How Your Dog Helps You Stay Fit

Hello and welcome back! I'm so sorry we couldn't post your weekly workouts for the past couple of weeks. My husband and I moved into our new house, and had some trouble getting our internet service set up. Luckily we are good to go now, and back with some more great exercise tips for you this week! Since I'm now living with a dog full-time, I thought it would be a good time to remind you of all the great ways your dog can help you stay in shape.

When it comes to fitness, we could all benefit from having an accountability partner. Motivation is an excellent tool to have as well. However, sometimes friends and family members are too busy to help us keep our goals, much less reach them.

This is where our furry friends come in handy. Having a pet is a sure-fire way to help us stay fit. If you have a dog, there is no better way to keep fit than by incorporating your dog’s needs with your own.

There are several ways you can stay fit with a furry friend.

The Power of Walking

Cover of Dogs

Of course, it is common sense that walking your dog for business as well as pleasure is necessary. However, you can spice things up a bit by walking you dog the power walking way.

Start off slowly, allowing your dog to sniff and smell along the way and then pick up the pace. Power walking is a great way for you to increase your cardio as well as give your dog a bit of a workout too.

Walking along the boardwalk is a great way to get some exercise in while taking in the scenery, too. A power walk along the beach is a great workout for you and your dog, as it works out your leg muscles. Walking along the beach is more difficult and you will receive a better workout.

Bring the Frisbee

Dogs love to play Frisbee. Take your dog to the beach and throw the Frisbee around having him catch it. You can chase him a little bit until you command him to stop. Playing Frisbee will give you a good cardio workout while you are at it.

Swim Time

Most dogs love the water and what better way for both of you to get into shape than to hit the beach. Have a good swim alongside your dog for a great workout. Swimming in your pool and doing some laps is a great way to use the buddy system. They do not call a dog man’s best friend for no reason.

Hit the Trails

Jogging is one of the best ways to incorporate exercise and fitness into your daily routine and your dog can help you with this. Jogging through trails that are a little hilly will give both you and your furry friend a great workout and a fresh mindset as well.

Jogging in the woods and on trails gives you and your pet a connection with nature and when you are connected, you feel fit and healthy!

A New Fitness Trend: Working Out With Your Pet

It’s not just people who are facing a growing obesity problem in the United States. Believe it or not, our pets are also getting fatter. While this trend can affect virtually any type of pet, it is most often seen in dogs. When your dog carries too much weight, it will have a greater chance of developing joint problems, respiratory cancer, diabetes and other systemic difficulties.

Walking the Dog. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Like humans, dogs have evolved over time to be very active. But the realities of modern day life (including an increasing number of us living in homes or apartments with no or very small yards) simply don’t provide the automatic opportunities for exercise. So it takes a concerted action on your part to get yourself (and your pet) enough exercise. (Just like with humans, being fat is really bad for your pet's health, and leads to a shorter lifespan.) But it can be a lot of fun to incorporate your pet into your workouts, and it can provide you with some much-needed motivation at times when you're feeling like sitting on the couch instead of going for a jog.

Here are a few tips for working out with your pet:

Use Your Imagination.

Taking your dog for a walk or a jog is a great way for both of you to get some exercise, of course. But don’t assume that those are your only possibilities. The most important aspect of working out is movement. You can also play fetch, play Frisbee or simply “freestyle” play and just goof around with your dog in the park. Focus on the experience of interacting with your dog rather than any firm performance goals or other measures. If you like more structure, you could even consider taking part in various “agility” events for dogs.

Take Advantage of Multitasking Possibilities.

Starting a new exercise program doesn’t have to be a significant time burden. Instead of thinking about taking your dog for a walk as a separate task on your “to do” list, start thinking of it in terms of an opportunity for you and your dog to get a little exercise together. And if you can get other family members to come along with you, then you are really multitasking!

Dog leaps for frisbee, Audubon Park, New Orleans. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Your Pet will Keep You Honest.

You probably already know how your dog is a creature of habit. Exercising should be no exception. Once you start with your pet exercise routine, your dog will expect you to follow through. The flipside of this is also a big positive. When your dog has more structure in its daily routine, and gets more exercise, he or she is significantly more likely to be better behaved in general.

Pay Attention to Your Dog.

Whatever you do, make sure to pay close attention to how your dog responds to any new exercise. Some breeds overheat more easily than others, while some can’t keep themselves as warm. Some breeds simply don’t have the leg and hip structures, or the respiratory system, to handle strenuous activity. Your dog may want to continue playing, but if they seem unable to catch their breath or are experiencing other difficulties, then take a break or stop for the day.

If you have a cat, you probably won’t be doing any of these things for exercise. But that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce a little more activity into your pet’s daily routine. Even something as simple as a dangling toy connected to a lightweight pole or stick with a string can be enough to get your cat plenty of exercise every day. And to participate yourself, try swinging the toy for the cat, or throwing or rolling small objects for it to chase. It might not be as much exercise as you'd get with a dog, but it's still a bit, and every little bit counts.