Doggie exercise?

[rek]

Our dogs are big and get enough exercise at home running in our large fenced yard and getting a walk. The walk alone does not provide much exercise for our large dogs, only for myself. I have found several Campgrounds with dog runs or doggie playgrounds around Charleston SC where we plan to go. We are familiar with the area because we used to live there. Several years ago we were in a place where our older dog was only taken on a walk twice a day but he had no place to run so he gained ten to twenty pounds. Walking does not provide enough exercise for our dogs. Does anyone else find their dogs not getting enough exercise when camping. I wish there were more campgrounds with dogruns. If there are I can't find them. We didn't have this problem when we only had two Pekenese.

[Wicked Whippets]

I'm always searching for open fields where we can let the whippets run. They are trained well enough on recall that we haven't lost one yet. School yards work well if no one is around.

[mom2mastiffs]

I LOVE the breeds you have--have always thought otterhounds were so cool. Mike Brantley showed one for a long time and he was the sweetest dog! We have treated a number of Wolfies and they are also very sweet! Love to see others who travel with the giant breeds
we do canine physical therapy so in addition to treating dogs with orthopedic issues, we condition show, agility and competitive obedience dogs. We use the pool, land treadmill, underwater treadmill and hills.
Like Wicked whippets, we look for school yards, tennis courts, etc. We walk our Mastiffs about 3 miles and they swim everyday but then we have a heated pool for the spoiled kids. If you have a bicycle you can teach your big guys to trot alongside while you ride. that way they are moving more and you are working a bit less. Golf carts are good for that too.
Look for hills to climb with them--going up is good for the rears and going down is good for fronts.
At a show I actually saw someone sitting on the tailgate of their SUV holding the leash of a Doberman while the driver drove really slow. The Dobe trotted behind burning calories and staying fit. Guess there are all sorts of ways to exercise dogs.
Hope this helps. Since we are in Phoenix MAYBE one day we'll be in the same area. Would love to meet your giants.

[PNWGirl]

When I lived in Beaufort, SC- with my Malamutes- I used to road work them two miles every day (me on my bike and them gaiting next to me). I worked two at a time with a coupler.

They took to it like a duck to water. It kept them in rock hard condition and I road my bike for miles every day too. So it was a win/win.

Start off very slow and work your way up, in terms of mileage, so you don't have any sore doggy muscles, not to mention sore pads.

Sheila :)