Tips for Walking an overweight Husky

[Emma Crabtree]

Hi, I have, foolishly, agreed to walk a neighbour's Husky bitch. The bitch is c.3-4yrs old, very affectionate and not at all aggressive. She gets on very well with my own dog.

However, she is incredibly strong and overweight and I do not have the physical strength to keep her under control. It is also very hot here at the moment, 80+. As I discovered yesterday, taking her out with Teddy is a no-no as I can't control both of them at the same time.

Any tips for exercising an overweight dog in extreme heat?

Thanks,
Emma.

[KOPcaroline]

Hey Emma,

There are always home options for exercise - lots of fetch in the backyard, tug of war with Teddy. You could try just letting them play together with a toy in the yard or open area so they can run around on their own.

You could see about a baby pool for playing in as well if heat is a major concern. Put toys in it so she wants to get in and fool around :P Similarly, if theres somewhere you can take her to swim and play fetch in water (river, lake, etc) - thats a really good way to excercise a dog in the summer!

If you want to keep walking her, see if anyone has a halti/gentle leader you could borrow while you're dog sitting - this will let you control her much more successfully, without needing a lot of force or hurting her. They are really good for dogs who tug excessively, I think this could help you immensely!