Healthy Spot Blog

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions made year after year, is drum roll please.. getting fit and staying healthy! Whether you intend to lose a little extra flab, or tone up those pecs – chances are you may have thought at the start of this year, that you were going to defeat all odds and stick to a regular exercise routine and feel better about it! I researched the percentage of people and when they break their resolutions, and apparently a whopping 20% of people can’t stick to their resolutions even after the first week. As a matter of fact, by the end of the year, 80% will have broken their resolutions.

Now that we’re rolling into April soon, wow, imagine that, the first quarter has just crept up on us and gone by just like that, let’s do some self-reflection shall we? How many of you readers out there have actually stuck to your resolutions thus far? I’m not trying to be a debbie-downer. On the contrary, let’s look at the glass half full, and figure out how to get back on track if you have strayed a little off the road to a fitter, healthier you. If you’re a dog owner, one way to get back in it, is to incorporate exercising with your dog on a regular basis.

Did You Know?
Having our dogs by our side, helps keep us active? As dog owners, we are responsible for not only the upkeep of our own health, but looking out for our best buds as well. Your dogs may be cooped up indoors for quite some time throughout the day, especially if you’re a working individual. It’s only natural that we come home and reward our dogs with a good walk around the neighborhood. If you don’t, well shame on you.

Why Exercise is Good for your Dog
1) Behavior Changes
You can imagine if you were cooped up at home all day and didn’t get proper exercise, you’d probably go a little crazy yourself. Getting inadequate amounts of exercise have shown negative behavioral changes in dogs. Frustrated dogs may learn to take their anger out elsewhere, whether it’s excessive barking, digging holes in your backyard, tearing up the house, or even becoming more aggressive around humans. Getting your dog out and about is a good way to release their pent up energy.

2) Nature Intended
Dogs have evolved from nomadic dogs, as wanderers by nature. Dogs have always been known to run in the wild, hunt for their food, etc. It shouldn’t come as a shock to you, that our dogs are pre-programmed like us, to require some form of exercise to not only keep our bodies strong, but as a natural part of life.

3) Live Long and Prosper
Exercise in both humans and dogs are critical to keep our bodies in tip-top shape. Regular exercise can help keep our hearts, bones, lungs, liver, kidneys, you name it, fully functional. By staying healthy, we can help prevent disease and complications – especially those brought on by bigger problems such as obesity. Prevent obesity by staying fit and eating right.

4)Combating Obesity
Obesity is not only common in humans, but as the hands that feed our own dogs, often times we ourselves, are the culprit when it comes to obese dogs as well. You may find yourself becoming defensive when your vet breaks it to you if your dog is obese, say it ain’t so! But sometimes, we have to accept reality, and if your dog is diagnosed as being on the heavy side, don’t ignore it. Change starts from within you. Be conscious of the type of food you are feeding your dog and how much of it you should be giving him. This includes treats. Come talk to us at Healthy Spot, we can find foods that are lower in fat, nutritious and just plain good-for-you to whip him back up into shape. But just like humans, diet alone isn’t going to cut it. Weight loss whether you are a dog or human begins with exercise.

4) Show your Dog the World
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to share the world with my dog. I want to show him there’s more to life than meets the eye. It isn’t just confined to our living spaces. There’s a whole world out there, that your dog must indulge his senses in! The people, the trees, the grass, other animals, the buildings, the snow, the beach… Why deny your dog of the world that exists beyond your immediate one?

Baby Steps
Are you a lazy bum by nature? It’s not too late to change your habits! To those who are fit and fab, hats off to you. But to the rest of us who need a little extra prodding to go out there.. have no fear. It takes baby steps. It’s recommended you take your dog out for a mild stroll everyday for at least 30-minutes, twice a day. If it’s your first time out on the sidewalk together, you can start off easy, with a 15-minute walk. Slowly increment your walks to the ideal 30-minute walk. They actually recommend we as humans should get at least 1-hour of exercise in a day, so just think of it this way, you AND your dog can check it off your list.

Strength in Numbers
They always say it helps to have a buddy-system when working out to motivate each other. Consider your dog your exercise-buddy! Have you seen the ridiculously extra happy tail wag they give when they see you reach for their leash? It’s always nice to have someone else accompany you. In my dog’s primetime, we used to run together all the time. He wasn’t just my running partner, he was also my bodyguard, I always felt safer out there knowing my dog was by my side.

Forget Excuses
According to a recent article in the NY Times, one-third of dog owners don’t walk their dogs regularly and excuses ranged from people believing they a) had a big enough yard for their dog, b) they simply didn’t have time, c) they hired dog walkers, d) their dogs were too ill-mannered to go for walks. Really? Let’s scold ourselves for making one too many excuses. You can make the time. If you’re worried they are ill-mannered, then you should probably look into behavioral training. This is more important than sacrificing their health and well-being for the sake that they won’t be angels while they’re outdoors.

Diversify your Workout
I can’t imagine anyone exclaiming they love getting stuck in a rut. Don’t bore yourselves! While daily walks are always important, here’s additional exercise you can add to your routine.

1)The Classic Fetch or Frisbee
We all know most dogs go goo-goo over fetching that ball or flying frisbee! If they’re down for a game or two, this would be a classic way to have some fun at a local park or dog beach.

2) Hiking
Dogs are inquisitive, too. Have them accompany you on a beautiful hike on a dog-friendly trail. Make sure you stay safe though, some trails are more dangerous than others. Keep your dogs supervised for any surprises along the way.

3)Running
Speed it up a bit. If your dog is able to run, try short runs or even trots with your dog. Just keep in mind, excessive running can be bad on the joints, so know how much your own dog can handle. Pay close attention while on your jog. Check your dogs paws once in a while, as they can get blisters or injuries, too. Keep away from hot pavement. We may have shoes to protect us, but our dogs feel the scorch on hot days.

Never run with puppies or senior dogs. Remember, puppies are still developing and seniors might already have joint issues so you don’t want to strain them with running. Stick to walking and milder forms of exercise for older dogs and younger pups.

4)Swimming
It is a myth that all dogs can naturally swim. Although certain breeds may be more adept to swimming, that does not necessarily guarantee your dog will also be skilled at it. But it’s another fun form of exercise. Swimming may require you to slowly introduce your dog to shallow water. In fact, some dogs don’t even like the water and will not go near it. But for those dogs that do swim, keep them supervised. They also make canine lifevests which are recommended for use in lakes. Make sure you wash your dog off thoroughly after a good swim and dry out ears to prevent infection. Other things to remember, dogs may not necessarily know where the steps are in a pool to get out. If they tire, they may not be able to get out, so you will have to train them how to get to the steps. Dogs just like humans, can drown, so just be sure to supervise at all times. There are different precautions you should heed whether you are at the lake, pool, or beach, so be sure to research before you go.

5)Playtime at the Park
At some parks which allow you to go leash-free, your dogs will have a great time running amok with their fellow canine friends. Not only do they get a chance to be social, they get some free time to roam free out in the sun! As we’ve touched on in an earlier article, different parks have different rules, so pay attention and play it safe!

6)Doggie Daycare
At our doggie daycare, we ensure our dogs not only get in some regular walking time, but they also have ample room to play around and go, go, go. They’re surrounded by friends who will be sure to keep them busy all day. Don’t be surprised if your dog is tired out from a long day of daycare fun.

7)Bicycling with your Dog
Be careful with this one. You will have to train your dog to be very obedient while on a leash as any sudden tug or pull could be dangerous to both of you. They do have “springer” devices which you can attach to your bike as a form of release in case your dog does decide to pull unexpectedly. It’s difficult though, imagine trying to bicycle with your dog, and your dog getting distracted by a squirrel in the distance.

It’s about you AND your Dog
Ultimately, it’s a lifestyle change. At Healthy Spot, one of our core values is we love our family, whether they’re our canines or humans, and the more conscious we are about what we eat, how often we exercise, we can extend our lives and spend more time with the ones we love. Staying healthy helps us enjoy our lives. This is what we stand for. It’s all about our dog’s mind, body, and bowl.