Is Your Dog Out Of Shape? Get Fit Together!
An out of shape dog often has an out of shape owner. While there are ways to exercise your dog while being lazy yourself, it makes sense to get in shape together.
Just like people, dogs that are healthy and fit are happier and live longer.
Your dog doesn’t ask much from you but provides so much. Give your dog and yourself the gift of fitness, longevity, adventure – and fun!
These 9 activities are perfect for bonding with your dog and getting you outside in the stress-relieving natural world!
Get fit with your dog and share some quality time together with these activities:
- Swimming. Most dogs are naturally excellent swimmers. Swimming is a very healthy, low-impact exercise for you and your dog.
Be sure to keep an eye on your dog. They can’t always work out how to get out of the water. (You could get them a life jacket.)
2. Hiking. Dogs love walks, but they love to hike even more. The variety of terrain and smells is more interesting to dogs. The natural surface is much easier on their feet than a concrete path. Hiking is a great stress reliever for dogs and humans.
Think about how much time wolves and foxes spend “hiking” each day. It’s a very natural activity. At one time, humans spent most of their day hiking, too.
3. Camping. Dogs love to camp. Camping goes great with swimming and hiking. Try it once with your dog and see how much you both enjoy it.
4. Rollerblading. Rollerblading isn’t as popular as it used to be, but it’s still a great activity to do with your dog. It’s a great way to pick up the pace, which your dog will love, without being too hard on the owner. (Thankfully!)
5. Biking. You’ve probably seen a few people on bikes with their dog trotting beside them. This is another way to give your dog the speed he craves without overextending yourself.
Biking together might take a little practice and training to make it work, but it’s worth the effort.
6. Trail running/cross country. Think of trail running as hiking at a higher speed. It’s a great workout for both of you.
Take it easy if you haven’t been running recently and consistently. Consider this to be an advanced activity for both of you.
7. Walking. The old standby is always available. Every dog is excited by the prospect of a walk. Just get the lead off the hook and watch your dog go bonkers!
Some owners have taught their dogs to walk on a treadmill, but that doesn’t help the owner get in shape!
8. Road race. Once you’ve both increased your fitness and body conditioning, consider joining in a short road race with your dog. 5k is a popular distance for human-dog running teams.
9. Playing fetch. Traditional fetch is great for the dog but doesn’t do much for the owner. Mix it up a bit. Throw the ball, and then you both run after it.
You’ll never win, but you’ll get some great exercise in the process. Get the ball back from your dog and repeat. See who decides to give up first! (Hint: It’s most likely to be you…)
Do Dogs Like Being Active?
Dogs love to be active, but they’re also happy to sleep the day away if there’s nothing interesting going on. Just because your dog (and you) is content lying around all day doesn’t make it acceptable.
Try these 9 ways to get your dog in shape and have fun at the same time! You can share time and get in shape together. Lose a few pounds and increase your fitness together. You’ll both have a great time bonding and having adventures!
Why not share your adventures with us on social media? We’d love to see what things on the list you’ve managed to do! @strawberieveddb
