It’s National Dog Training Month!
photo: DaveCrosby
I feel fat. I lost almost 7 pounds this past fall and I feel like I gained twice as much over the holidays I didn’t; but I did gain 5 pounds. I stepped up my work out and I cut back on junk food and I feel great. My goal this time is to get down to a certain number (won’t jinx myself by typing it here) and I know I’ll be there by spring.
30 for 30 Dog Walking Challenge
Rodrigo and Blue are fit as a fiddle. Sydney is still battling with her weight. She just isn’t active like the boys and I’ve decided to start taking her on separate walks. Starting Saturday 1/12/13, I’m going to start a dog walking challenge. Fellow pet blogger, Gizmo Geodog, told me about the 30 for 30 Dog Walking Challenge. We walk our dogs for 30 minutes for 30 days. Just enough time for it to become a habit.
Sydney has trimmed down, but she still has some weight to lose.
We have several reasons excuses for not walking the dogs regularly…
- The days are shorter and it’s getting darker earlier
- Sydney injured her shoulder so we want her to take it easy
- We took them for a walk yesterday
- She’s lost some weight
Dogs Need More Exercise
It’s easy to allow Sydney to sleep the day away, lounging on the sofa next to me while I type away, but it’s not good for her. We both work so we’re not able to get her out several times a day (like on the weekends), but we’re going to do our best to make time for more exercise for our canine couch potato.
When I first saw the below graphic provided by The Dog Walking Company, I wanted to deny that Sydney fell into the 53%, but she does. She’s not obese, but she is overweight.
So we’ll be taking her for at least 1 walk of 30 minutes each day during the week and 2 walks on Saturday and Sunday. Rodrigo and Blue can handle 4 or more walks, but we’ll start Sydney off slowly and work our way up.
Now it’s your turn! How do you make the time to walk your dogs, especially during the shorter, winter days?
January 24, 2013 at 8:59 am
Dexter and I have a whole series of indoor activities we do. I have written about this several times, but we take shorter sprints and then play indoor games. We do the Nina Ottosson games, hide and seek, trick training fun in the house, and more. Great post.
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Carol Bryant recently published..The Cake Boss Has Gone to the Dogs
January 25, 2013 at 7:49 am
Thanks for sharing, Carol
I’ll have to pop by your site to get some indoor game ideas!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 24, 2013 at 10:48 am
That’s easy: my dog is insane. If I don’t walk her at least twice a day, for preferably an hour each time, she will eat our house. It’s that simple for us. Walk her or replace the drywall.
But even then it’s hard, especially when it is so stinking cold as it has been this week. Our walks have been much shorter than I’d like lately just because even the puppy has been looking chilled after only a little while. Tugging has been an important outlet for her crazies, as has trick training. I can’t wait for the weather to improve so we can head back to the dog park!
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Kristine recently published..Less Wordy Wednesday – By the Sea #DDGPhoto
Twitter: shivathedog
January 25, 2013 at 7:50 am
LOL, Kristine! I can’t wait for the weather to improve and the days to get longer. We’ll all be happier!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 24, 2013 at 11:30 am
Thanks for the shoutout! The challenge has been so good for us that now I’ve got Gizmo registered for this year’s Idita-Walk…if you want some continuing motivation check it out here http://www.idita-walk.com/idw/Index.asp
And once you’ve got everyone looking fit and trim you need to join the year-long Show Off Your Dog’s Waistline Campaign over on the Dawg Business blog http://dawgbusiness.blogspot.com/p/show-off-your-dogs.html It’s a great way to brag
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Gizmo ( recently published..GEOCACHING FOR BEGINNERS
Twitter: GizmoGeodog
January 25, 2013 at 7:50 am
My pleasure! Thanks for the great idea!!!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 25, 2013 at 2:25 am
We don’t. We sit and dream of spring. My dogs aren’t too fond of 4 degree temps either(or 30 degree for that matter), but luckily they are smaller and a little bit older so we can manage getting some exercise in the house until the thermometer starts going up.
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dawn recently published..You Know You’re a Pet Parent When…#10
Twitter: nepapets
January 25, 2013 at 7:51 am
I’m there with you. I want spring!!!!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 25, 2013 at 7:26 am
My dogs, Jet and Ruby, do a 4 mile run with me when the temperature is above 15 degrees. We live in Maine, so that’s not always in the program. We head down a dirt road off leash and they absolutely live for it five days a week. On our “off” days, I have to protect myself from their pleading excitement at the notion we might be heading out the door.
Eight year old, Ruby, has dysplaysia issues in her elbows and hips. Running and a regiman of Dasuquin, fish oil, and Rimadyl help with her discomfort and keep her weight down and muscles toned. She moves at her own pace and has been known to stop at a certain point and wait for my end of the road turn around. I trust in her judgement of what she can and can’t do and watch carefully for signs of strain and changes in her gait.
We all need the endorphins flowing to get us through these short daylight months. Walking doesn’t seem to do it!
Twitter: silverpawtags
January 25, 2013 at 7:53 am
Wow! That is awesome, Karen. I love that Ruby knows when she’s had enough. Sydney will slow down and take breaks too.
Twitter: thefurmom
January 25, 2013 at 7:40 am
I love to walk anyway, so getting out with the dogs is pretty easy. Torrey lives for walks.
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Roxy the traveling dog recently published..Our Blogaversary, a little late
January 25, 2013 at 7:53 am
I love it too. It’s such a nice part of my day as a dog parent.
Twitter: thefurmom
January 25, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Since it’s been so cold where I live, Leroy and I have changed up our walking route a little. We don’t walk as long but we walk in more of a difficult terrain, up hills, over streams and we change things up so he exercises his brain and his body more!
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Jen recently published..I Promise To Walk You In Blizzards And Below Freezing Temperatures, Or Do I?
January 26, 2013 at 4:23 pm
That’s a great idea, Jen. I’ll have to do that with our dogs!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 26, 2013 at 8:04 pm
I love walking my 2 rotties every day. Since 2 large dogs are a handful and I didn’t want to be carrying a flashlight plus a leash on each hand, I decided to get myself a headlamp (a pretty powerful one) and I got Puplights for the dogs. Its like a headlamp but on their collars, its extremely convenient. Got myself a pretty decent jacket & a bluetooth headset to listen to music & take calls hands free. This setup has been working for me really well & I’ve been able to consistently walk them 30 mins every day for a year & a half (except on extreme weather conditions).
January 27, 2013 at 9:47 am
Thanks for sharing! I’m looking for a headlamp, because I’m in the same position – which brand do you use? Thanks!
Twitter: thefurmom
January 27, 2013 at 1:50 pm
I got myself the Princeton Tec Corona 8 LED Headlamp and I got the dogs Puplights both at Amazon. It is so convenient having hands-free flash lights!
January 28, 2013 at 7:03 am
Great thanks!!! Amazon here I come
Twitter: thefurmom