When it comes to taking care of your boxer, many people wonder about how much daily exercise and activity their pup should be getting. With society’s current focus on healthy daily routines for humans, why not create the perfect routine for your boxer as well?
Shockingly, more than half of the 90 million dogs in the U.S. are estimated to be overweight or obese. This is a serious health concern for our furry family members because a healthy dog must be fit mentally, emotionally, and physically. Socialization and exercise need to be a part of every dog’s daily routine, and you can help your dog lead a happy and fulfilled life just by taking them for more walks.
How to Up Your Dog’s Exercise Game
The Boxer has a high need for companionship and exercise. If these needs are not met, boxers can become stressed and destructive. They can also become overweight, which can lead to a whole host of other health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, a shorter life span, and an overall lower quality of life.
The easiest way to add more daily exercise to your routine? Walk more with your pup. It’s as simple as that! Not only is this good for them, but you’ll also burn up to 240 calories per hour. Don’t always have time for long walks? Hire a dog walker or try sending your pup to doggy daycare at least three days a week. They’ll get an average of 30,000 steps per day there compared to 4,000 to 6,000 at home.
For more adventurous families, there are countless other ways to add more activity to your dog’s day:
Play hide and seek with treats
Take your pup with you to dog friendly stores (Home Depot, Lowes, & Ace)
Go for a hike or check out a local park
Let them walk on a treadmill (under supervision)
Throw a frisbee or play fetch
Choosing Breed-Specific Activities for Your Pup
Boxers are extremely intelligent and often have a mind of their own. They’re considered working dogs and can become bored with repetition and may, given their sense of humor, invent their own idea of exercise. That being said, this happy go lucky breed is often up for anything fun involving their favorite human(s).
Keeping Your Dog Stimulated Mentally
Interactive toys are mentally stimulating for dogs. They encourage problem-solving, thinking, socializing, and natural stress-relieving behaviors. When bored and unstimulated, dogs might bark excessively, self-injure through chewing, or destroy things. A mentally fit pup is a happy pup, so here are some ideas to reduce stress and boredom through stimulation:
Enroll your dog in agility training, rally, or trick classes
Puzzle toys such as tumble puzzles in varying levels of difficulty
Snuffle mats that encourage nose work
Provide basic obedience cues before enjoying food
Use puzzle toys to feed your pup meals
Let us know if you try one of these ideas or have one share!