We have discussed diet, but exercise is the other half of the health equation.

In the backyard, chasing the ball, just running around etc—that is exercise.

Taking the dog to the local dog park or beach etc so your dog runs and plays (play fights among young dogs and puppies means your dogs socialises with other dogs and people—more than just exercise.

Dogs love walking—at least one 10-14Km walk a week. Good for you too! In summer I would drive off at about 4.30–5.00am and we (me and Demi but Socks is now old enough would have finished the walk by 9-9.30am.)

Don’t know what sort of walks are available here. Can use the beach but the tide might make that difficult at times and I do like using different routes for a bit of mental stimulation.


This is why having a dog is good: by giving it exercise you give yourself exercise + VitD!

tug of war is great exercise for them ... but at your age and given how big socks is getting, maybe not a great idea for you

My shoulders suck and hurt all the time but I play tug of war what I can.

Dogs will play tug of war with each other, just need a bit of rope preferably with a knot or two in it. Socks pretty much always wins—she is strong!

Jovial Monk wrote on Aug 28^th, 2022 at 3:04pm:

My shoulders suck and hurt all the time but I play tug of war what I can. Dogs will play tug of war with each other, just need a bit of rope preferably with a knot or two in it. Socks pretty much always wins—she is strong!

you could also tie it to a low lying branch in the backyard so she can play tug of war with herself

My previous dog I walked every day mostly twice in periods.

Went to the beach on weekends and when days off and walked in the evening when working.

The current dog I walk but not as often but My daughter walks him on other days.

Not sure about long walks. Dogs do not seem to have great distance stamina. Had a dog when I was young followed me on a run, I seen him the first time and took him back home with instructions to leave him in the house. The next time I seen him running behind me I was about 2 K out. I thought he was young and fit would be ok. Finished up having to carry him about 5 K. He was never the same after that.

My last dog took on a long walk by accident - got lost and also another time planned to drop off the car and walk home, both were too far for him. I found that with this dog I would be dog skiing for about the first 2K but after about 5 or 6 K I would be dragging him along. Different breeds may be different one of these was a Husky the other a boarder collie.

Jovial Monk wrote on Aug 28^th, 2022 at 3:04pm:

My shoulders suck and hurt all the time but I play tug of war what I can. Dogs will play tug of war with each other, just need a bit of rope preferably with a knot or two in it. Socks pretty much always wins—she is strong!

Walking my previous dog ended in a shoulder reconstruction. He got better as he aged.

My 8.5Kg terrier did the 13-14K walks no hassles—I made sure she wasn’t puffing/lame etc.

I did the whole Torrens Linear Park again after the hip reconstruction—surgeon had recommended exercise once the operation wound was healed and bone was growing onto the titanium hip fastened to my pelvis. Met a lady in the TLP had had the same operation 4 months before I did, not as far along with recovery as I was—had hardly done any exercise.

So exercise is good for man and beast but watch your dog to make sure it is coping.