Dog Basics: 2 Basic Needs A New Dog Owner Must Get Used To: Exercise & Grooming: All dogs need exercise, especially young puppies. And it is very unlikely for your dog to get the sufficient amount of exercise he needs just by sitting around the house, which is what most dogs do when they are left alone for many hours at a time.
If you are planning on getting two or more puppies, they will move and play around with one another. But a puppy by himself won’t do much more than make an occasional tour around the house, check the area, and then lie down.
You have to include a daily exercise routine if you want a dog to stay fit. Puppies, in particular, need exercise for their muscular development and as part of their socialization process. A physically fit puppy will grow up to be a physically fit dog that is healthier, happier, and able to live his life to the fullest.
Exercising your dog can be fun and simple. It doesn’t have to be strenuous to be effective and it doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time. For many dogs, daily walks around the block is enough to get their daily dose of exercise. In addition to these daily walks, your dog will also love an occasional run, a game of ball, or a trip to the dog park where he can run around freely and play with the other dogs.{+++}
If you are serious about your personal exercise needs, or enjoy vigorous outdoor activities with your dog, there are many types of dogs to choose from that fits within this category.
The majority of sporting breeds, for example, has high levels of energy and will make an excellent jogging, training, or hiking partner once their muscle and skeletal development is complete at around 18 months of age.
Grooming
Dog’s coat length and thickness all vary. Some are very hairy, others are practically hairless, and others fall somewhere in between. Dogs’ coat also comes in various textures, from soft to very coarse and sometimes overly curly. And just like us, dogs lose their hair in order to give way for the new hair to grow in. Most dogs shed all year long in small amounts while some experiences a period of heavy shedding twice a year.
If grooming your dog is not something that you enjoy doing, or if you want a dog that doesn’t shed heavily, choose one that has a short or medium length coat. Curly-coated breeds do not shed much and can sport a short clip, which you can get away with a once or twice a week brushing. If, on the other hand, you are the type of person who loves to play hairdresser, you’ll appreciate a long-haired or double-coated breed.