As with humans, you can blame obesity for many diseases that affect your precious pet. If your pet is obese or overweight, putting them on a diet will certainly be good for them and their waistlines, but nothing still beats some good ol’ exercise. Here are our top picks for exercises to do with your dog:

1. Walking- Everybody knows about the health benefits this can provide your dog. However, we thought we should share a few tips regarding this particular form of exercise. An even path would be best for your dog since uphill and downhill terrains could causes some physical strain, especially to older dogs. Take them to a park where there’s lots of visual interest and where they can make friends- of both the human and canine variety!

2. Swimming- This is especially great for older dogs since it provides a low-impact workout. The bonus? It will be easier to give your pet dog a bath afterwards! They probably won’t mind since they’re already wet anyway!

3. Hitting the gym- Ok, we don’t mean push-ups or stomach crunches although if your dog can do that, then please send a video our way as we’d love to see that! By this we just mean, having your dog walk on a treadmill. Of course, outdoor walking is ideal, but if you don’t have that luxury, this is a good way to ensure that they’re still getting some much needed exercise!

4. Hide and Seek- Dogs love to play fetch, but I’m sure they won’t mind something different once in a while. Try hiding yourself in a part of your house without your dog looking and then start calling his or her name. This can help them sharpen their sniffing skills and should ensure that they get some physical and mental exercise!

Before you go off and do these exercises with your dogs, there are 2 important things to remember: 1. If your pet is still a puppy, gentle playing around the house will do. Puppies who are subjected to too much physical activity could develop joint problems in the future! 2. Different dogs require different forms and amounts of exercise, so make sure you read up on this or consult your vet to learn what’s appropriate for the breed of dog you have.

The best thing about exercising your dog is that you are forced to get some exercise yourself! Have a good workout!

*photo: corbis.com*