Personalised activity plans

The plan organises exercise and mental stimulation, training and rest around the life you already lead. The days don't have to look alike. One day it's a longer walk. Another day it's scent games or some light fitness, a few calmness exercises, and every so often a whole day off to recover.

Before you build the plan, look at the dog's age and health, his weight and his experience. What he enjoys matters, and so does how he behaves after exercise. A dog who seems to need even more exercise may simply not be getting enough sleep. Another one looks unmotivated, and the real reason is pain. If you're planning hard exercise or suspect something medical, the first stop is the vet.

The plan has to be something you can keep up. If you've got 30 minutes in the morning and an hour in the evening, a programme designed for someone who's home all day is no use to you. Work with the moments you already have. Dinner can turn into a search: scatter the food in the grass and let him find it. A walk can include a few exercises, and five minutes a day can go on cooperative handling (paws, ears, teeth, with the dog agreeing to it).

You see progress in his behaviour and in how well he recovers. Is he resting better? Can he stay focused? Has he become more irritable? Are there signs of tiredness or pain? Use the answers to change the plan. It isn't a script.

It's most worth considering for dogs who seem restless or bored, families short on time, and animals at different life stages or in different physical shape.

More activity isn't always the answer. Sometimes the dog needs sleep, a predictable day or a check-up for some pain, and another hour of running won't help him at all.

You start by looking at the routine and the dog's health, then find out what he likes doing.

From there you put together a realistic week, keep an eye on how the dog behaves, and adjust as you go.

Your dog will show you when the plan doesn't suit him. He isn't resting enough, he gets irritable after exercise, he can't concentrate, he moves stiffly or turns down certain activities. Those signs tell you how he's coping with the schedule.

To avoid making it up as you go, have ready the family's timetable and the dog's medical history. Note how much exercise he gets now, and list the activities he enjoys or finds stressful.

A good plan mixes hard days with easy ones and includes recovery days. Its goals can be measured and are easy to put into practice. You also want clear goals and handouts you'll use, with examples that look like your own life.

You can slip training into walks and games. The plan is about the dog's overall welfare, though, so not every moment has to become a lesson.

The plan doesn't replace a vet check before exercise. Revise it whenever family life or the dog's health changes. Talk about the risks too: overdoing it, a schedule nobody can keep up, and activities that wind the dog up more and more without giving him any time to calm down.