(BPT) - Face it, getting enough exercise is tough for everyone, and it's certainly true when it comes to our pets. The amount of exercise your dog may need varies, depending on the age, size and breed, but most dogs need more exercise than they're getting, especially during the colder months when we all prefer to stay indoors. Consult your veterinarian for guidelines about how much exercise your dog should be getting to stay in top condition, then make a plan to add more pep to your dog's step.

Dr. Jeff Weber, Emmy award-winning celebrity veterinarian, says that play and exercise are key to keeping our four-legged friends healthy: "Just like humans, there is a strong correlation to obesity in pets when they eat more and exercise less. In fact, it has been estimated that up to 50 percent of dogs and cats in this country are overweight or, worse yet, obese. It's important to get your pet up and moving."

What are the best ways to keep your pup — and you — active and moving?

1. Vary your walking route

When you're walking your dog, switch up the route now and then to keep it more interesting for both of you. Work on adding a few minutes or a couple of extra blocks to your walk any chance you get, and you’ll both benefit from the extra steps.

2. Pick up the pace

Rather than just taking a leisurely stroll, walk with purpose, like you’re trying to get somewhere. This will make it a more heart-healthy workout for the both of you. Ease into it slowly, trying 5 minutes quicker, followed by 5 minutes slower, until you both get used to the faster pace. Enlist different family members to join you or take turns at the walks to vary the walking pace your dog experiences.

3. Bring friends along

You’re more likely to enjoy and stick with regular walking dates if you can make some of your walks into a social occasion, whether your friends also have dogs or not. Instead of meeting someone for coffee or drinks, meet up with them for a walk-and-talk with your dogs.

4. Make time for active play

In addition to walking every day, mix it up! Spend a little extra time encouraging active play like a good game of fetch with your dog. You can play fetch at a nearby park or right in your yard, if you have enough space for your dog to run around. Not good at throwing? No worries — a toy like Chuckit! launcher from Petmate can keep your dog engaged and excited to run and fetch for a lively, active play session that will be fun for both of you.

"Fetch play is a terrific way to increase stamina and keep your pup in shape,” says Weber.

The interactive game of fetch encourages healthy movement and cardiovascular endurance for pets and pet owners, especially as active play and movement declines when the weather gets colder. Fetch is also an effective way to help train and develop positive behavior in puppies or newly adopted four-legged family members.

5. Exercise their brains

Create an obstacle course in your yard or use puzzle games to help keep your dogs mentally active — which can relieve boredom for dogs who spend time alone.

Research your dog's breed to discover what stimulus they are most likely to respond to, so you can find new toys and activities your dog will love. Examples might be hide-and-seek games, having them use their sense of smell to find treats or chasing (non-toxic) bubbles.

Spending time playing with your dog is not only fun and a terrific stress-reliever for both of you, but it also strengthens the human-pet bond. Give your pet healthy exercise that every dog needs and your furry friend will be happier, too.

5 Ways to Help Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy

(Family Features) There are many emotional benefits to owning a dog, such as companionship and unconditional love, but a pet can also positively affect his or her owners’ physical health, too.

According to studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spending quality time with a dog can help ease stress and anxiety for the owner and can even lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. To be able to reap the health benefits of dog ownership, it’s key to ensure you’re taking proper care of your dog with quality nutrition and plenty of exercise.

Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber offers these five simple ways pet owners can take the best care of their dogs, because when dogs are happy and healthy, their owners can be, too. To learn more about how dogs’ health is linked to their owners’, and for more tips for feeding your pet, visit IAMS.com.

• Check the Labels – Creating a healthier life for your dog starts with the food you feed him or her. For optimal health, provide your dog a balanced diet with high-quality animal protein, like chicken or lamb, a combination of grains and essential vitamins and minerals. When shopping for dog food, look for those things on the ingredient panel. Also keep an eye out for the Association of American Feed Control Officials certification, which indicates basic nutritional requirements are being met with the food’s ingredients.

• Give Them Grains – Grains are an important component of dogs’ dietary needs. They are a source of carbohydrates for healthy energy, as well as fiber, which promotes gastrointestinal health. Some grains, such as rice and wheat, provide “quick” energy, and others, like barley and sorghum, take longer to turn into energy. Dog food that has a combination of these grains, such as IAMS dog food, can provide dogs a “time-release” energy source, helping sustain their energy throughout the day.

• Keep It Consistent ­– While humans can try new restaurants and recipes on a whim, switching up your dog’s meals too frequently can cause intestinal problems. If a dog is doing fine on its current food, there’s no need to switch foods. However, if you think a change is needed, consult your veterinarian. If he or she suggests a change, be sure to introduce the new food gradually. Start by replacing 25% of the current food with new food for a couple days, a half-and-half mixture the next couple days then a mix of 75% new food and 25% old food for another 2-3 days. Your dog should then be ready to eat just the new food.

• Get Them Active – Just like humans, dogs need exercise. Walks are an important part of dogs’ days – not just for doing their business, but to expel some of that healthy energy. Knowing dogs need daily exercise is an easy health hack for pet owners. They can take their dogs on walks, runs, hikes or to a dog park, ultimately helping them get up and get active, too. Regular exercise and activity helps keep dogs’ muscles, bones and joints active.

• Quality Time – Taking good care of your dog extends beyond nutrition and exercise. A dog needs attention, interaction and love. After a busy day, spend some quality time with your pup, whether it’s a walk or snuggle time on the couch. Your pet will appreciate having time exclusively dedicated to him or her. Plus, it’s scientifically proven that spending time with your pet can decrease your stress and anxiety, too.

Photos courtesy of Adobe Stock

Keep Pets Safe, Healthy During the Holidays

(Family Features) The holiday season is synonymous with family gatherings, dinner parties, gift openings and plenty of festive food, all of which can pose challenges for pets.

Lisa Darling, DVM, PetSmart's resident veterinarian and pet care expert, offers this advice for keeping pets safe, healthy and happy this holiday season and throughout the cold winter months.

Create a Safe Home
This time of year, holiday decor can include seasonal plants, ornaments and candles, which means plenty of intriguing and dangerous new sights and smells for pets. For example, extra electrical cords can be tempting new “chew toys” for pets. Darling recommends taking special care to ensure extra electrical cords for festive indoor lighting are not accessible to pets by taping down or covering to help prevent injuries.

Christmas trees can also pique the interest of curious cats and playful pups. Darling urges pet parents to firmly anchor trees so they can take any potential playful swatting and to keep breakable glass ornaments higher up on the tree, out of pets’ reach, along with temptations like tinsel and ribbons.

Candles can also be problematic, so it’s best to avoid burning them or put them far out of pets’ reach. Seasonal plants like holly, mistletoe and poinsettia plants are poisonous to dogs and cats, so if you plan to decorate your home with them, place them in an area your pet cannot reach.

Savor the Season
The holidays are filled with festive food, treats and candy, and although it can be tempting to share human foods with your beloved pets, resist the urge.

“Table scraps such as turkey, gravy and stuffing may look harmless, but even small amounts can lead to serious health issues,” Darling said.

Instead, include pets in your festive feasting by offering them pet-friendly treats that look and taste like the real thing. An option like Simply Nourish Merry Meals, in flavors like Turkey, Sweet Potato and Cranberry, are healthy alternatives to the human food on the holiday table. Additionally, PetSmart’s meat and cheese tray, pie slice and turkey leg made of rawhide are fun takes on holiday feasting specifically formulated for pets.

Keep Them Calm
The holidays can be a hectic time for people and pets. Extra visitors to the house, travel and commotion can leave pets feeling anxious.

“Before company arrives, try putting your dog or cat in a Thundershirt, which is designed to provide a calming effect when they experience fear or discomfort,” Darling said. “Many pet parents also find that supplements can work by promoting calmness and behavior which may help stabilize pets’ moods.”

Keep Them Cozy and Warm
During especially cold winter days and nights, look to your pet to gauge comfort levels and plan time to dress them accordingly. Generally, if your pet is small and short-haired, it’s likely he or she is sensitive to the cold. The same goes for older pets and those that may be frail or ill.

Darling says that sweaters, coats and booties to protect their paws are all smart (and comfortable) solutions. Booties are particularly important for icy areas that may be salted and can help guard paws from the harmful solution.

A safe home is a happy and festive home this holiday season. Keeping these tips in mind can help avoid emergency trips to the vet, which means the whole family can celebrate a joyful holiday season.

It can be dangerous to feed human food to pets. This holiday season, look for human-inspired treats specially formulated for pets – like this turkey leg-shaped rawhide chew.

Find more pet-friendly tips for the holidays at PetSmart.com.

Photo courtesy of PetSmart