Fitness & Your Pet!

I want to talk about exercise both for you and your pet.  Finding the motivation to exercise, for me, is almost has hard as keeping Lindsey Lohan in rehab. Now you may be thinking, “great, another article about what I should be doing.”  No, I’m not here to beat anyone up about exercise.  My intent is to focus on “fitness”.  A good diet, mental stimulation, socializing and simply being a part of the family, is very important in keeping both you and your pet “fit”. 

 

Let’s talk about dogs first. 

We all know what can happen when we don’t give our pets the avenues to expend their energy.  They can become destructive, anxious or frustrated, causing numerous behavior problems.  Dogs especially, retain a certain amount of work ethic and the desire to “keep busy” so it’s deeply ingrained their DNA.

We all know the benefits of walking and the exercise that it provides.  Experts say you should walk your pet daily.  That’s great if you do, wonderful in fact.  But on those days when it’s just not appealing or convenient, then why not just play?   Fitness and exercise are not just a health issues.  They can have a significant effect on your pet’s day-to-day behavior as well. 

Playing with your pet has several benefits.  There is exercise being exerted when you play, by both you and your pet.  There’s usually some mental stimulation especially if you incorporate some training sessions.  I go over and over the training that my beloved Golden Retriever, “Jazz”, has already received in an attempt to keep her sharp.  We love to teach her cute new tricks and she’s always happy to participate.  The whole family gets involved and it’s a great way to spend a little time together as a family. 

Other “disguised” exercises would be swimming, playing fetch, hide & seek or other games and going to dog parks.   All great ways to have a little fun while keeping fitness as the main objective.  If the weather’s bad, don’t let that stifle your pet’s exercise program.  Buy them a treadmill…why not?!  A Dog and Two Cats offers a Motorized Exercise Treadmill for your pets.  This treadmill was selected as the Top Pet Fitness and Weight Loss Product by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP).  Check out this video:

How much exercise does your dog need? 

It’s hard to say.  Factors like overall health and age can determine the amount needed.  For example a pup will need a lot more than a 7 year old.  Some general rules of thumb:

• Active breeds need a minimum of 30 minutes of hard aerobic exercise most days of the week, preferably daily.
• Not all toy or small breeds get enough exercise inside the house (contrary to popular belief). Pugs, for example, are prone to obesity and need much more exercise than they usually get.
• It's not safe to go out in extremely hot or cold weather. During such periods, stay inside and teach tricks to engage your dog's mind, throw toys, or run up and down the stairs together.
• Good exercise uses both mental and physical muscles. Exploring a new hiking trail, for example, engages your dog's mind as well as his body.
• Live by the philosophy that a tired dog is a good dog.

Why you should play with your Cat

• Interactive playing (you playing with your cat) lets your cat hone his hunting skills: seeking the enemy target, making the stealthy approach, pouncing with conviction, relishing the victory.
• Exercise from playing helps your cat maintain a healthy weight.
• Playing is a positive way for your cat to release negative energy or aggression.
• Interactive playing strengthens the bond between your cat and you.
• Playing helps a shy cat gain confidence.
• A hearty play session is a good way to ease your cat's transition to a new home.

How to exercise your indoor Cat. 

Your prince or princess lives in the safe happiness within the warm sanctuary of your home.  Day-to-day living just doesn’t involve tremendous output of calories.  BUT, exercise is just as important for your cat’s health as it is for yours.  Get creative!

Here are some tips:   

Set up a climbing area such as a cat tree house.  We sell them on our site and they are fantastic!  Or cat hotel, scratching post or elevated beds.   Let your cat climb and play to his or her heart’s content.  It’s great exercise for your pet. 

We sell great cat toys on our site that are both interactive and just plain fun.  There are laser beam toys, puzzles and feather poles & catnip toys, all great ways to engage and exercise your cats. 

The Bottom Line

The thing is, nobody gave our pets “the memo” on all of the benefits of fitness & exercise. Without someone to lead the way, they’re not going to run laps nor do leg lifts in their spare time. So as a wonderful pet parent, part of our job is ensuring our furry family members get safe, enjoyable exercise on a regular basis--whether they’re cats or dogs.   All pets need some physical activity to live a happy, healthy life.  As always, consult your vet first before starting an exercise routine. 

The Making of a Dog Collar

A Dog and Two Cats is now offering a collection of fine handmade beaded collars from Kenya.  The goal of the Kenyan Collection is to demonstrate that products made in Africa can compete in the global marketplace, while at the same time creating employment for the artisans, in the hope that they will have an investment in, and an opportunity to change, their own future and the future of their children. The company generates income for over 200 Kenyans who otherwise might earn as little as $1,500 a year.

Joan Schultz, the owner, was living in Kenya when a group of Maasai herded 13 of their precious cattle to the US Embassy in Nairobi to express their condolences to the families affected by the events of September 11.  “The gift of the cattle, which are so precious to the Maasai, was a way to say how wrong that event was and how sorry they were for our losses.  It made me realize that we all have 'gifts' to share and we do what we can to make a difference to help each other in spite of our own constraints.”   What we are doing is not charity or a hand-out, but just as the Maasai and many other Kenyans extended their hand in sympathy and concern in their own way, we are reciprocating in our way by providing guidance and presenting their talents to a demanding market.

Ms. Schultz notes that many Kenyans live on less than $1,000 a year. “We contemplated setting up as a non-profit to take advantage of the tax breaks and fund raising opportunities available. But to the Kenyans we represent, that sounded like another way to ask for money or to manage expectations about the products they produce,” Joan stated. “They want to change the image of Kenya as a country with its hand out, one with few real business opportunities”.

This venture brings interest in Kenya and its culture, employs Americans directly and indirectly and provides a product that allows us to adorn our pets that bring joy, better health and service to our lives.  They also regularly donate collars to rescue and service companion organizations for fund raising or to bring attention to a special adoptable pet. “We don’t want your donations” explains Ms. Schultz, “what we want is for you to feel good about every aspect of your purchase from The Kenyan Collection, especially knowing that your money goes a long way in influencing the lives of others.”


View the entire collection on our website.