Personalised activity plans

An activity plan organises exercise, mental stimulation, training and rest around the family's life. Not every day has to look the same. A longer walk can be alternated with scent games, light fitness, calmness exercises and recovery days.

Before the plan, the age, the health, the weight, the experience, the preferences and the behaviour after activity are all looked at. A dog can look as though it needs even more exercise when in fact it is not sleeping enough. Another may show little initiative because of pain. For intense exercise or where something medical is suspected, the vet is the first step.

The plan has to be achievable. A family with 30 minutes in the morning and an hour in the evening does not need a programme built for someone available all day. The moments that already exist are used: a meal can become a search, a walk can include exercises, and five minutes can be set aside for cooperative handling.

Progress is seen in behaviour and recovery. Is the dog resting better? Can it stay focused? Is it becoming more irritable? Are there signs of tiredness or pain? The plan is adjusted, not followed rigidly.

It can be considered above all for dogs that seem restless or bored, families with limited time, and animals at different life stages or in different physical conditions.

More activity is not always the answer. Sometimes the dog needs sleep, predictability or an assessment of some pain, not another hour of running.

assessing the routine and the health; identifying the preferences.

putting together a realistic week; following the behaviour and adjusting.

Signs such as not enough rest, irritability after exercise, difficulty concentrating, and stiffness or refusing certain activities can show how the animal is experiencing the situation.

To reduce improvisation, the family's timetable, the medical history, the current level of exercise, and the activities the dog likes or finds stressful all have to be prepared.

More useful criteria are alternating the intensity, recovery days, measurable and easily applied goals, clear goals and usable materials, and examples adapted to everyday life.

Training can be built into walks and games, but the plan is aimed at overall welfare, not at turning every moment into a lesson.

it does not replace a medical check before exercise; the plan has to be revised when life or health changes. Among the risks to be discussed are overexertion, a schedule that cannot be kept up, and activities that raise arousal without any calm.