Too much exercise can be punishing for dogs

Several years ago my brother Thomas embarked on a 3-month hiking adventure in Europe. The goal of his trans-European trek was to reach the mission church of Santiago de Compostela in Spain from his home in the medieval southern German town of Freiburg, a distance of about 1,000 miles.

And, he thought, what a fantastic opportunity for hours and hours of daily, fresh outdoor exercise for Anko his Labrador retriever. Anko was 6 years old at the time, weighed about 60 pounds, and was in good physical condition.

It didn't take long for Thomas to realize, however, that such an ambitious goal would never be realized in the time-frame he had envisioned. In fact, after about 4 hours of brisk walking with Anko that first day, he was afraid that he might not be able to even continue his journey at all.

The problem was not with Thomas' stamina but with Anko's.

Instead of hoping to cover 15 miles that first day, the two had to stop for the day after only about 6 miles - Anko simply could not walk any further and was very exhausted.

On the second and third day of similar experiences with Anko, Thomas sensibly scaled back his plans to be back in Freiburg in August or September instead of mid-June. Thus, the pace of this journey would be determined by Anko, not by himself.

It seems surprising to many, that dogs do not have an infinite source of energy and stamina. But any Veterinarian will tell you that the misguided belief that all dogs like to run nonstop for miles needs to be dispelled.

Therefore, one needs to prepare the dog for longer hikes to make it a great experience not only for the hiker but also for the dog.

The following is just a very general list of items you should include in your planning. You might have to do more to get your wonderful dog ready for a longer hike.

1. Have a Veterinarian check your dog to make sure your dog is healthy to go on a longer hike

2. Get him used to a doggy back pack. Your dog can safely carry about a third of his body weight.

3. Increase the walking distances gradually with your dog

4. During the hike increase the amount of food up to 100 % depending on how strenuous the hike is

5. Feed your dog twice a day and give him plenty treats between meals

6. Make sure your dog gets to drink frequently

7. Pack a First Aid kit for your dog

So please, hikers, continue to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities with your favorite companion by your side. But also keep in mind that dogs like people, need to be conditioned for any strenuous activity.

Betty lives with her husband Mike and their dog Lady in Virgina. She is the founder of a social website for pet owners http://www.petwatchclub.com