Educationa post 2

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

This article is written for Beagles.  There are some
minor differences between the Golden and the Beagle but this advise is
sound with one exception;  A major difference between the Beagle and
the golden is age at which regimented exercise should begin. 
Beagles mature faster than a golden by virtue of their size being
considered a medium size dog.  Goldens are not sound until at least
18 months of age and should not be exercised in any regimented fashion
until such age.  Free play is an excellent form of exercise and I
strongly encourage you to get the leashes off and go just play with
frequency.  As well as swimming.  Goldens unlike Beagles love
to swim and there is no better exercise.  Read on but remember to
substitute 18 months where Ellen calls for a year of age. 

Dogs and Exercise
By: Ellen Parr CVT

Beagles are, or should be, an active breed of hound.  Bred to run
for miles two to three times a week in the field allows for a lot of
natural energy.  Beagles that aren’t given proper exercise can
become overweight, destructive, and a general nuisance.  Not to
mention that, like in humans, there are many health risks involved with
unfit, overweight dogs.  However, how to best exercise dogs is
sometimes a challenge and needs to be adjusted according to age and
general fitness.  With all ages, it is best to start out slow and
work your way up to a level which either helps your hound lose weight or
keeps him in good condition.  

If you plan to jog with your Beagle, start out with walks perhaps 20
minutes in duration.  Gradually, over a period of time, increase the
time and speed.  As your dog becomes more fit, you can start
alternating running with walking until you are up to the distance you
feel comfortable with.  Beagles should, with proper conditioning, be
able to easily run 5 miles.  It is important to be consistent
though, working 2-3 times a week regularly.  Running a dog has its
hazards though.  Constant pounding on pavement is as hard on their
joints as it is on yours and you should try to run on grass, sand, or
some other giving surface.  You should never run a dog until he/she
is at least one year of age, and you may want to do a preliminary hip
x-ray to ensure the hips are sound.

Some people like to ‘bike’ their dogs.  With you on the bike and
your dog running beside you.  There are many attachments you can now
buy for your bike to keep the dog with you, but allow for greater safety
should you fall than if you were holding a leash.  Again, you must
start out slowly and train your dog to feel comfortable with the bike,
I’ve found that teaching them commands such as ‘left/right turn’ are very
useful.  The same health concerns exist for biking, it’s best to
find a place to bike where the dog can be running on grass.

Another alternative is to use a power treadmill.  Some of the joint
risks are reduced because the treadmill is designed to be lower
impact.  Another advantage is that a treadmill is useable no matter
the weather conditions.  However, treadmills, especially those
designed specifically for dogs are expensive and take up space in your
house.  They also involve a great deal of training to accustom dogs
to using them.  We recently purchased one for our household and find
it to be very effective.

An often over-looked method of exercise is play.  Yes, playing with
your dog.  If your dog likes to retrieve, you can throw balls for
him/her.  Or play tug of war.  A great idea, if your dog likes
to chase things, is to buy a horse lunge whip.  This is a whip with
a long handle and an even longer whip portion.  You can tie a
stuffed toy, piece of cloth, or even a plastic grocery bag to the
end.  Then you stand in the middle of the yard and twirl the whip
around you in a circle, occasionally dragging it on the ground and
teasing the dog(s) with it.  If they like to chase, they will love
this game.  Our dogs will keep playing until we stop the game.

If you have access to an acceptable area, swimming is probably one of the
best exercises for dogs.  It builds incredible muscle tone. 
However, most Beagles turn into quivering piles of jelly when they get
wet and think swimming is an absurd punishment.  If started young,
hounds can learn to love swimming, but for most, it is not a practical
alternative.

If you have a puppy, that is, a dog less than one year of age, it is very
important not to force the dog to exercise.  Forced exercise may do
a couple of different things.  First, it may teach your dog to hate
exercising, and second, you may damage growing joints.  Puppies
should be exercised using free play methods only.  Puppies can chase
balls, other dogs, go for walks at their own pace. Let them decide when
to quit, but encourage them to play often.

Finally, remember to keep their food at acceptable portions, watch their
condition and adjust their intake accordingly.  If you are having
trouble getting weight off your dog, or see an intolerance to exercise,
it is important to get to the vet, there may be a medical problem that
needs attention.

Good luck and have fun, who knows, you might take off those holiday
pounds yourselves!