For Any Woman © - No 1 July/August, 2013 | Page 4

How canyourpet helpyoutostay fitandhealthy ?

EXERCISEtogetherFOR YOURSELFandyourDOG .

Ifyouownadogandyouwanttobefitbutyoudon`tliketoexerciseonadaily basis , don`tliketogotoagym orrunaroundthelocalpark , thenwehavefounda greatsolutionforyou .
Don ’ taskyourhusband , partner , childrenorparentsorevenpaysomeonetowalk yourdogatalocalpark , instead , youshoulddoityourself . Getyourpetrunningat yoursidesobothofyoucanbehealthyandfit .
Thosedaysnotonlyaretheremanypeoplewhoneedtoloseweight , butalsothere aremanypetsthatareoverweight . Thatmakesthistheperfectanswerforbothof youtostayfitandhealthy .
Whatkindofdogdoyouhave ?
Notaldogswilbeabletodothesamedistanceorrunasfast , soyouhaveto considerhow fastyourdogcanwalkorrun . IfyouhavealitleChihuahuaoreven Canineswithshortlegsorstockyframes , thendon ’ texpectthem tokeepupwith yourmileage . Itwilnotbeabletodothesamerunningdistanceasthelong-legged dogslikeLabsandDalmatians , etc . cando .
Planyourregime
Sotomakesureyouchoosetherighttypeofexerciseforyourselfyouhavetounderstandthatifyouownalitlestockydog , thenyouwoulddobeter goingforafastlongdistancewalk , butifyouownalong-leggeddog , thenyoucanplanyourselfa moreactiverunningregime .
How oftendoyouhaveto exercise ?
Dogsneedtogoforawalkorarundaily . Ifyouare asingledogownerthenthatisexactlywhatyou candoeveryday . Ifyouhaveafamilyandyou are verybusyatworkand with othercommitments , thenyoucanplanit3or4timesaweek . Thenthemoreyouwildo , thebeteryouwilfeel andyouwilgetfitfaster . Buteachsituationisindividualandsoyouhavetofigureoutwhatregime wouldbethebestforyoutoburnyourcaloriesina niceandrelaxingway .
How tostartplanningyour runs ?
Ifthedoghasn ’ tdoneitbeforethenyouhaveto startslowly . Firsttakeitforshortregularwalksor runs . Itdependsonwhatkindofdogyouown , so youcandecide the regime foryourpet . Don ’ t makethedogwalkorrunlongandfastdistances forthefirsttime . Adogisthesameasapersonin thatifithasn ’ tdone itbefore , itwilbe very tiring , sotakingitslowlyisbeterforyourpet .
Whattothinkaboutbefore yougoforafirstactivities
Thefirstruleistorememberaboutyourownand yourdog ’ ssafety . To keep youbothsafe while exercising , considerthesetipsfrom RunthePlanet :
Every runnershould take a few momentsand considertheirsafety while running . Running is generalya safeactivity , buttherearestilperils worth considering and preparing for . For example , running atnight , while often pleasant due to lower temperatures and decreased trafic , brings with it the added danger of decreased visibility . The weathercan also pose runningsafetyrisks ; runninginextremelyhotorcold weather , for example , requires special precautions , tosaynothingofrunningininclement weather .
7Rulesandtipsfrom RunthePlanet :
1 . Startyounger , middle-aged and overweight dogsonamoderateprogram ofwalking10to15 minutesonceortwiceaday .
2 . Becarefulandwatchfortrafic . Ifyouareonastreet , havethedogbyyourleftsideandmoveagainstthetrafic .
3 . Keepinmindthetypeofsurfaceyouarejoggingon . In thesummer , asphaltandconcretebecomeveryhot , while grasanddirtstayrelativelycool . Toensure herlongevity , besuretokeepyourdogsafefrom theheat . Also , harder surfacessuchasconcrete could cause damage to the padsofadog ' sfeetifyoudoalotofheavyrunning , so grasmightbebeterforjogging . Inaddition , ifyouenjoy runninginthesnow andcold , considerthatFido ' spadsare directlyexposed to the frigid terain . You mayneed to investinsomedogbootiestopreventfrostbite .
4 . Avoid jogging ifyourdog hasanypre-existing health problems , such asa heartmurmurorheartworms . Also , somedogscanoverdoit , particularlyolderdogs , sotake noticeifyourpoochappearstobegetingtired .
5 . During hotsummerdays , takewateralong , orjog by placeswheredrinkablewaterisavailable .
6 . Gooutearlyinthemorningorlateeveningwhenitis cooler , ratherthanintheafternoonheatofthesun . Dogs donotgetridofheataswelashumansdo . Theyprimarily eliminate heatthrough panting , and they sweatonly throughthepadsoftheirfeet , sotheycangetoverheated veryeasily .
7 . Takesafetyprecautionsifyouplantojogatnight . Wear clothingthatcanbenoticedinthedark , andatachiluminatedstripstoyourdog ' scolar .
FormoredetailsonexercisingwithyourdogvisittheAssociationofPetDogTrainers ( UK )
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Photographer: Joel Oged