Dog Exercise

Get up and get moving! Dog exercise is an important part of keeping your dog healthy, happy and youthful. And it can be so much more than just a walk around the neighborhood. We’ve got plenty of ways to make exercise fun for both you and your pooch!

Are you looking for a way to include your four-legged family member into your own workout schedule? You will want to look into Furry Fitness, dog dancing, doggy yoga, or some of our various articles on including dogs in your workouts, whether at home or in the gym. If you pooch is the athletic one in the family, don’t worry! We have the information on all the dog sports out there. Who knows, maybe your dog has a hidden talent for kicksleding, skijoring, paddle boarding or urban mushing and canicross. Regardless of yours or your dog’s fitness level, you’ll definitely find an activity that’s a perfect match for both.

Since we really think about everything here at Petguide.com, in addition to helping you find a fun way to include dog exercise in your routine, we also review different products, gadgets and places that promise to get your pooch fit and energized. Heard about indoor dog parks, but not sure where to find them and what to look for? Or you’ve just read about a doggy version of Fitbit, but you’re wondering if it’s worth the investment and does it deliver on the promise? Our reviewers always have the insider information on the latest doggie fitness fads.

Exercise doesn’t have to be a boring chore. Here at PetGuide.com’s Dog Exercise blog, we strive to offer solutions and ideas to any dog owner and their furry half, whether you’re a couple of couch potatoes, outdoor enthusiasts or a little bit of both. All you need to do is pick out what works best for you!

5 Foot-Friendly Tips That Will Save Your Athletic Dog’s Paws

Paw injury is common in athletic dogs. If your dog participates in any kind of sport, prevent cut or blown paw pads with these pawsome tips.

Take A Hike: Adventures In Dog Hiking Part 2

The big day arrives – Oscar and I take our first steps toward becoming hikers It was a beautiful Saturday morning when Oscar and I made our way to hiki…

Dog-Powered Running: Get Fit With Canicross

Are you and your dog runners? Hook up a harness and line, and give canicross a try! Kevin Roberts goes over the basics of what you’ll need to set a pan…

How to Find the Right Urban Mushing Instructor

Kevin Roberts doesn't just walk the walk - he also teaches what he preaches! This accomplished urban mushing pro offers tips on finding a good trainer.

5 High-Flying Disc Dogging Tips From A Pro

Summer – it’s the time of year you and your dog can unwind, feel the grass beneath your feet, run across the warm sand on the beach or hang out i…

Beat the Heat: Tips for Canicrossing in Hot Weather

How hot is too hot to go canicrossing? When the weather heats up, be sure you're well prepared for exercising in hotter temperatures.

5 Disc Doggin’ Tips For Sporty Noobs

Disc doggin' is a great way to have some fun in the summer sun with your best four legged friend. Here's what you need to know before you start out.

5 Ways to Paddle With Your Pooch

There's no reason why your dog can't join you in your paddling adventures. Just hop into these paddle-powered watercraft that are perfect for pooches.

Stayin’ Alive: How to Cheat Death When Kicksledding

Don't make kicksledding a death-defying sport - we'd hate to worry your mom! Kevin Roberts goes over how to safely kicksled while still being a bad ass.

6 Tips To Improve Your Dog’s Physical Fitness

Get moving with your pooch with these tips on fun and free physical activitiesRegular exercise is incredibly important for your own health and fitness, but it is also necessary for your pet. The more active your pet is, the healthier he is going to be. You don’t necessarily need to take your dog on a 5-mile run every day, but there are some simple ways you can improve your pet’s physical fitness – and your own! In this article you will receive 6 helpful tips to get your pet to be more active and to improve his health.

4 Cool Benefits of Walking Your Dog in the Winter

If you find yourself making excuses not to take your pooch out for a walk during snow days, here are some cool benefits of a winter dog walk.

Fitness With Fido – Get Moving And Get Muttivated!

Obesity is on the rise – in both humans and dogs. If the thought of a workout doesn’t get you excited, perhaps you’ve been looking at it th…

Winter Workout: The Frost-Savvy Snowshoe Dog

Release your inner Yeti this winter and bring your dog along for the snowshoeing adventure! Snowshoeing is fantastic exercise, not to mention an avalanche of…

I Ruff You – Why Exercise Is A Gift Of Love To Your Dog

Show your dog that you love him by getting off the couch and giving him a great workout! Can you smell it? Love is in the air, especially so close to the mos…

The Basics of Bikejoring With Your Dog

You've heard about bikejoring and you want to give it a go with your pooch. Here's what you'll need and what you'll need to know before you get started.

Cool Tips to Beat the Heat on Summer Hikes With Your Dog

Summer is fleeting, which is why you want to make the most of it with your dog. If you're hiking, keep these tips in mind to keep your dog safe.

What on Earth is Earthdog?

Little dogs have a lot of energy - especially the ones that were bred to hunt and catch critters. You can put these skills to great use at Earthdog trials.

Mountain Boarding With Dogs: Off-Roading Adventures Powered By Pooches

A close call with a car ends Kevin Roberts’ pastime of skateboarding with his dogs. But that can’t slow him and his high-energy pack down. That&r…

Step Up To Dog Dancing

Time to get out on the floor and shake your treat maker! Dog dancing is a popular sport and a great way to have fun and get active. If you’re looking f…

4 Dog Mushing Mistakes That Make You Look Like a Noob

Bad habits are hard to break, so why not avoid them in the first place? Steer clear of these dog mushing mistakes that make you look like a rookie.

Add Canicross to Your Cross Training Routine for Perfect Performance

In canine sports, you and your dog work together to reach and exceed expectations. If you're stuck in a rut, canicross is the next step in your workout.

6 Types of Dogs You’ll Meet on the Hiking Trail

If you hike into the woods today, you'll meet trail dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Here's our list of all the dogs you are likely to meet on the trails.

School’s In Session – 101 Introduction To Agility Training For Dog

Agility Training for dogs has a multitude of benefits. Once your dog masters the basics, you may find that agility training is a natural progression.

What to Do With Dogs With Excess Energy

You have a dog with boundless amounts of energy - what can you do to expend it? Take a look at our tips to ensure your active dog is entertained.

4 Pro Tips to Picking the Right Dog Disc

Before you toss that disc for your dog, do you know if it's safe? What you need to know before your dog chomps down on a dangerous piece of plastic.

How To Be an Expert Athletic Supporter at Dog Sled Races

Got plans this weekend? If there’s snow on the ground, why not take in a local dog sled race? Kevin Roberts has an essential checklist of what you need…

Wheely Good Time: How To Cycle Sanely And Safely With Your Dog

If you’d rather be on two wheels than two feet, then biking with your dog is the perfect activity. But before you peddle away, Kevin Roberts has some &…

Furry Fitness: Words Of Wisdom From A Pooped Human

Kevin Roberts and his dogs have been working up a sweat and toning their tushes at a local dog/human fitness class. Now that it’s wrapped up, he has th…

5 Pet Portaging Tips For Canoeing With Your Dog

Here’s something I’ve always wanted to do – go on a canoeing trip with Oscar. For outdoor adventure Kevin Roberts, it’s just another…

Furry Fitness: Fuzzy Buns Of Steel

Kevin Roberts and his pack feel the burn as they take on their first human/canine fitness class. Today is gym day with the dogs – our first actual clas…

Product Review: The TugNTow Mushing Rig

Kevin Roberts couldn't wait to hit the trail with the TugNTow Mushing Rig. And if you're into bikejoring, this is one review you've got to read.

6 Jolly Ways Exercise Will Help You Survive The Holi-Dogs

Merry Skijormas! Kevin Roberts serves up a few bright tips on how to make the most of the holidays – especially when active dogs are part of your festi…

2014 Dog New Year’s Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions feel like an impossible to-do list and we give them up quickly. But would you be more likely to keep them if they involved your dog?

5 Fundamental Training Tips for Sport Dogs This Fall

Follow these five fundamental training tips to ensure you're making the most of autumn, and your team is in awesome shape for winter dog sports.

Why Do Dogs Love to Fetch?

Some dogs could play all day - you throw the ball, they go get it and bring it back for you to throw again. But what is it about this game that dogs love?

Take A Hike: Adventures In Dog Hiking Part 1

A-hiking we will go! Oscar and I take on the challenge of dog hiking Oscar and I decided we needed a new challenge this summer. We’re not the most athl…

SUP: Stand Up Paddle Boarding With Your Dog

Kevin Roberts talks about the latest trend in water sports that people and their dogs can enjoy together – Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Stand Up Paddle Bo…

How Do I Know When Walks Are Too Much for My Senior Dog?

Big or small, all dogs love to get out for a good walk each day. And if your favorite route is one designed to challenge your pooch and offer him a rigorous wor…

Gearing Up With the Right Gear for Your Adventurous Dog

When it comes to gear for outdoor adventures with your pooch, here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping.

Get Fit With Fido: Exhilarating Workouts For You And Your Dog

The best personal trainer is your furry best friend! Get active, get healthy and get going – it’s time to kick 2015 off with cool physical activi…

How to Pick the Right Skis for Skijoring

What should you have on your feet when taking your dog out for skijoring? Kevin Roberts breaks down what to look for before strapping a pair onto your feet.

Why Your Dog Needs To Warm-Up Before Canicross Workouts

Before you head out on your canicross run, do you do stretches? What about your dogs? A warm-up is an important part of your canicross workout.

Pulling For Urban Mushing – Is It The Right Activity For Your Dog?

If you want to give your dog an exceptional workout, you should try your hand at Urban Mushing. This sport is perfect for dogs with a high energy drive.

Teaching Your Dog to Run on a Treadmill

You're not the only one who can use a treadmill to work off those extra pounds. When your dog needs to release pent-up energy, get him on a treadmill.

Nama-stay! Doga Gives Yoga A Furry Makeover

Haven't heard of it before? It's a new dog-friendly activity that pooches and their owners can participate in together, combining dogs and yoga - Doga!

7 Cool Facts About the Iditarod Race

White-outs and sub-zero temps won't stop the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race! If you're following the race, here are a few cool facts about the annual event.

Top 5 Reasons To Go For An Autumn Hike With Your Dog

Avid outdoorsman Kevin Roberts doesn’t like to be shut indoors… especially at this time of the year. He and his pack take advantage of the milde…

How To Correct Common Bad Mushing Habits

You're gung-ho about getting started in the sport of mushing. But be sure to avoid this common mistake and teach your dogs how to mush right from the start.

Wheely Good Time: Bikejoring and Scootering Part 2

All Kevin Roberts needs are a set of wheels and his energetic dogs to have a good time. And once he explains the ups and downs of Bikejoring and Scootering,…

Winter Training Tips: Getting Started In Skijoring

Skijoring is a team sport. You and your dog work together to get around a trail, tour the back country or glide across the snow on your local golf course.

Secrets of Canadian Mushers: Why Dog Boots and Deep Snow Don’t Mix

If it didn't come from the mouth of a Canadian Musher, I wouldn't believe it myself! Kevin Roberts tells us why you don't use dog boots in deep snow.

Indoor Dog Fitness Ideas To Keep Your Dog Moving This Winter

Don’t let winter curb your dog’s exercise – we’ve got some indoor activities to get you moving We all tend to hibernate in the winter…

Best Dog Treadmills

Dog treadmills are one of the most efficient solutions for meeting your dog's physical activity demands from the comfort of your home.

5 Simple Ways to Lose Weight With Your Dog

Don't think of it as a resolution - if you want to get active, make goals that you can share with your dog. Here are 5 ways to lose weight with your dog.

Mountain Boarding With Dogs: Off-Roading Adventures Powered By Pooches

Kevin Roberts finally gets his feet on a mountain board – and suffers a hard break. Here’s what he learned from his spills and thrills, and what…

Pros and Cons of Virtual Urban Mushing Races

If you're an urban musher, you may be interested in taking part of a virtual race. But what are they? Let's go over what they are, along with the pros and cons.

The ABC’s of Kicksledding

Knowing your ABC's are crucial - especially when it comes to kicksledding. Kevin Roberts teaches you the alphabet of kicksledding.

Dispelling the Myths About Urban Mushing

Urban mushing is gaining in popularity... and with it, more grumbles about if it's safe. If you come across a hater, here's how to challenge their concerns.

6 Types of Urban Mushers You’ll Meet on the Trails

As a seasoned skijorer, Kevin Roberts has seen all kinds of people on the trails. You'll get a kick out of these sledding stereotypes!

What You Need To Know About Indoor Dog Parks

It's pretty cold and snowy - but there's no excuse to sit on the couch with your dog all winter. Get moving and check out indoor dog parks near you!