We love dogs. As a nation our furry friends are some of the most pampered of all pets, enjoying everything from dog obstacle course equipment to luxury pet food. In fact, in 2016 the American Pet Products Association put spending on pets of all kinds at over $62.75 billion, an increase of 4% over the previous year. In fact, the APPA estimated that it costs about $1,641 per year to own and care for a dog, when you take into account the food, vet bills, grooming and of course, the toys. Any dog lover will tell you that it is worth it.
There are more than 46 million households with a dog and the figure is growing. Between 37% and 46% of all U.S households have a dog and dog ownership is changing the urban landscape too. A report by the Trust for Public Lands found that in 2016 there was at least one dog park in nearly every single major city in America. Most of these are equipped with dog park agility equipment and other dog park items to ensure that the visitors both canine and human enjoy their park experience.
Of course dog ownership comes with responsibility. Ensuring that your dog gets enough exercise, for example, is one of the most important responsibilities for pet owners. Experts advise using the five-minute rule to calculate how much exercise a puppy needs. For every month of age a puppy is, it should do no more than five minutes of exercise. At six months, then, a puppy should be doing no more than 30 minutes of exercise every day.
For those who cannot always be with their dogs but want to ensure that they are active, an investment in outdoor dog play equipment is good a choice. Outdoor dog play equipment can be as simple as a selection of toys available to encourage running and playing to a fully-fledged dog obstacle course for your furry friends to enjoy. Dog hoops and other exercise equipment for dogs can make all the difference in your dog’s backyard enjoyment, while ensuring that they maintain their fitness. Exercise requirements peak between 1.5 and four years of age and dogs in this age range require sufficient exercise to remain healthy. The gender of your dog can also make a difference in your canine exercise routine, with male dogs being as much as 15% less active than females.