How You Can Keep You and Your Dog Fit and Active?
Dogs being our best friends, follow us through thick and thin. If you have a dog, you probably know its learning behavior and ability to literally follow you around. Unfortunately, many people, along with their dogs, are rapidly losing their fitness and health. Did you know you could maintain an active and healthy lifestyle to improve your dog’s health? In today’s article, we will discuss tips for maintaining a fit and active lifestyle with your dog.
So, get your pup a new dog activity monitor and grab your best trainers because it’s time to head out and add some activity to your life.
STEPS TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFE WITH YOUR DOG
These tips will help you keep up with your and your dog’s well-being:
Go for frequent walks
If you have a larger dog, adding 15 to 20 minutes to your walking routine won’t make a big difference. Increase your outdoor timings and try to increase the speed as well. For instance, if you cover 10,000 steps in two hours, try gradually bringing them down to an hour and a half or even less.
Your walks should be energetic and powerful. Also, longer walks might mean your pup needs more hydration. Try to carry a dog water bottle with you to avoid causing your fur baby restlessness.
Smaller dogs are not prone to walking a lot. This means they get to rest while you come home and add another 30 minutes of cardio for the day.
Feed less and track calories
If your fur baby is getting too chubby, it’s time to reduce caloric intake. By toning down, we don’t mean that you should starve your dog. Instead, replace their meals with food that is low in calories but also fulfilling simultaneously.
A dog needs 30 calories for each pound of its body weight. You can give overeating dogs a calorie deficit of 15 to 25%, along with walking sessions, to see visible differences within a few weeks.
Go on hikes
Oh yes, we said it — the dreaded hikes. A general survey shows not many people are interested in going on hikes. Despite being good for health, they are physically excruciating and require a lot of physical effort.
Instead of walking a couple of miles on the first go, give yourself and your fur baby a target of half a mile. Take along healthy snacks and lots of fluids for hydration. In such a scenario, dog activity monitors are ideal to confirm that your up had sufficient exercise. You can also hike once a month or bi-monthly, depending on accessibility. It is just an activity to get your heart rate up, sweat better, and burn more calories.
Join water-based sports
Dog-friendly pools are not uncommon nowadays. In this particular activity, your dog will learn how to paddle for safety and even play a couple of speed-boosting games within the water. Don’t hesitate to join in for a day of fun-filled aquatic sports that not just leave you refreshed but also burn more calories than you think. These fun-filled water-based activities can also prove to be a great bonding experience for both you and your fur baby.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Inactivity and unhealthy food have led humans and dogs to suffer from unwanted illnesses and laziness. If you are on this track, try taking yourself and your dog out for activities. From simple walking to hiking and water-based sports, there are plenty of things out there that one can do while enjoying.
Also, keep the calorie count low to put your body in a fat-burning position. This keeps you and your dog fit and active with fewer chances of cardiac issues.