Search Results for: blog fitness tips let the dog wag you

Survey Says: Dog Walking Better Exercise than the Gym!

One of my pet-centric newsletters arrived today, with the news that people who walk their dogs regularly end up working out more per week than people who own a gym membership. Five thousand folks in the United Kingdom (three thousand of them pet owners) responded to a survey sponsored by U.K. manufacturer Bob Martin Petcare. More than half of the survey participants said that dog walking was their main form of exercise — that makes sense, since more than half of the survey participants are dog owners! The average dog owner in the survey walked their dogs twice per day … Continue reading →

Getting Fit With Your Four-Legged Friend

If you have a crazy work schedule, travel a lot or enjoy experimenting with unstructured fitness plans, then it might be challenging to find a consistent workout partner. Enter man’s best friend. Fido and Fifi often make ideal four-legged fitness companions. Exercising with a dog is the perfect solution for individuals, who long for company while they burn calories, but can’t seem to mesh schedules with a two-legged pal. That said there are some general tips you should consider before making your little wagster your main workout buddy: Agility activities: According to experts, medium dogs, especially herding breeds, are good … Continue reading →

Murphy’s Newest Job: The Waker Upper

When Murphy picked his part in the personal pet therapy project, he did so without complaint –but with much sacrifice. Among other things, gone were his leisurely walks multiple times a day. He’s making up for lost time now. These days Murph wakes up early and with tons of enthusiasm. There’s work to be done, and he needs my help to do it. Company on My Morning Walk I like to start my day with a nice walk. But when I started caring for my mom I rarely got to walk. And therefor neither did Murph. Not the long walks … Continue reading →

Bad Situations: Loose Dogs vs. Leashed Dogs

Back in April, mcmama, otherwise known as Janet McMonagle the Community Manager, posted the thread “Leashed dog attacked by loose dog” over in the Pets Forum. The dogs involved were a terrier mix (the leashed one) and a German Shepherd (the loose one). Janet wasn’t sure if the Shepherd was going after the dog or his owner, but the little dog didn’t fare too well. His neck got all torn up and he had to be rushed to the vet and get stitches. Thankfully he lived. Having been in similar situations with both Budly and Murphy a time or two … Continue reading →

An Interview with Beth Terrell about Her Dancing Puppy, Luca

People who are active with their pets intrigue me. And when I say active, I mean doing things like doing agility training or enrolling in therapy dog programs. Back in February, I participated on a panel with some fellow Middle Tennessee Sister in Crime authors, one of whom was Beth Terrell. We got to talking about things outside of writing, and she told me about how much fun she’d been having with her little puppy that she got about a year ago. Specifically, she was raving about the puppy dancing classes they’d been taking. I thought that’d make a fun … Continue reading →

Walking Encounters

I was out walking with my dogs Moose and Lally the other day. Occasionally, we encounter our neighbors’ dogs — the guys upstairs have a young pitbull mix and my next door neighbors have a Jack Russell terrier mix. I know it’s safe to let my dogs interact with these dogs because they’ve met before. Everyone has been well behaved each time. On this particular occasion, we were across the street from a lady walking a Saint Bernard. At first, I thought they would pass quietly… no such luck! First Moose, then Lally started barking at the strange dog. Then … Continue reading →

Prevening Worms in Pets

Worms can be dangerous to pets and to people. Here are some things you can do to protect your pets and your family. Remove feces from the litter box and/or the yard regularly. Dog poop should be cleaned out of the yard at least once every week. Follow instructions on your cat litter for litter box cleaning, but it’s best not to let feces sit for too long. (At the cats only boarding facility, we change the litter box twice every day for each cat, but we’re pretty fanatical about cleaning!) Keep a close eye on your child’s sandbox — … Continue reading →

Six Reasons Why You’ll Never Regret Adopting a Dog

Photo by Bethan Hazell I happen to love my pound hound with my entire heart and soul. I know others, such as Aimee who rescued her Lally and Moose from shelters, also feel the same. Since October is Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, I thought I’d honor it by listing some reasons why adopting a dog will be the best decision you ever make. Reason #1: You’re Saving a Life Some shelters are no-kill, meaning the animals will stay there until the right home is found for them. But most shelters only have limited resources –space, food, and money. That forces them … Continue reading →

Sites You Might Not Normally Think to Visit for Pet Info: The Weather Channel

When I was gathering sites together for places that let you post pet photos, one I stumbled across was not one that would have first come to mind: The Weather Channel/Weather.com. Under their Around the Home tab they have a Pets section. What a neat resource! In addition to sharing your cute pet pics, you can find a lot of helpful info. Starting with the main feature, their Personal Pet Cast. You select what kind of pet you have (dog or cat), their size, hair length, and age, then you type in your zip code, your pet’s name, and hit … Continue reading →

Fitness Review: Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds: Power Mile

Good morning and Happy Monday and welcome to our first Fitness Review of a DVD workout available for rental through Netflix or purchase at Amazon. I decided to look at Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away the Pounds: Power Mile for my first DVD review. Walking happens to be one of my favorite activities and I enjoy anything that gets me out and moving on my feet whether it’s walking the dog, walking the kids to school or walking on the treadmill while I watch my soaps. The Power Mile workout is described as one that will help you walk your way … Continue reading →