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Bonnie the staff puppy, submitted by Charlotte and Alice
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Exercise
Another requirement which you must meet before owning a dog is the ability to take it out and let it gain exercise on a regular basis. There’s no point simply letting outside in to the garden, expecting it to run around and burn off energy itself, as it probably won’t. You have to be able to take it out and walk it, hopefully twice a day, for at least an hour in total.
To be able to walk your dog you will need it to wear a collar, which your dog should have been used to wearing since it was a puppy. You will also need a lead, as this will be the safest way of taking your dog out. Hopefully if you are able to take it to some woods or to some fields you should be able to let it off its lead, as long as you keep an eye on it. Be extra careful if your dog has a problem playing gently with other dogs, or with other people. In this case it is probably best to keep it on a lead or have it wear a muzzle, just in case.
Some dogs will exercise more than others when going out for walks, and this is quite normal. Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t seem to run constantly or seem too enthusiastic, this could just be due to the kind of dog that it is. Obviously the more exercise the dog does, the more energy it is burning, and thus it will probably require more food. However if your dog isn’t doing much exercise it is probably worth checking that you aren’t over feeding the dog, as it could easily put on weight or develop health problems.
Another way to exercise your dog is by playing with it. Usually most dogs enjoy playing with people/toys a couple of times a day, but this does depend on the temperament of the dog. This can be another way to help your dog get its exercise, so don’t be afraid to encourage your dog to play.