Don’t Let Your Dog Be a Weekend Warrior

Weekend warriors may need some extra prep before diving into rigorous sports activities. photo: AdobeStock

Full confession: I have been a weekend warrior - and I know it wasn’t good for me. 

Weekend warriors tend to lounge around during the week and then completely overdo it. They use exercise patterns that are linked to various injuries due to inadequate warm-up, insufficient recovery, or excessive strain. As a former weekend warrior, I did suffer some injuries. I will spare you the list. 

Dogs can face similar risks when exercising. Here’s how you can make sure your pup is protected while still living their best doggie life. 

Warming Up, Cooling Down

Bringing your dog to the park to run and play with friends can be akin to a sudden game of football.  Jogging with your dog is similar to….well, jogging!  You may slow or stop when you experience muscle soreness or shortness of breath, but dogs may continue exercising even if they feel sore or tired. It’s up to you to help them warm up gradually and then set sensible limits. 

To limit injuries at dog parks, walk your dog on a leash for two to five minutes as a warmup. Then after the activity, walk them again as a cool down before the car ride home. If you are jogging with your dog, and they start to lag behind you, stop or slow down right away. If they need to jump down from a high place, put a harness on them and then grab the harness to help them down.

Know Your Dog’s Condition

A dog's physical condition depends on weight, age, exercise consistency, and underlying medical conditions. Even activities like jumping in and out of vehicles, on and off furniture, or climbing stairs can be strenuous for some dogs. For a Chihuahua, leaping onto the couch may be the equivalent of an Olympic high jump.  Evaluating a dog's physical condition is crucial when considering their ability to do activities.

Approximately 60% of dogs in America are overweight or obese, but breed-specific ideal weights are highly variable. I recommend using the Canine Body Condition Charts. Your dog is at their ideal weight when you can feel their ribs when you pet them and their  belly (waist)  is narrower than the rib cage when you look at them from the top and side. A dog with the shape of a Tootsie Roll is overweight.

Certain medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis, may make it harder for pets to get exercise. While medications and supplements can help with pain and comfort, maintaining a proper weight is one of the most effective treatments. Reducing a dog's weight by 10 percent alone has been shown to improve lameness in dogs with osteoarthritis. 

Regular exercise is also essential, with shorter, more frequent walks being preferable to long, intermittent ones. Maintaining strong muscles helps support joints and regular walks help keep muscles strong. Formal, veterinarian guided physical rehabilitation can also help dogs lose weight and reduce arthritis pain.

Be Aware of Strains or Sprains

Injuries like strains or sprains are challenging for veterinarians to diagnose and even observant pet owners may miss subtle signs. Symptoms in dogs include soreness after exercise or significant limping, which may improve during the week but recur with activity.  

This cycle of reinjury can be difficult to break, as common actions like running to the door when someone knocks can make a sprain or strain worse. This is where the weekend warrior syndrome can cause real injuries in dogs, which can be frustrating to heal and frustrating for veterinarians to diagnose. 

Rest is the primary treatment for strains and sprains, and most dogs require four to six weeks to heal, similar to humans. Unfortunately, many dogs and people feel better after just one to two weeks, and we are tempted to be active again. Don’t give in! Failure to rest that muscle may result in a repetitive injury.  That’s why it’s important to work with your veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis with a specific treatment plan.

Even if your dog isn’t a pro athlete, they still need regular exercise, ideally in a form that’s fun for both of you. With these gorgeous spring days it can be tempting to overdo it, but don’t fall into the weekend warrior trap. Your dog - and your muscles - will thank you.