It's important to exercise your dog, even during winter

With record-breaking cold temperatures, strong winds, and snow, winter continues in our area. But we're still out walking our dogs. Dog people are lucky because walking our dogs is a good way to exercise, for us and them. Our dogs, especially, need it.

The ASPCA notes our dogs' wild relatives led busy and complex lives, caring for offspring, scavenging for food, defending territory, interacting socially and solving problems necessary for their survival.

Our dogs were bred for a specific purpose - hunting, providing protection or herding livestock. Now our dogs lead sedentary lives, often alone, inactive and confined most of the day, waiting for us to come home. Along with not having a job, our dogs may not be getting enough exercise.

Not having anything constructive to do with their energy, dogs will find something else to do. The most common behaviors that result from dogs not getting enough exercise and play are:

• Destructive chewing, digging, scratching;

• Investigative behaviors, like garbage raiding;

• Hyperactivity, excitability and nighttime activity;

• Unruliness, knocking over furniture and jumping up on people;

• Excessive predatory and social play;

• Play biting and rough play;

• Attention-getting behaviors like barking and whining.

Daily exercise, along with keeping our dogs healthy and happy, benefits our dogs by:

• Reducing digging, excessive barking, chewing and hyperactivity;

• Helping to keep our dogs agile and limber;

• Helping to reduce digestive problems and constipation;

• Helping timid or fearful dogs build trust and confidence;

• Helping our dogs feel sleepy, rather than restless at bedtime;

• Helping to keep dogs' weight under control.

Our dogs have considerable natural energy. Their need for exercise depends on their age, size, breed and individual traits. Check with your veterinarian before you start an exercise program. The ASPCA suggests our dogs benefit enormously from daily aerobic exercises like fetch, tug, running and swimming, as well as at least one half-hour walk.

Exercising your dog can also mean focusing on his brain with food puzzle toys, obedience and trick training and chew toys. Or focus on games that make your dog run around while you stand or sit still, like fetch with balls, Frisbees or sticks, Find It, Hide and Seek, catching bubbles (using a special bubble blower toy made for dogs, like the Bubble Buddy), or chasing a toy on a rope.

Whether you walk your dog or keep him active with less athletic pursuits, it is important to help them use up their energy. Our dogs will be healthier for it and so will we.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to the rescue of stray, abused and abandoned animals. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.