CHICAGO, Illinois: Feeling a little out of breath? having trouble fitting into last-year's pants? Maybe you've been living life a little too well? Let's face it - few of us get enough exercise. However as pet owners, we have an advantage. We've all got the perfect training partner right at our feet (or in the back yard) - our four-legged furry friends! That's right - our dogs, cats, horses and other pets can't wait to help us fight the battle of the bulge.
In fact, a new study performed by the Northwestern Memorial Hospital (published in Fitness Unleashed) found that people who exercise regularly with their dogs are much more likely to lose weight than people who exercised all by their lonesome. And for those of us who already get some exercise, guess what - Fido and Mittens will still leave you looking like a couch potato! Pets are the perfect exercise partners.
Unfortunately, more and more people are becoming overweight and even obese. According to the US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 66% of Americans are overweight while 34% are obese. Those are sobering numbers.
What's worse, now our pets are climbing on the obesity bandwagon. Dogs and cats, horses and everything in between are all packing on the pounds. Not so surprisingly, our dogs and cats are getting fat for the same reasons we are - too much food of the wrong types, and too little exercise. Things are getting so bad that a dog-obesity pill was recently launched on the market.
Obesity has similarly bad effect in both pets and their owners, including diabetes aching joints and arthritis, ligaments and tendons, difficulty in breathing as well as serious heart complications.
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“Obesity has similarly bad effect in both pets and their owners, including diabetes aching joints and arthritis, ligaments and tendons, difficulty in breathing as well as serious heart complications.”
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But all is not lost. As mentioned earlier, people who exercise on a regular basis with their dogs are much more likely to lose weight than people who exercised all on their lonesome. This is due to the special bond formed between pets and their owners. People love to see their pets happy, healthy and lean, and often will take more effort to keep their dogs and cats fitter than themselves. So why not take advantage of it for yourself? According to noted veterinarian Dr Marty Becker and human physician Dr. Robert Kushner, pets are great workout buddies as they won't complain about going out, cancel at the last minute, or call in sick.
If you aren't used to exercise, start slow. Walking is a great workout - and if you take your pet you kill two birds with one stone. Ease into the first five minutes of your walk as a warm-up stage, then slowly start increasing the pace. Begin with short 5 to 15 minute walks and increase the pace once you both feel capable.
As your walks become more ambitious, motivate your pooch with treats whenever you pick up the pace. However be sure to do this randomly and at different times,and also mix up the treats you give your pet. Kibble is great, or even some cheese and chicken jerky for variety. The important thing to remember is to never to fall into a routine and let your pet expect when play time or treat time is during the walk. This gives your dogs a higher level of anticipation which translates to less time sniffing and more time walking, according to Dr. Becker.
And for pet owners with older, less mobile dogs (or cats who may not take so well to being on a lead, pop them in a jogging stroller or a childs wagon and away you go. As always, before you start any exercise with your pet, make sure to have your vet check them first to avoid any health problems and of course, to start the pace slow.
nobody wants to feel and look fat. i wouldn't also want my kids and pets to become overweight because of too much eating with too little exercise. this is a good idea. i think this might really work. hmmmmm.....
You betcha! My buddy is my perfect exercise mate. I used to be a lazy couch potato until Buddy would beg to be taken out. Since walking is now to easy for him, we jog all the time now. I've lost weight coz of him. If there are times that I feel like not going exercising, he would not let me! He would bark his way to be exercised. Yes, they are perfect motivators to be healthier.
Yeah! Dogs are the best exercise partners. For starters, they don't take time to get ready, change clothes a thousand times to fine the perfect gym outfit, etc! LOL! Just one call and your pooch is there ready to run with you!
here's an idea. lets have dog and owner running marathons! my bud and i are in! lol!
i totally agree. my dogs and i have a certain schedule which i'm forced to follow everyday. we normally walk early in the morning and late in the afternoon. my dogs are so used to this schedule that sometimes they would even remind me by barking and leading me to the door.
You can also take your cat on a jog, it's just that you're carrying the cat while running.. lol!
Well, dogs are the perfect exercise companions. I'd rather exercise with a dog than with a guy who loves to stop to check and flex his "muscles", fix his hair, etc. on every reflection possible! lol!
this only holds true to certain dog breeds. what if my dog is a chihuahua? i can't jog with that little thing! it might just end up flying behind my back while i'm running. lol
True. Dogs make better exercise partners than cats. When I look at my cat all comfy and napping happily, I end up feeling sleepy and take a nap myself!
oh cmon.. you're just using your cat as an excuse to be lazy.. lol! peace!
I agree that one may lose pounds with the pooch BUT it depends on the dog breed. How can you lose pounds if you have a bulldog? these big fellas move slowly. after a few minutes of walking, you'd feel sorry for them coz their huge and long tongues are hanging out!
This, i totally have to agree with! I've a toy poodle and she exercises me to exhaustion! No, we don't jog. but my hyper-active little doggy wants me to chase her around! When i feed her her vitamins, i have to chase her around the house. She likes the taste of her vitamins, but just loves being chased! even when i give her treats! i think i've lost so much weight in chasing her and bending over, trying to look for where she's hiding.
My daughter's toy poodle is the opposite she just sits quietly by her lap and doesnt cause any fuss, People sometimes mistake her for a stuffed animal
who needs exercise? i'm happy and contented just the way i am! when i get home from work, all i want to do is eat, watch tv, relax and maybe have a drink or two with my pooch. that's my perfect exercise regimen. lol
Oh no, that kind of attitude is what leads to obese and unhealthy pet owners. if you must drink then DO NOT involve your pets because they don't need it. owning a pet is not just for fun and companionship it is also about responsibility lol
Some dogs have very high energy levels and would kill you by exhaustion! But this is the thing i'd rather do with my dog and support completely than doing yoga with them! lol
tell me abt it. Our golden retreiver keeps me in shape. saves me the gym fees too! LOL!