EVEN if your pet dog is not obese, exercise should still be an essential routine for him or her. Most owners like taking their dogs for walks when what they really need is the right amount of workout.

According to veterinarians, besides the benefit to their mental and physical health, regular exercise makes sure that dogs don’t develop destructive habits like ripping up sofas and chewing shoes.

The reason behind these frustrating actions is the same for most children: they simply have too much energy.

Pick the right environment

Due to Singaporeans’ tight working schedules, most of us only have about an hour during evenings to exercise with our dogs.

And unless you are an enviable Tai Tai, limited free time restricts us to dog walking around the neighbourhood.

Few neighbourhoods have a decent park nearby, so Singaporean dogs mainly stop to sniff the rubbish along the way, and walk on concrete each day.

Residential areas are filled with distractions like traffic and screaming school kids. So be sure to train your dog to obey commands to prevent it from going berserk at everything it sees.

Urban areas are also hazardous as they might have sharp debris on the ground, which might hurt your dog’s paws but not your safely protected feet. Keep on the look out for such articles in your path.

Before dashing off

There are some things to take note of before seriously exercising your dog.

• Trim your dog’s nails so that it would not split during the jog
• Do not perform strenuous exercises with your dog right after its meal – or it might cause bloating
• Ensure that your pooch is well-behaved and can obey all your basic commands like stop, stay, drop it, come here, and a firm NO.
• Have a couple of plastic bags on hand to pick up your pooch’s poop
• Unless you are Wonder Woman, try not to exercise with your baby in a tram, and the dog on the leash. Your dog might set off for another dog, with the possibility that you and the tram might be thrown — and the baby — off course.
• Same goes with walking two dogs at a time. Both might get easily excited, and be less attentive to your commands.

How much exercise?

Chu Hui Ee, owner of a nine-year-old Jack Russell, exercises her dog thrice a week by making the very unwilling dog climb up nine storeys up to her apartment.

“When he gets tired of walking up the stairs, he'll just sit down and insist on not moving,” says Hui Ee. That’s when she ceases the exercise session.

However, if you notice that your pooch is still hyper after the workout, do push it a little more in order to make full use of the exercise.

Breeds should be taken into consideration when planning your dog’s exercise routines. Dogs with short noses like pugs should not be exercised vigorously, and big breeds would suffer joint problems if forced to run over long periods.

Do remember that humans are much better at marathons than our best friends, who specialise in 100m sprints.

Beware of over exertion

If your dog happens to be more obedient than Hui Ee’s Jack Russell, it will try very hard to keep up with you no matter what. Be aware that if it starts to pant heavily, or starts to sway in its walk like a drunkard, it is vital that you stop for a water break.

Exercising your canine on this sunny island also means higher chances of it being over exhausted by the heat. The best times to have an enjoyable exercise with your dog are mornings and evenings. What's more, you can look more attractive as you sweat less, and the pavement will be comfortably cool for your dog’s paws to tread on.

Indoor exercises

“Kiwi absolutely loves her walks and games. Even at home, we play catch with her in the garden until she tires. She’s super hyper, you see,” says Stefni Tay, owner of a nine-year-old mixed breed German Shepard.

Although indoor games can never substitute serious dog workouts, it can be helpful to keep your dog happy and active on non-exercising days.

For those without the luxury of a big compound, you can make your dog work a little bit for its food. Hide small portions around your apartment and command him to search for it. You can also play hide and seek with your canine, by asking him to stay with someone in one room while you go into another. Call out its name and tease it by keeping silent when it approaches.

Indoor exercises are only meager replacements of workouts, so treat your dog to a splash at East Coast during weekends, or explore a nearby park once in a while to maintain a healthy dog. Have fun!

This is not a comprehensive guide for planning your dog’s exercise. Although most owners bask in the pride of knowing their four legged companions inside out, seeking professional advice from a veterinarian is a wise option.

Sources for this story include http://www.paw-rescue.org/ PAW/PETTIPS/ DogTip_ JogDog.php; http://www.spca.bc.ca/animalissues/exercising.asp; and http://www.gemgreyhounds.org/guide/gde_fdng.htm