Translated by Nick R
Do you have a pug, a bulldog, or maybe a boxer? Well, your dog is part of the brachycephalic breed and because of his anatomy, he cannot do the same types of exercises as other dogs. That’s why sometimes he gets more tired than usual when you walk with him.
Well, you’ve come to the right place because I’ll explain in detail the types of exercise he can do to keep him in good health.
Table of Contents
What is a brachycephalic breed?
According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the term brachycephalic refers to “short-headed”. The anatomical formation that characterizes brachycephalic breeds is a short muzzle, giving the impression that they appear flat.
They also suffer from brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, which makes breathing difficult. Therefore, other characteristics of breeds with this condition include noisy breathing and a lot of snoring.
Which are the brachycephalic dog breeds?
These are the 28 breeds that present this condition:
| BREED | WEIGHT | SIZE |
| Pug or Carlino | 6.3 Kg to 8.1 Kg | Small |
| French Bulldog | 11 Kg to 12.5 Kg | Small |
| Boston Terrier | 6.8 Kg to 11.5 Kg | Small |
| English Bulldog | 18 Kg to 25 Kg | Medium |
| Boxer | 25 Kg to 32Kg | Medium – Large |
| Pekinese | 3.5 Kg to 6 Kg | Small |
| Bulldog | 23 Kg to 25 Kg | Medium |
| Shar Pei | 18 Kg to 29 Kg | Medium |
| Lhasa Apso | 6 Kg to 8 Kg | Small |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 5.5 Kg to 8 Kg | Small |
| Affenpinscher | 3 Kg to 4 Kg | Small |
| Italian Mastiff or Cane Corso | 50 Kg to 80 Kg | Large |
| Bullmastiff | 41 Kg to 59 Kg | Large |
| Shih Tzu | 4.5 Kg to 7.5 Kg | Small |
| Griffon Bruxellois | 2 Kg to 5 Kg | Small |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | 45 Kg to 50 Kg | Gigantic |
| Chow Chow | 20 Kg to 34Kg | Medium |
| King Charles Spaniel | 3.6 Kg to 6.3 | Small |
| Japanese Chin | 1.8 Kg to 3.2 Kg | Small |
| English Mastíff | 73 Kg to 100 Kg | Gigantic |
| Chihuahua | 1 Kg to 3 Kg | Toy |
| Rottweiler | 36 Kg to 61 Kg | Large |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 11 Kg to 18 Kg | Medium |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 1 Kg to 4 Kg | Small |
| Tibetan Spaniel | 4 Kg to 7 Kg | Small |
| Terranova | 45 Kg to 69 Kg | Gigantic |
| American Pitbull Terrier | 13 Kg to 40 Kg | Large |
| Saint Bernard | 68 Kg to 91 Kg | Large |
Exercises for brachycephalic dog breeds.
There are some safe physical activities for brachycephalic breeds to do safely, without aggravating their condition.
Going for a walk
Getting the dog moving is important and an excellent way is to take him for a walk, ideally a short one close to home. You can walk him around the neighborhood, always keeping an eye on him to notice any signs of fatigue, such as slow walking or excessive panting.
Why is it important to take this walk close to home? In case the dog starts to feel unwell, the walk back will be short and will be less effort for him.
The duration of the walk can go from 10 to 15 minutes and remember to take breaks of at least 1 to 2 minutes if you see your furry one getting very tired.
- Suitable for all ages
Puzzle toys
Not only physical exercise is important, the mental training of dogs should also be stimulated. Puzzles are perfect in this case because they provide mental stimulation. Some dogs require a pause to solve such puzzles, in that time they can play a little taking advantage of the bursts of energy they may have.
This means that they will take their time to think of how to solve the puzzle while they engage in another activity. The puzzles can include tiles to be arranged to find the prize or puzzles to be caught like in the mole game.
- Suitable for all ages
Search Game
Fetch games indoors or outside in the garden require little energy, so it will facilitate a short journey for the dog while he finds the object. Just let him sniff his favorite toy containing a little food scent and then hide it, and he will take care of finding it.
Your dog can do this for approximately 20 minutes.
- Suitable for puppies and adults
Playdate
A play date consists basically of inviting other dogs to play with each other. It’s a great option because apart from burning energy with each other, it encourages socialization, which is very important for canines. They can play tug-of-war with a toy or a race for the first one to take the toy or get the prize.
The ideal time for this exercise is 20 to 30 minutes.
On the other hand, a scenario where all the dogs on the date have this same condition would be ideal because they will have the same performance. However, if this is not the case, do not worry and just keep an eye on when the dog is already fatigued to let him rest.
- Suitable for puppies and adults
Dog training and sports
Some activities that are part of canine training can be suitable for brachycephalic dogs and also with some sports, since it does not require much effort and the dog makes use mainly of its concentration.
Obedience practice
This exercise aims to teach the dog the basic commands and habits (such as doing his needs outside or understanding when his name is called) that he should learn especially if he is a puppy since it includes activities that use little energy.
In addition to this practice, it’s great to add tricks (pawing, jumping, or running in a certain way) that require more agility and concentration. You can do it for 10 to 15 minutes a day leaving the canine to rest.
- Suitable for puppies and adults
Agility trials
As the name says, the dog will have to go through a series of obstacles such as posts, tunnels, ramps, and tires, among others. Through this activity, the dog develops better concentration, motor skills, and, of course, agility.
Although agility is a very competitive sport, as it is about which dog can cross all the obstacles in the shortest time, it is also an excellent method for home training.
An improvised track at home with chairs, cushions from your couch, and other things that you can use as obstacles is ideal. Put them in a hallway and guide your dog 3 times so he knows how to get through. Then you leave him at the beginning of the track and call him.
This exercise is very comfortable since the dog needs some effort to pass some obstacles, but there is no time limit for him to do it, so it will not cause him any excessive agitation.
Depending on how you see your canine’s physical condition, you will decide how many times he goes through the track, either more if he has more resistance or less in the opposite case, for a time between 15 to 20 minutes.
- Suitable for dogs 6 months and older and adults.
Rally
Rally is a combination of agility work and obedience work. In this activity, you can accompany your dog guiding him and passing the obstacles with him. You can make the track improvised in a larger space in your house or outside in the garden.
You can also do this exercise for 15 to 20 minutes to avoid exhausting your dog.
This is also a competitive sport but is a good training alternative to monitor your dog’s physical activity while you go with him and strengthen your bond.
- Suitable for dogs 6 months and older and adults.
5 Cares to take into account when exercising with a brachycephalic dog
There are a number of recommendations to keep in mind to ensure that exercise time does the dog good instead of harming him.
Always have water
Having available water every time your dog exercises is important, these breeds need to stay properly hydrated. Water not only helps them to cool down, but it is also a way for the dog to recover faster after a certain amount of exercise.
Also, these dogs tend to suffer from overheating in their bodies, and water is an excellent option to cool down their backs while heading to the shade.
Be aware of the weather
These dogs are especially sensitive to extreme weather both cold and heat and humidity. For this reason, you must be careful when going for a walk, playing or training with the dog to prevent the weather from causing more stress on his body.
A cool environment with a little wind is ideal so that the canine does not overexert himself and enjoys the moment.
Identifying the signs of exhaustion
The main cause of exhaustion in dogs is the heat given their sensibility to these conditions. Therefore, knowing what signs represent exhaustion is important to prevent heat stroke.
You should begin cooling or lowering your pet’s temperature when he shows signs such as rapid panting, straining to breathe, extreme thirst, and/or appears disoriented in a lethargic state. To learn how to properly handle this emergency, I invite you to read our detailed blog on saving your dog from heat stroke.
Keep exercise sessions short
Your dog will enjoy exercise best if you limit exercise sessions to short periods of time. A combination of short activity and a relatively long rest time works very well for the performance and endurance of brachycephalic breeds.
To avoid tiring him out quickly by causing shortness of breath and panting, it is ideal to follow this method for any activity that involves physical exertion. Remember, short exercise and prolonged rest are divided throughout the day.
Use air conditioning
The ambient heat will depend directly on the area in which you live. In countries with seasonal presence and with a dry season permanence with very high temperatures, it is recommended that people living in these places make use of air conditioning at home.
This is an excellent alternative to keep the environment cool and to make it suitable and pleasant for the brachycephalic condition of their canine pets. It can even increase their physical performance if they perform the physical activity at home where there is a suitable environment.
Importance of exercise in brachycephalic dogs
Now, you may be thinking, if my dog has a special condition that limits him in physical activity, isn’t it better for him to do nothing? The answer is no!
Monitored physical activity is paramount for brachycephalic breeds to keep their weight in balance. Overweight and obesity are very dangerous for the dog’s health.
That is because of the condition of these dogs: brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. This syndrome leads to symptoms such as respiratory distress and noisy breathing, overheating, and in some cases regurgitation or vomiting.
Now, the probability of suffering from these ailments increases twice as much in a dog with poor nutrition and obesity compared to a brachycephalic dog with a normal weight.
Besides, by keeping your dog healthy through physical activity, you minimize the risks of future illnesses that he may suffer as he gets older.
And why do I mention this? According to the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (hsVma), “The life expectancy of dogs with extreme brachycephalic conformation is younger (8.6 years) compared to all other dog breeds (12.7 years).”Your dog will have a longer and healthier life expectancy with physical activity.
