How can I safely build my Shih Tzu's endurance and stamina over time?

Long walks in the evening should be perfectly fine on summer days that are not excessively hot and humid. If Oli seems to be walking more slowly or experiences heavy panting, stop your walk and take him inside where it is cool.

If you meant the sweetener erythritol, it is not toxic to dogs. Xylitol is the sweetener that is very toxic to dogs. If it is very hot or humid out, keep walks short. A 10-15. Inure walk is fine. Monitor Quinton for excessive panting, lethargy or lameness. Let him be your guide. A good exercise for dogs with arthritis is swimming. It is low impact and will keep him cool.

This is a great question. Thanks for being proactive. You can get Penelope in shape the same way you or I would. If she's doing nothing now, start with 2-3 walks a day of 5-10 minutes and build up to 30-60 minutes over a few weeks to months. Go slower if she's overweight or has a short nose, and faster if she's very healthy, has a normal length nose, enjoys the walks, and is a normal weight. After she can walk for 30-60 minutes 1-3 times a day, add in 5 minutes of jogging throughout the walk. If you're walking/jogging every single day, you should be able to scale up at a rate of about 5 more minutes every 3-7 days. If you're only jogging weekly or every few days, scale up every other week. Using this routine, you'll be able to slowly build up her endurance. Most dogs can and enjoy running several miles at a time and some enjoy much more. If she is a short nosed dog, ask your veterinarian before starting this routine to make sure it would be safe for Penelope. Be cautious when it's very hot out because dogs can get dangerously hot while jogging very quickly. She should be able to calm down and stop panting after a walk within about 10 minutes. Finally, if you end up jogging daily, Penelope may need a bit more food. Pay attention to her hips and ribs to make sure they aren't getting too bony.

Tao is so cute! He's should be eating twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. On his bag of food, there will be a daily allotment recommended. Divide it into two equal portions. As for exercise, he should get 15 minutes twice a day given his small size. You can try to build it up to longer, but because he has such a flat face, I don't recommend taking him out for too long in the summer heat. This is because he will easily over heat. You can train him and play fetch with him to get him more exercise. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Congratulations on your new pet! It is not recommended to bathe a pup less than 3 monmths of age. You can use plain, unscented baby wipes or pet wipes to spot clean her as needed. Feed a good quality puppy food. Stay away from store or discount brands as these typically contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. The breeder may give you a bag of food to go home with. If Blush eats it, does well on it and it is easy for you to get then stick with it. If you need to change diets, do it gradually, over the course of 7-10 days, to prevent gastrointestinal upset. Try to avoid switching diets frequently to avoid creating a picky eater. She should not need vitamin supplementation if she is eating a quality puppy food. Dogs have similar tolerances for temperature that we do. If it is too cold fo ryou inside, it is too cold for her. Air conditioning should be tolerable for her. You can start crate training her or wee wee pad trainign her as soon as you get home. If you use a crate, it should be just big enough for her to stand, turn around and lay down. Start a schedule for bathroom breaks. She should go out first thing in the morning, after naps, about 20-30 minutes after eating or playing and just before bedtime. She will likely need to go out one or two times during the night as well. Choose one spot in your yard and allow her to use it. She can go outside in your yard. She should not be exposed to dogs of unknown vaccine statuse until about 2 weeks after she receives her last vaccine.

Hello, good questions. Just like in people, dogs are healthier and on average will live longer, healthier lives if they are kept active, lean, and fit. No one can predict if a dog will get liver/kidney/heart disease down the road, but keeping them active is an important component to helping them stay healthy in general. Getting dogs out for walks is also important to their mental stimulation, as it allows them to see, smell, and hear a variety of things. Some people do successfully exercise their dogs on a treadmill, but there are absolutely dangers to this, and doing so requires careful training. A typical dog's first response to being on a treadmill will be to run away (it's scary when the ground moves from under you!), and they can get hurt in the process. I would not recommend attempting to put Bruno on a treadmill unless you are an experienced dog trainer and are comfortable with doing so in a safe and positive way. If Bruno likes chasing balls, throwing a ball for him is a much safer way for many owners to give their dogs some good exercise and mental stimulation. Just as human athletes need to gradually increase their workouts, you may gradually lengthen Bruno's play/running sessions as he appears comfortable. I would start with 15 minutes of running and increase the time according to his enthusiasm and energy level. A very fit dog can run for hours, as long as the weather is cool and there are frequent stops to drink water!

You are a great pet owner for being concerned about this and planning ahead! In the oppressive heat, heat stroke can happen very quickly. Some dogs can learn to adapt to the heat and are better able to handle it (think dogs that work as partners for soldiers in Iraq or Search and Rescue dogs). Signs of heatstroke include: Increased heart rate Excessive panting Increased salivation Bright red tongue Red or pale gums Thick, sticky saliva Depression Weakness Dizziness Vomiting (sometimes with blood) Diarrhea As heatstroke progresses, it can cause seizures, coma, cardiac arrest, and death. Exercising early in the morning during the cooler hours, providing lots of fresh cool water and finding places to exercise in the shade (like a nature trail hike) can help keep your dog cool. Several companies make Cool Coats that reflect heat and funnel it away from your dog. Also, find other ways for your dog to get exercise or even exercise their mind. You would be amazed at how tiring this is for dogs- take a Nosework class and your dog can learn to find different scents and you can practice at home in the house. Pick up a few puzzle toys and let your dog learn to find food and treats in the puzzles. Also, you could see if your dog might enjoy a swim-- even a little splash pool at home can be fun for the dog or some hose play- Don't overdo a dog's can get very sick if they drink too much water when playing.