Internet Obsessed With Dog’s Way of Exercising as He ‘Doesn’t Like To Walk’ – ryan

A video of a dog that prefers “playing in the pool” to going for walks to stay active has delighted viewers on Reddit.

The clip, taken on April 2 in Honolulu, was shared in a post on Reddit by owner S. Smith under the username In/Wardog-808.

The post, titled “He doesn’t like to walk, so we found another way for him to get his exercise,” has had 29,000 upvotes since it was shared on April 15.

The video shows Hugo, a 3-year-old English bulldog, chasing a ball toy in a swimming pool.

“He doesn’t mind short walks but really likes playing in the pool best,” Smith told Newsweek. “Prior to moving to Hawaii, he used to like to run around on a skateboard.

“He is just a fun-loving dog. We try to encourage him to stay active doing things he enjoys.”

Bulldogs can be prone to ear infections because of the shape of their ears and moisture can get trapped in their ears after swimming or bathing.

Smith said he consulted with his veterinarian about the pup’s time spent in the pool and was told “if it keeps him active, it should be no problem.”

Keeping your dog active is important for your pet’s health. An August 2022 study published in PLOS One said that “dogs who exercise less frequently or less intensely are more likely to be overweight.” The study noted that “a more holistic approach to changing both dietary and exercise routine needs to be made” to treat and prevent obesity in dogs.

Swimming is a great form of exercise for our canine companions, especially for those with stiff or painful joints. It also helps keep your pets cool in hot weather.

However, “not every dog is a water baby,” notes the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, a veterinary charity based in the U.K. For example, dogs with short legs (such as Corgis) or ones with short noses (such as pugs) will find it more difficult to swim.

Dogs should never be left unsupervised when playing around in water.

“Even a regular swimmer can get into trouble if they encounter strong currents or can’t figure out how to exit a pool,” warns the VCA, one of North America’s largest animal hospital chains.

‘Great Solution’

Viewers on Reddit adored the pup’s love for playing fetch in the pool in the viral clip.

U/hunsonaberdeen noted: “Improvise, adapt, overcome!!! That’s probably better for his joints than walking anyway!! Great solution.”

U/awalshie2003 agreed, saying: “Great exercise and no stress on joints! Good boy!”

U/exactly_like_it_is said: “Man, you can tell he really enjoys that! And he’s getting great exercise. See if you can find a toy he can grab easier.” Smith replied: “He doesn’t want to play with the easy to get toys – we have tried.”

U/Material-One-6917 simply wrote “Hugo!! How sweet are you?! You little swimmer. Sweet boy” and u/Kippy1980 said: “Wish I could swim like that!!”

U/HobbittBass said “Little guy’s built like a manatee” and u/MangoCompetitive3569 wrote he’s “Quite buoyant.”

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.