I Know You Want to Take A Walk

ALL THE MOTIVATION YOU NEED: YOUR DOG IS YOUR BEST WORKOUT PARTNER

Hello and thank you for coming to read this article!

I want to share a few things that I have been challenged within my life. the first one happens to everyone. Every day, we get older. Well, I have more of those days behind me than I probably have left. I am not complaining just keeping it real. The second is most of those days I did not do the greatest job to make sure my health is at its best.

That leaves me in a position where my doctor is telling me I need to make some changes in my lifestyle if I wish to continue living. UGH! Right!

I don’ mind the eating more vegetables part, I like those. The one that gets me is what I have to do to shed some weight. It is this thing called exercise. Not a big fan! It is something I am going to have to make myself do. It is not so easy.

According to a survey conducted by Bodybuilding.com, 73 percent give up on their fitness goals before achieving them.

I think those people must not have dogs.

OK, clearly, statistically speaking most of them probably DO have dogs… but I bet most of those people don’t think of their fitness goals in terms of their dog’s health and happiness, as well as building a solid relationship with their pup.

If you’re someone who wants to set new fitness goals but hasn’t followed through in the past or isn’t sure where to start, I’m here to help you reframe your goal! Why? Well, I read something recently about how people quitting smoking were more likely to succeed If they thought about it in terms of their pet’s health! Focusing on how their smoking affected their pets, helped smokers kick the habit, so why can’t that work for fitness?!?

Grab a leash and let’s take a walk!

EXERCISE WITH YOUR DOG!

I don’t know many people who genuinely love exercise. But it’s so good for your body to MOVE! The same goes for your dog. Motivation is tough, though. Instead of forcing yourself to slog through a workout at the gym, do something with your dog! This isn’t a how-to-get-started post but rather a quick overview to get you started. I do share additional resources for each, but if you’d like me to dive into a particular topic in detail, let me know in the comments.

Here are three workout ideas to kick it into gear with your pup:

Walk.

Duh, right? But lots of us–myself included–have a yard or park we rely on and we sometimes use that advantage to skip the daily walk. And, honestly, if you have a reactive dog like my Cooper and Cora, it feels easier many days to skip the walk. Unfortunately, that plan backfires because neither of us is getting enough exercise–and exercise helps him stay calmer–and we’re losing opportunities to work on positive behaviors together.

Here’s the thing: Walking delivers health benefits to you and your pup, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stronger bones, improved balance (so important as we and our pups age), and reducing fat… plus lots more.

Commit to your dog to take him or her on a daily walk. I have some stick-to-it tricks at the end of this post, but speaking it out loud to your pup is the best first step!

BTW: Hiking is just walking in the woods!  If you get bored of your regular walks or want to spice it up, hit the trails instead. Here are some pet-safe hiking tips for summer and for winter.

Jog.

I’ll be the first to admit: Running is hard. I have had injuries and corrective surgery that make it painful for me to run. As long as neither you nor your dog has an injury or physical limitation that would prevent a jogging habit, a great place to start is with the C25k App. It moves at an incremental pace, taking you from mostly walking to mostly running gradually enough that it’s never so hard you want to quit.

My ability to run is limited now but I do still love to hike. But, if you and your dog are starting a jogging routine in 2020, I’ll be right there walking along with you! For a little inspiration, here’s some advice on running with a dog that pulls (ahem, Cora), or if you want to combine a love of the outdoors with running, here are some tips on starting to trail run with your dog.

Play.

It took me a while to understand this because I always thought of fitness and exercise as either going to the gym or going for a walk or run. But, the reality is, playing can be as good for your and your dog’s fitness as anything else! And it’s often way more fun!

In fact, that was the turning point for me: having fun! Whether it’s taking an agility course or simply running some simple obstacles in your backyard, or maybe you like to play tag or tug or swim or play on the beach, you’ll get fit while having a blast. Plus, playing together every day is a vital part of your bond with your pup. If you’re not into feeling like exercise is a real workout… play is for you and your pup!

HOW TO START A WORKOUT ROUTINE WITH YOUR DOG

Let’s say you want to commit to a daily walk every day this year. Or you’re going to lace up and hit the trails or set up a backyard agility course to run together. Great!!!

Where do you start?

First things first, know that making the commitment to yourself and to your dog is the first big hurdle. Once you put it out there, you’re well on your way!

Then, I suggest downloading some kind of habit tracker (like this super cute pup one!!) to help keep yourself motivated. Hang it somewhere you’ll see each day so that you stay focused on your goal.

Finally, start small. I think one way people lose momentum is by setting their sights too high and feeling like a failure too fast. Instead, commit to a 10-minute walk each day or starting the C25k app. Set a timer for 5 minutes of running around your yard. Whatever you choose, start small but stick to it each day!

Walk every day. Jog together. Practice agility. Anything to get you both up and moving!

Do you have any fitness goals for the new year? How can you incorporate your pup? I’d love to hear what you’re planning so I can cheer you on! If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the section below.

If you would like to have a pic of your coolest dog on the planet, fill out the form here and upload a pic with the dog’s name and I will post it in the gallery! I am selecting one random dog per month to send a special prize!

Thanks,

Chad

Gallery Entry
Pics of all the coolest dogs on the planet!
Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

4 thoughts on “I Know You Want to Take A Walk”

  1. Dogs are really great companies and could assist you in everything. One study shows that having a dog around could boost your overall morale. It gets better if you want to work out or cut wait, your dog will always be there to assist you and make the training interesting.

    Reply
    • Kenny,

      I couldn’t agree more! If I am at home my dogs are with me. Heck, a lot of the time they are with me when I am not at home. 

      It is sometimes not realized how much benefit you can get from having a dog. I have an article about that too, you can check it out here

      I recommend their company to almost anyone!

      Thanks for stopping by! 

      Chad

      Reply
  2. Hi, and I love your post. A dog pent up in the house all day can become very unhappy, as some pet owners know. Getting some exercise for them, makes both of you healthier, and helps everyone relax. Sometimes I find it hard to put in all the exercise that I know I should get. I find if I go out with my grandson, and the benefit it gives him. it is a big motivator for me to go outside as well.

    Reply
    • Hello Carolyn, 

      I love to be outdoors! The only thing that makes it better for me is to have my dogs with me! I am fortunate enough to live in a rural area where I have enough space that I can let them run so if I am outdoors so are my dogs.

      we do love to go hiking as a family though, this is a special trip for me and the dogs! I pretty much take them everywhere I can, they love to go for a ride in the truck. As you said, being inside all day just doesn’t allow them to get the exercise they really need!

      It is always good for all of us! I am glad to hear you are involving your grandson too!

      Thanks for stopping by! 

      Chad

      Reply

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