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Best Ways for Pet Owners to Provide a Workout for Dogs

Best Ways for Pet Owners to Provide a Workout for Dogs

By -Published On: April 29th, 2021-Categories: Pet Health-
Man and woman running on a bridge with a white dog during the fall

Workout for Dogs: Keeping Them Healthy

April is Canine Fitness Month.

With Spring here, and the weather beautiful, it’s a great time to explore a good workout for dogs. Also, April is Canine Fitness month, so it’s also an appropriate topic to dive into. Just like Fido would love to dive into a pool of water and fetch that glowing, yellow tennis ball, there are a ton of ways to provide a workout for dogs.

Benefits of Exercising Your Pup

There are several benefits to providing a workout for dogs that goes beyond the fact that it’s entertaining to watch your pup panting and slobbering because they are having so much fun. These benefits include:

  • 1
    Promote Positive Mental Health & Stimulation
  • 2
    Reduce Obnoxious Behavioral Problems
  • 3
    Relieve Anxiety & Help Manage Stress
  • 4
    Reduce the Risk of Obesity
  • 5
    Increase Flexibility & Endurance
  • 6
    Prevent Chronic Diseases
  • 7

    Build A Strong Bond with Their Owner

Examples of a Great Workout for Dogs

  • Take a Walk– Be mindful of your pet’s age and health when heading out on walk. Also, early morning or late afternoons may prove better to avoid hot concrete or uncomfortable conditions when using a walk as a workout for dogs.

  • Play Fetch– Now, your pup must obviously be trained to bring back the item you throw (a ball, stick or stuffed animal perhaps), but playing fetch is a great workout for dogs and will get their heart rate up while keeping their weight down.

  • Tug-of-War– as long as your pet does not show aggressive behaviors, playing a game of tug-of-war is sure to stimulate them mentally, build a strong bond with the owner and ward off any pent-up anxiety with the release of endorphins.

  • Offer a Kong Toy– Invented in the 70’s, KONG toys are used as a puzzle and durable chew toy, offering entertainment and a workout for dogs, helping to minimize negative behaviors, according to their website.

  • Swimming Activities– if you’re a pet parent of a lab, you know that swimming is one of their favorite activities. On the other hand, Frenchie’s are unable to swim so it’s wise to know physical capabilities of your pet’s breed.

  • Laser Toy– Our chocolate lab loved to follow a laser pointer all over the back patio and would be entertained for a half hour or so. This is an easy workout for dogs whose owners are unable to physically take their pup for walks or play fetch.

Activity Peculiarities

Not all dogs are created equal. Some pups have the speed of a sloth while others have that of a cheetah. Exercise activities for a dog should be between 30-60 minutes daily, with other significant things to take into account when making a workout for dogs. These include:

  • 1

    Age– a young pup is going to be ready for a longer stroll than an elderly dog.

  • 2

    Breed– a Pug is going to want to take things a lot slower than a Dalmatian.

  • 3

    Health– a workout for dogs should complement their health condition.

  • 4

    Weather– make sure it’s not too hot/cold to protect their paws and well-being.

Remember, dogs get bored indoors, just as people do. They have the same mental health needs and exercise is important to extend their lives and promote good health. With a Pin Paws Plus or Pin Paws Pet Care membership owners receive access to our member’s only Wigglepon site to receive exclusive discounts on pet products and services. What better way to spoil your pet with playful toys, without paying full price? Oh, and if you’re looking for more information on how to engage a workout with dogs while improving your own personal health, I loved this blog by The Dog People ®.

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comprehensive plans you can customize

Pet parents can select accident and illness coverage with the option to add-on preventative wellness care.

Pin Paws Pet Care is budget-friendly. Click below to personalize your pet’s insurance plan today.

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1For policies issued by IAIC, coverage for these conditions is subject to a 6-month wait period. Please review your policy for complete details.

2Covered only if related to an illness, injury, or medically necessary

3Grief Counseling services are provided through an agreement with TELUS Health, an unaffiliated third-party service provider. Grief counseling services provided by TELUS Health are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife. Not available to NY residents.

4 Covered only if recommended by a vet for illness, injury, or prevention

5Reimbursement options include: 70%, 80% and 90% and a 50% option for MetGen policies and a 65% option for IAIC policies only. Pet age restrictions may apply.

6Accident and optional Preventive Care coverage begins on midnight EST of the effective day of your policy compared to a wait time of 2 to 15 days for many competitors; Illness coverage begins 14 days from the effective day of your policy compared to 14 to 30 days for many competitors. Based on a March 2023 review of publicly available summary information. Competitors did not furnish copies of their policies for review. If you have questions about a particular competitor’s policy or coverage, please contact them or their representative directly.

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© 2018 - 2025 Pin Paws, LLC • All Rights Reserved.

1For policies issued by IAIC, coverage for these conditions is subject to a 6-month wait period. Please review your policy for complete details.

2Covered only if related to an illness, injury, or medically necessary

3Grief counseling services are provided through an agreement with TELUS Health, an unaffiliated third-party service provider. Read More

4 Covered only if recommended by a vet for illness, injury, or prevention

5Reimbursement options include: 70%, 80% and 90% and a 50% option for MetGen policies and a 65% option for IAIC policies only. Pet age restrictions may apply.

6Accident and optional Preventive Care coverage begins on midnight EST of the effective day of your policy compared to a wait time of 2 to 15 days for many competitors; Read More

Our Pin Paws team will be out of office for the Christmas break from December 23rd to December 29th to enjoy some much-needed time with their loved ones, both two- and four-legged. We’ll be back and ready to assist you on December 30th. If you need immediate assistance or have found a lost pet, please call our 24/7 hotline at 844-746-7297. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Our Pin Paws team will be out of office for the Christmas break from December 23rd to December 29th to enjoy some much-needed time with their loved ones, both two- and four-legged. We’ll be back and ready to assist you on December 30th. If you need immediate assistance or have found a lost pet, please call our 24/7 hotline at 844-746-7297. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a wonderful holiday season!

How Does the Pin Paws Family Plan Work?

The Family plan from Pin Paws Pet Care, backed by MetLife Pet, provides coverage for all your furry family members. You’ll enjoy the advantages of a typical MetLife Pet Insurance plan, but with a single policy and a shared deductible for up to three dogs or cats.

The benefits of the Family Plan are as follows:

  • Enroll up to three pets under one policy
  • Customizable plan options
  • Policies can be a mix of cats and dogs
  • Optional Preventive Care coverage

  • One annual limit shared across all pets in the family plan

  • One annual deductible per policy
  • No per-pet coverage limits

Multiple Pet Discount

Get a discount when you group up to three dogs and cats together on the same plan for easy savings.

Shared Deductible

Add up to three dogs and cats onto the same policy, and hit your deductible faster.

Combine Cats & Dogs

No need to manage multiple plans. Group your cats and dogs into a single plan for simplicity and ease.

Flexible Coverage

A shared annual limit lets you allocate more coverage where needed, while protecting your other pets.

How Pin Paws Pet Care Can Help You Save

Our customizable pet insurance plans can reimburse up to 90% of your vet bills.
Here’s an example of how Pin Paws Pet Care can help a pet parent save.

Skin Allergies

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Growth or Tumor

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$160 Total Vet Bill
$1,600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $1,440

Heart Disease

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Diabetes

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$290 Total Vet Bill
$2,900
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,610

Broken Bone

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$240 Total Vet Bill
$2,400
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,160

Severe Trauma

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$1,000 Total Vet Bill
$10,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $9,000

Poisoning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$300 Total Vet Bill
$3,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,700

Cruciate Ligament Tear

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$500 Total Vet Bill
$5,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $4,500

Dental Cleaning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$50 Total Vet Bill
$500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $450

Spay or Neuter

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$60 Total Vet Bill
$600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $540

Vaccination

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$6 Total Vet Bill
$60
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $54

Parasite Prevention

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$21 Total Vet Bill
$210
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $189

Skin Allergies

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Growth or Tumor

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$160 Total Vet Bill
$1,600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $1,440

Heart Disease

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Diabetes

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$290 Total Vet Bill
$2,900
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,610

Broken Bone

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$240 Total Vet Bill
$2,400
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,160

Severe Trauma

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$1,000 Total Vet Bill
$10,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $9,000

Poisoning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$300 Total Vet Bill
$3,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,700

Cruciate Ligament Tear

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$500 Total Vet Bill
$5,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $4,500

Dental Cleaning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$50 Total Vet Bill
$500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $450

Spay or Neuter

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$60 Total Vet Bill
$600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $540

Vaccination

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$6 Total Vet Bill
$60
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $54

Parasite Prevention

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$21 Total Vet Bill
$210
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $189

Cost info sourced from How Much Does a Vet Visit Cost? and Average emergency vet costs what to expect.

What’s Not Covered Under Pin Paws Pet Care?

To help make insurance premiums affordable for all pet parents, there are some exclusions- as with every pet insurance company. The following are not covered under any Pin Paws Pet Care policy:

  • Pre-existing conditions*
  • Microchipping
  • Breeding or conditions related to breeding
  • Obedience training
  • Grooming costs and routine nail trims
  • Non-prescription food
  • Organ transplant

  • Illness or injury that arises out of racing, coursing, commercial guarding, law enforcement, or organized fighting of your pet

  • Health/travel certificates
  • Elective surgeries

  • Cosmetic or aesthetic procedures

*Pet insurance companies typically don’t fully cover pre-existing conditions, which are generally illnesses, injuries, or symptoms that occurred prior to the coverage date and/or any applicable waiting period. However, MetLife Pet may actually cover certain pre-existing conditions when switching providers. These include conditions that were covered by a previous insurance provider for group policyholders.

What’s Not Covered Under Pin Paws Pet Care?

To help make insurance premiums affordable for all pet parents, there are some exclusions- as with every pet insurance company. The following are not covered under any Pin Paws Pet Care policy:

  • Pre-existing conditions*
  • Microchipping
  • Breeding or conditions related to breeding
  • Obedience training
  • Grooming costs and routine nail trims
  • Non-prescription food
  • Organ transplant

  • Illness or injury that arises out of racing, coursing, commercial guarding, law enforcement, or organized fighting of your pet

  • Health/travel certificates
  • Elective surgeries

  • Cosmetic or aesthetic procedures

*Pet insurance companies typically don’t fully cover pre-existing conditions, which are generally illnesses, injuries, or symptoms that occurred prior to the coverage date and/or any applicable waiting period. However, MetLife Pet may actually cover certain pre-existing conditions when switching providers. These include conditions that were covered by a previous insurance provider for group policyholders.

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