Staying Fit With Fido During The Summer Months

It is always a challenge to find unique ways to exercise your mutt in the hot summer months.  Living in Las Vegas it is challenging especially if you are like me and have to be at work at 5am.  Many mornings at 3:30am you will find me walking my pack of mutts.  If you are not quite that ambitious then there are other options for you.

If you have a dog that enjoys the water then you can always take them to frolic in the water.  Sometimes I take my dogs to the lake and let them go swimming a play fetch.  A few years back in Las Vegas we had a dock dogs facility that was so much fun.   Unfortunately we don't have it anymore but where you live they may have a dock dogs pool.  The dogs that love water will have a blast and it was a minimal fee to let them have access to the pool for about 30 minutes.  Some community pools open for one or two days a year for dogs.  Most times it is near the end of the summer when they do this.  Check your local community calendar for these type of events.  Some newer dogs parks have dog splash pads that may be fun for dogs who enjoy water.  

Group or private agility classes are great ways for your dog to get exercise.   Here in Las Vegas Smarty Paws has group or private agility sessions which are indoors.  This is great mental and physical exercise for your mutt and its out of the heat.

Demaraco does agility at Smarty Paws he's
 available for adoption at the Nevada SPCA

Doggy Day Care is another way for your mutt to get some exercise.  While you are at work they can play and have fun with other mutts and when you pick them up they will most likely be sleeping the entire way home.

You can hit the mountains to beat the heat.  If you live in Las Vegas then Mount Charleston is much cooler and a short drive from Las Vegas.  Its a great way to get out of the heat for the day and exercise with your dog!  Its beautiful and much cooler and only about an hour away.  Just be careful to not over do it on the trails with your mutt. If they are not used to being on trails their paws may be a bit sensitive at first so take it slow.  Bring plenty of water for both you and your mutt.  

Playing games in the house with Fido can be fun and tiring for both you and your dog.  Tug-o-war is just one game that is fun for some dogs and it will wear them out.  Hide and seek can also be fun for your mutt, you hide and they come find you…..some dogs are much better at this than others.  Hide the treat is another fun game to play with your mutt.  You can hide several small treats in a room and get your dog to find it.  

You have to be creative but even in the hot weather you can find ways to keep Fido fit and healthy.  Remember even a few extra pounds on your mutt is not healthy for their joints.   A dogs life is too short as it is and extra weight on a dog will shorten their life even more.  Get out and get fit with your mutt!  

GET FIT WITH FIDO!

Meet The Best Running Partner You Will Find

Queenie

Each week on the Get Fit With Fido’s blog I will be featuring a dog available for adoption at the Nevada SPCA.  The dogs I am going to feature are dogs that will no doubt keep you fit.   There are so many ways to get active with your mutt.  It could involve walking, running, hiking, agility, and even swimming.  This week I am featuring a very athletic dog named Queenie.  She is mostly a Catahoula Leopard mix and think she may be full Catahoula but unless you get a DNA test you never know for sure.  I was curious about this breed because she is such a unique, athletic, strong dog.  This breed is a very athletic dog that is very strong willed. Like most dogs with high intelligence, she needs to be kept busy and needs an outlet for her energy.  If these dogs don’t have a very good leader then they will likely get into trouble and walk all over their owners.  Queenie would do best with a strong leader and she would be a great running partner.  She is 6 years old however you would think she was much younger.  She is very strong when I run with her at the shelter I use a waist leash, which works best for her since she is so strong.  The most I have run with her is 3 miles but I have no doubt she could run much farther.  She is a medium to large size dog and very muscular.  She was built perfectly for running with a very lean body.  I believe with some training she would be great running off leash on trails too.  I would only do this if she has been properly trained off leash.  She is very smart so I am sure she would pick this up in no time. 

I believe Queenie came from a family with kids and she is very social and friendly.  Her profile at the shelter says she is good with other dogs however she does react to them on the leash and through the fence.  You have to have good control with her when you are around other dogs with her on the leash.  I don’t believe she would be good around cats.  She needs a yard that is very secure because her previous owners said she could easily jump a fence.  She keeps her kennel very neat and does not chew up her bed or blankets in her kennel. 

I have no doubt that Queenie will make someone very happy.  She loves to run, loves treats, loves to play fetch, loves car rides and wants a forever home!