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.