Are you so preoccupied with your busy life that it's hard to find time for fitness, both for your dog and yourself? Luckily, there are lots of ways to stay active and lose weight while also taking care of your pup. So if you find it difficult to get your own butt to the gym and make time to take your pup on a walk, try combining your efforts with these 6 ways to get fit with your dog.
PLAY FETCH, BUT WITH UMPF
I know what you’re thinking, throwing a ball around in a tiny backyard isn’t going to do much on the fitness front. However, there are other benefits to this activity especially if you put some effort into it. Even if just for 10-20 minutes, try throwing their favorite ball or disk and then running toward it to race them to the toy. You can even try throwing the ball and running in the opposite direction, which will inevitably get your dog to chase you.
PRO TIP: Try tossing the ball and then running or walking the perimeter of the area you are playing fetch. Every time your pup comes back, stop to throw the ball in the opposite direction and keep going. Your dog will always bring the toy back to you so you both are getting your steps in. Plus when they do bring it back, you get a little break to stop and throw the ball again.
INCLUDE YOUR PUP IN YOUR AT HOME WORKOUTS
Try including your pup in your at home workouts by combining fitness moves and tricks with your pup when you can. Some people encourage their smaller to medium sized pups to weave through their legs during walking lunges while others play tug-of-war in between weight lifting sets. Whichever you decide to do, try using positive reinforcement with treats to ensure no one gets hurt.
GO ON AN ACTIVE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Whether it’s hiking, beach activities, trail running, or meetups at the local dog park, carve out some time on the weekend to have an active adventure with your pup. Not only are outdoor activities great exercise, they’re good for mental health as well. Soaking up the sun and fresh air outdoors is unbeatable and your dog thinks so too. Maybe try getting together with some other dog parents or join a meet-up group in your community.
ADD INTERVAL TRAINING TO YOUR WALKS
This activity is really great for increasing intensity for you and your dog by getting your heart rate up and working on recovery time. Once you’ve stretched and are warmed up, try the 20/20 method by taking 20 steps and then running 20 steps. You can easily increase or decrease the number as needed, but the goal is to sprint as hard as you can when it’s time to run. You can also forget the number of steps and use visual markers. For example, run one block and then walk a block. Once you and your pup get in tip top shape, try joining a dog-friendly marathon! These races are well organized and can include 5K, 10K and half-marathon distances. Although some folks do run full marathons with their pups, shorter races are generally more popular and fun!
TRY A FITNESS CLASS WITH YOUR PUP
Nowadays, doggy and me fitness classes and clubs are all the rage. You can easily research one in your area and find a great place for you and your pup to go workout together and socialize. Each class is different and can focus on group activities such as relay races and training exercise activities such as strength and conditioning classes.
HIT THE WATER
It goes without saying, but swimming is one of the best low impact exercises out there. Not only is it a great aerobic exercise for you, but your dog will love it too. Try hitting a clean, dog friendly lake or swim in the shallows of the ocean during a gentle tide. You can also hit the swimming pool, although some may be concerned about the chlorine which is not a problem as long as the pool is well taken care of. Remember— not all dogs like the water, so check in with your pup before trying any of these activities. If your dog has proven to be a weak swimmer, try getting them a life-vest and let them swim beside you.
Just as you should check with your doctor before starting a new fitness regimen, you should check in with your vet before trying something new with your dog too. If you don’t feel the need to make a vet visit, try assessing the amount of activity your dog is used to by the amount of activity you’re trying to accomplish. Try introducing them to new activities slowly, with their health in mind, and build up from there. Think of baby steps! Hopefully one of the activities above will work for you and also be an incredible way to strengthen the bond between you and your pup!
