Beagles are active, energetic, and intelligent dogs that need regular exercise to stay happy and healthy. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore different types of activities to meet your Beagle exercise needs and ensure that your furry friend stays in great shape. So, let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
- Understanding Your Beagle’s Exercise Needs
- Moderate Exercise: Going for Walks
- Cardio Exercise: Intense Activities
- Age to Begin Exercise and Precautions
- Fun Exercise Ideas
- Exercise Safety Tips
Understanding Your Beagle’s Exercise Needs
Beagles are a breed meant to stay active. Proper exercise can extend their life expectancy and help avoid behavioral issues like excessive restlessness, moodiness, and destructive behavior. Generally, there are two types of exercises that a Beagle should receive:
- Moderate exercise – going for walks
- Cardio exercise – short but more intense bursts of activity, such as running after a ball
Moderate Exercise: Going for Walks
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for your Beagle. It helps stretch muscles, maintain muscle mass, keep the metabolism working well, and release energy. It also helps teach your Beagle to heel and tolerate traffic.
Knowing how much exercise your beagle needs is crucial for a happy and healthy dog. Ideally, a Beagle should be taken for a walk at least 1 time per day, and twice is even better. Walks should be moderate and at a fairly brisk pace, keeping in mind that a brisk pace for you might be a running pace for a little puppy.
Cardio Exercise: Intense Activities
Cardio exercises should be short and more intense. They should be provided at least 1 time per week, with 2 times being optimal. Some examples of cardio activities include:
- Throwing a ball and having your Beagle run after it
- Teaching your Beagle command words like “Fetch” and “Return“
Most Beagles love to simply run around, and if taken to a park or open field, they’ll enjoy running free. However, always keep your dog supervised and make sure it’s safe to take your Beagle off their leash or harness. Remember, they are a hound dog with a strong instinct to follow scents, and they could quickly disappear if they catch the scent of a small animal.
Age to Begin Exercise and Precautions
Before starting your Beagle on an exercise regimen, make sure they have had all of their puppy shots. It’s essential to know that Beagles don’t fully develop their skeletal system until the age of 18 months. Over-exercising before this age can disrupt normal bone growth.
Until the age of 18 months, limit walks to approximately 1 mile. If your pup needs to release more energy, a second walk can be taken later in the day. The key is to allow your young Beagle to exercise without pushing them to their limits or causing strain on their growing body during this critical time. After the age of 18 months, you can gradually increase the intensity and duration of their exercise routine.
Fun Exercise Ideas
Exercising with your Beagle is not only essential for their health but also a great way to bond. Here are some fun and engaging ways to exercise with your Beagle:
- Agility: Set up a homemade obstacle course for your dog to navigate. Teach your Beagle to jump through a hoop (like a hula-hoop) and maneuver around obstacles. Be sure to reward them with small treats for completing the course.
- Frisbee: This classic game is enjoyable for both owner and dog. Start by teaching your Beagle to run after the Frisbee and catch it mid-air. Remember to never “rip” the Frisbee out of your dog’s mouth. Instead, train them to drop it on command using words like “Drop” or “Give“.
- Hide & Seek with Treats: Have your Beagle sit and watch as you hide small treats all around your home. Once you give the command to “Go!” or “Find,” your Beagle can run around gathering up the hidden treats. This game challenges your dog’s mental and physical abilities.
Exercise Safety Tips
When exercising your Beagle, it’s crucial to keep their safety in mind. Here are some essential safety tips:
- Always bring water on walks and other outings to ensure your Beagle stays hydrated and can cool down when needed.
- Avoid exercising outside in extremely hot temperatures or for extended periods.
- Learn to recognize the signs of heatstroke, which include excessive panting, drooling, and reddened gums. If you notice these signs, stop all activity, move your Beagle to a shaded area, and offer them water.
- Be mindful of your Beagle’s digging behaviors, especially if they’re left alone outside. Address this habit by reading more about how to stop a Beagle from digging.
By following these guidelines and incorporating a variety of fun activities into your Beagle’s exercise routine, you’ll help ensure a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted furry companion. Now, it’s time to get moving and enjoy some quality time with your Beagle!
