How can I keep my dog active and fit when I'm at work all day?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is so nice that you are so concerned about making sure Buddy is happy. It is important to make this a big part of your life. It is also ok to have other things in your life, like cycling. If you feel that Buddy isn't getting enough exercise, you can always hire a dog walker to take him out while you are at work for some added play time. Otherwise just make sure you are still giving Buddy time for walks and ways to blow off steam (agility training for heelers is a really good activity to help with keeping them stimulated), and when you want to go for rides he can just hang out and rest. Best of luck with Buddy, and with your rides!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I understand your concern. If you are able to walk him at least 4 times a day then he should be ok. You could consider taking him to the dog park as well and just letting him run as that would also help tremendously. That honestly should be enough for exercise and he could be happy at a smaller apartment as long as he continues to be exercised like that. Good luck and have a great day! I think he will be ok.

Soska is a beautiful dog! Young dogs (and breeds like German shepherds) do tend to require more exercise so if you don't have time to walk Soska daily you can try to take her out to play ball or fetch daily. This will help give her exercise and mental stimulation but won't be as time consuming as a walk. You can also see if there are any dog walkers or doggy day cares in your area to help give Soska more exercise a few times a week. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Best of luck to you and and Soska!

You are welcome! How lovely that you and Muggs go on the truck with your husband. I imagine he drives long hours, but whenever he takes a break, use the opportunity to get Muggs some exercise. Play fetch, go for a short run, walk him as much as possible. If you use every possible chance you have to exercise him, even if it's short multiple times a day, and make sure you don't feed him treats and human food, then this should help control his weight :-)

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Maggie. This is a great question! If she's fine being home alone, I would do that, but have your neighbor come over once a day around lunch to take her for a walk and play with her. That way, she gets some love, attention, and exercise, but stays at home. I hope this helps!

Many dogs can be trained to run on a tread mill! This is commonly used for dogs who live in cold climates or have owners who are not able to tolerate cold weather. A trainer or behaviorist can help in the training but many people figure it out at home often with the help of guide books and videos. If Nyssa likes to play tug of war, purchase a tug toy and set aside 20 minutes a day to play with her. This is a good, dry/warm indoor activity! Many dogs don't mind playing ball in the snow or snow shoeing even! As long as conditions are safe and not icy, a good walk/jog or bike ride can be accomplished even in cold weather. Some people even ski with their dogs! If there is snow or rough terrain, she may need protection for her paws. Many cities now offer pools for dog swimming which can certainly tire them out. If Nyssa is good with other dogs and likes to play, doggie day care offers an indoor/dry option for her. Additionally, if you work long hours, websites such as Rover.com offer dog walking services so Nyssa can be taken out while you work. I hope this answers your questions and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Moves are stressful for everyone. Some things you can do to help Jimmy transition are to keep him busy and try to create and stick to a schedule. The schedule helps because it creates routines and Jimmy will know what is going to happen during the day, even in new surroundings. If you don't already have one, I would establish one before you move and try to stick to it during the transition. Giving Jimmy as much exercise as you can manage will be helpful, Getting out for even short walks frequently would be good, but also getting him out for a good walk or dog park for a run would be ideal. Utilize walks as much as you can to burn off energy. Walking generally isn't enough for strong breeds. Adding obedience, getting him to jump up on things (like benches and walls) will help drain his energy more. If you're not feeling up for a walk due to your health try to keep him busy inside with mental games. Lots of chews, enrichment toys like food dispensers, or even hiding treats and food around the house and having him search will help his mental stimulation and keep him busy. This will reduce the need to as much exercise temporarily, reduce stress and keep him out of trouble. I'd also recommend checking out a day care 1 day a week if he is good with out other dogs, and if your budget allows the dog walker would be very helpful too.