Owners risking dogs' health through lack of exercise

[bigdoglover]

The Thrifty Scot

Dog owners could be putting their pets' health at risk by under-exercising them, Halifax Pet Insurance claims.

A report from the provider states that 80 per cent of dogs in the UK do not receive an adequate level of exercise on a weekly basis. Most breeds only receive half of the exercise they should, according to Halifax.

Owners are largely at fault, the survey finds, as 69 per cent believe that they are giving their animal the right amount of exercise and only 15 per cent think they are under-exercising their pet.

Part of the problem is the features that owners look for when buying a dog, as the research found that appearance is generally considered more important by owners than the amount of exercise required.

"Responsible pet owners must prioritise considerations such as how much exercise their pet requires and the cost of maintaining a certain breed over the breed's appearance," said Vicky Watson, products manager at Halifax Pet Insurance.

"Rather than finding out whether a breed is suitable for them, they should really be asking themselves whether they are suitable owners for the breed."

Not giving a dog enough exercise could lead to unwanted insurance claims, as Halifax states that overweight dogs can suffer from heart and joint problems as well as conditions such as diabetes.