How important is regular exercise to dog wellness?

It's vital to dog wellness. Mostly, dogs love to explore new environments or the same environment again. So if they can be outside and be in the fresh air and smell things and get different experiences, they are overall more well-rounded, happier pets. And so it's very important.

Exercise is very important in pets and people. I always associate pets with people because we all should be doing it. Play time is so healthy. I mean even most dogs, just think of how excited they even get when you say the word “walk”. I have to spell it out for my dog and I think she's catching on now. So they get so happy. So it's good for their mental wellbeing. It's good for their physical wellbeing. It's great to maintain weight, keep those joints moving, so regular exercise is one of the most important things for people and pets.

Dog exercise is vitally important. It’s the same for us. The more active you are, it's healthier for you in almost every capacity you can imagine—maintaining weight, maintaining the joints’ health, and muscle firmness and tone.

Dogs are also pack animals. By their very nature, dogs are pack animals who in the wild would be roaming and searching and all day long; they're either eating, sleeping, or hunting. And we try to domesticate them and ask them to stay in a house or a kennel, and we think they're going to be just fine. Well, most of them are. They adapt quite well, but they thrive in an environment where they can use that energy and use their senses and go out searching and exploring, so mentally, it's a big deal for them—even if it's merely taking a walk morning and evening, or playing outside if you have a big yard. I don't have time for walks, but I have a giant yard where I can let them go and run and play fetch. And we play little scent games with my little Dachshunds, as those are exercises that use their minds and create a healthier dog in general. I strongly encourage mental and physical activities for your dogs.

Exercise is not just good for the health of their heart and to keep them at a good weight, but it's also great enrichment. Taking your dog on a walk and letting them sniff and see is enriching their lives. If your dog does nothing but stay inside and gets no exercise, they're not getting stimulated. Dogs want to smell things, see things, and be involved in activities, so exercise is an excellent way to keep them healthy.