Get Fit With Your Dog

By Nicole Larocco

Animal Friends


play therapy, education, chewing, WQED pets, scratching, playing, working dog, zoo, puppies, pet therapy, pet-friendly housing, safety, grooming, foster care, massage, litter, behavior, cats, diet, poop, claws, abuse, rabbits, grief, pet loss, training, neuter, mature pets, digging, fitness, adoption, habitat, shelters, stray, bunnies, vaccines, feral, multiple pets, agility training, chihuahua, walking, pet health, aggression, dogs, kittens, fear, pit bulls, spay/neuter, noises, calming influence, rabies, anxiety,

Studies show that 56% of American people and 40% of American pets are overweight, and the numbers are growing rapidly. This could be different if you we made our dogs part of our exercise routines!

Diet and exercise tips bombard us in our daily lives from the checkout line at the grocery store to well-meaning friends and family members. Some are not so great. . . (No bread, potatoes, or pasta? You’ve got to be kidding!); others are pretty good, like the fact that if you exercise with a buddy you are more likely to stick with your work out routine. A workout partner will lift your spirits when you do not feel like lacing up your running shoes. They will push you to bike that extra 5 miles. If you are lucky, they will even boost your confidence by telling you that your behind really doesn’t look fat in those pants! (Well, let’s not get too crazy here.) 
 
So now that we know that a buddy is the way to work out, it is up to you to find the perfect workout partner…someone who has a lot of time on their hands and will not let you slack off, and thinks that walking, running, and playing until they are ready to drop is so much fun. How about the family dog? You see, unlike most people, dogs actually enjoy running themselves silly. To most dogs, a good day is one in which you rise with the sun, perform a mandatory morning stretching routine, drink plenty of water, walk with your best friend, take an invigorating romp with other dogs, maybe chase a few sticks, and finally collapse dog-tired at the end of the day. And unlike your human friend, a dog never has more important things to do than go outside and run around.
 
For example, let’s say that you resolve to take your dog on a 1-mile walk each evening when you come home from work. You have just unwittingly made your dog the enforcer of your workout routine. The first time you decide to skip out on your evening constitutional, your dog will give you the guilt trip to end all. It may begin with a stare, and progress to whining, barking, pacing, running from the door to you and back, whatever it takes to get you off of the couch and out on to the pavement. After all, it’s pretty difficult to disappoint your dog who is so eager to keep you on the track to a healthy lifestyle.
 
But besides the obvious health benefits of exercising with your dog, think of the wonderful impact that physical exercise can have on the both of you mentally. Regular exercise boosts metabolism, fights depression and releases endorphins-neurotransmitters which produce feelings of well-being, prove for natural pain relief, and help you relax. Many dog owners complain about their pets’ behavioral problems. Dog trainers are doing a booming business correcting habits such as constant barking or unruliness, when the root of problems such as these is very often, a lack of exercise. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog.
 
So, we all agree that working out with your dog is a good idea. But before you jump headfirst into a workout routine, please take a few precautions.
  1. Know your (and your dog’s) capabilities. Just like people, animals are individuals. Some dogs may be fine with a quick, 15-minute walk while others will need two 30 minute walks, a romp in an open field, and maybe even more.
  2. Keep your dog’s breed-type in mind when choosing the type of exercise in which to partake. Know that many bracheocephalic type dogs (those with pushed-in noses like pugs, boxers, or Pekinese) cannot handle exercise in hot temperatures. Many giant breeds such as mastiffs, Great Danes, and St. Bernards should never run on concrete as it is may cause bone and joint problems.
  3. Before engaging in any exercise program with your dog, have a veterinarian give him a thorough physical and assess his fitness level.
  4. Remember, dogs will usually try to keep up with their people just because it is their nature to do so. If your dog tries to stop, it is usually better to let him. This is often a clear message that he is being pushed beyond his capacity.
Don’t think you have time for a dog of your own? Consider volunteering at Animal Friends, or a shelter where plenty of dogs need of walks and exercise each day. To find out more about becoming an Animal Friends volunteer, visit www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

 

Tag(s): dogs, fitness, playing