How much exercise does your dog get?

21st July 2022

Is your dog really getting the right amount of exercise?

Pet owners often fail to spot when their pets have become overweight, despite vets seeing increasing signs of it. In the UK for example, the PDSA found in a recent study that 1.4 million pets have piled on the pounds over lockdown. ₁ Whereas in the US in 2018 it was estimated that 56% of dogs were overweight or obese. ₂ These findings highlight the growing pet obesity epidemic across the USA and UK, but this is followed in other countries too.

In the same study, these dog owners also reported having given their pets more treats and human food with the love we feel for our pets contributing to this.

Exercise & diet monitoring – the key to a healthy weight 

There are two main factors that influence a dog’s weight: the amount of exercise they get and their diet. An unsuitable ratio between the two can result in unwanted weight gain or weight loss. The recommended amount of exercise and food portions greatly varies depending on the age and breed of your dog. Your vet can provide you with the correct advice on what to feed your dog and how much exercise they should be getting.  

How to keep track of your pet’s exercise & diet 

In today’s busy world it can be a challenge to spot changes in your dog’s activity levels, however Animo® Activity and Behaviour monitor can help. 

The Sure Petcare Animo® can help you keep track of how much exercise your dog is getting, understand the intensity levels of this exercise, how many calories they’ve burnt and helping you to understand their rest periods.  You get notified when your dog has reached their activity and calorie burn goals for the day. 

The effect of exercise on sleep quality 

Another indicator of the right amount of exercise is sleep; it is likely that if your dog is getting too much or too little exercise, their sleep patterns may be impacted. Too little exercise may lead to disruptive behaviour, whilst too much exercise can cause joint pain, leaving the dog restless at night. 

Read our customer testimonials to find out how Animo has helped other dog owners manage their pet’s daily exercise. 

₁ https://www.pdsa.org.uk/press-office/latest-news/pet-obesity-paw-demic-weight-gain-during-lockdown

₂ https://petobesityprevention.org/