra energy, although you still need to consult your veterinarian first before doing this activity with your dog. Moreover, though it is okay for dogs to swim in chlorinated pools, it is not recommended for them to swim in the ocean since swallowing salt water can cause diarrhea.
Jogging:
If you wanna go faster than a walk and slower than a bike, jogging around your neighborhood is another fun outdoor activity with your dog that you can do, especially in the morning. This can help in boosting metabolism, burning calories and improving your bone and muscular health. Moreover, a quick jog (especially in the morning) can also give you a good dose of sunshine vitamin (vitamin D).
We all want a danger-free outdoor fun activity so consider following these tips to make sure that both you and your furry buddy are safe.