7 Easy Ways on How to Make Your Pet a Part of Your Fitness Routine
If you’re a dog owner, more often than not, you enjoy spending time with your dog. The good thing about having a four-legged housemate is that they can be an excellent workout buddy. If you’re an active person, you can multitask and take your pet with you in your workouts.
Research shows that in many cases, pets can be the workout motivation people need to get the extra mile on their active days (literally). You need to walk your dogs. That alone is enough motivation to get outside.
Tips for working out with your pet. (Image Source: Pexels)
Stay Healthy and Fit With Your Pet
The great thing about having your pet as your workout buddy is that they don’t cancel on you. They never complain. They don’t make it feel like a workout. And above all, it’s free!
Before you start, make sure your pet is ready for the workout. If it’s a warm season, then your best time to take your dog to your workout is either early in the morning or the evening. Dogs don’t sweat like humans. They don’t have the sweat glands that keep their body cool. Rather, they sweat through their paws and they cool down by opening their mouths.
Speaking of paws, be mindful of hot pavements, as it can burn your dog’s paws. If possible, schedule your workouts near water. Also, make sure you carry water with you.
If your dog has long hair, never shave them. These long hairs work as an insulator to help keep your dog cool during summertime and protect them from sunburn. Also, make sure you know the signs of heatstroke. If your pet shows some of those signs, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Tips on How to Have Fun With Your Pet While Working Out
So how do you make working out with your pet extra fun? Here are some tips.
Walk, Jog, or Run
Working out with your pet doesn’t have to be complicated. They love spending time with you. A simple walk in the park, jog around the neighborhood, or running around the block can be fun for them.
Walking is a great workout for you and your pet; great for bonding and relieving stress. It is free and easy on the body. A study from The Journal Preventive Medicine shows that dog owners who regularly walk their pets are 25% less likely to be obese than people without dogs.
If possible, try to have a routine. A 30-minute walk every morning and/or evening can be enough. Keep your daily walks fresh by trying out new routes. For jogging or running, look for tracks that welcome dogs. Also, bring a water bottle and a foldable bowl for your pet. You can even try Crossfit with your dog, which is a fast-growing activity among pet lovers.
Take a Hike
Hiking is always a good idea; it can be one of the most rewarding activities you and your dog can do. However, it can be strenuous for both you and your dog if you two are not used to it. So start with walking and build up from there.
If you are pressed for time, then get up earlier in your morning runs. Try to squeeze in three walks a day, with one at least 20 minutes or more so both you and your dog can build the endurance and stamina for the hike.
When hiking, always bring an ID tag for your pup, plenty of water, and if possible, a first aid kit. Get the right gear. For your dog, a collapsible water bowl is a must. Also, be a good hiker and pick up after your pet.
Start with shorter and less intense hikes. It may seem like you’re just walking, but it can be challenging when you’re climbing hills. As you two become more and more familiar with hiking, you can add short runs to your trail. This can be a fantastic workout for you and your pet.
Resistance Walks
Resistance walks, as its name suggests, is no ordinary walk. Walking on the sand, shallow water on the beach, snow or leaf-filled trail provides a different feel to your legs.
It’s a great way to build muscles and workout your lungs. Also, it’s a great activity for all kinds of weather.
Biking
If you have a bike, then you can incorporate biking exercises with your pet. You need a safe attachment for your bike, one that comes with a quick-release for an emergency. Also, be ready to spend some time teaching your dog to get accustomed to your bike and walking and navigating next to it.
Start by taking your pet with you on a few trial biking sessions to help your dog get used to the bike. Put your dog on the left side of the bike, while you walk on the right side. Try to stop, speed up, turns, and moving over cars to teach your dog to navigate with you on the bike. It’s best to incorporate verbal cues with your pet too, such as “easy”, “stop”, “let’s go”, etc. As always, start slow.
What you need to know about working out with pets. (Image Source: Pexels)
Head to the Dog Park
If there’s a dog park near your area, then it’s best to walk your dog to the dog park. Bring a ball with you and play fetch with your dog. Dog parks will also give your dog a chance to mingle with other dogs and socialize.
Play Tug-of-War
Dogs love to play tug-of-war, and this helps them build their strength. In your case, pulling stuff against your dog helps build your grip strength and works your upper body. It’s a great way to bond with your pet.
Play Catch
The catch is dogs’ all-time favorite game. Whether it’s a ball, Frisbee, or even a stick, they love to play it. It’s also relatively easy to do and a good way to spend more time outdoors. Take advantage of this.
Other Ways to Stay Fit and Healthy
Working out with your pet is always fun and exciting. But aside from engaging in these activities to get your body moving, it also pays to invest in a good supplement to aid your nutrition. LeanBean is one such example.
This supplement is designed for females with a fat-burning effect so you can lose weight faster and have fun working out with your pet. If you would like to make this a part of your health and fitness routine, read this review to find out more.
