Don't Forget About Fido - He Needs Exercise Too!

DON'T FORGET ABOUT FIDO WHEN YOU EXERCISE! YOUR MUTT NEEDS DAILY EXERCISE JUST LIKE YOU DO SO WHY NOT DO IT TOGETHER!

Get moving with your mutt in your own yard or neighborhood. Are you bored with the daily walks? Do you and your dog need some variety in your exercise routine? Use these simple tips to get a workout with your mutt. You can do this in your backyard, front yard, or local park. At Get Fit With Fido we use some basic equipment and we use the natural terrain in the park to get our workout in. Do all the exercises with your dog on the leash.
• Hills to run or walk up and down with your mutt.
• Benches to step up and down for people. Keep dogs on the leash and have them go up and down on the bench.
• Stairs to run/walk up and down.
• Hurdles made from plumbing pipe from the local hardware store. This is a simple and inexpensive way to make a hurdle and vary the height with several hurdles. Most dogs catch on really quick jumping over hurdles. I have people and pets jump the hurdles.
• Cones can be set up for weaving or sprinting.
• Tossing a ball or Frisbee for both people and dogs to run/walk and get.
• Lunging or squatting while your dog walks along side you.
• Soccer ball to dribble with your dog.

Be creative when setting up your circuit. You can set up a circuit of several exercises and repeat it 4-5 times. You can also jog/walk around the block in between each circuit. Your dog will love the challenges and this variety will make your mutt fit, healthy, and most of all tired! Fit With Fido starts back up in March. Check out the March calendar on my website at http://www.coachcyndee.com/

DON'T FORGET ABOUT FIDO WHEN YOU EXERCISE! YOUR MUTT NEEDS DAILY EXERCISE JUST LIKE YOU DO SO WHY NOT DO IT TOGETHER!

Fridays Fido Fit Tip – Fido is Fat how do I get started?

Me working out with my dogs!

So many people tell me yes my dog is fat. He is too fat to go for a walk, he doesn’t want to walk, and he is lazy. It reminds me of the excuses I hear from people in the gym who don’t want to work out. They are all excuses. If your dog is fat there are many things you can do to begin the process of weight loss. First evaluate how you are feeding your dog. You can make small changes that will help with your dog’s weight loss. Here are a few easy ones:

• Measure out your food. Read the label on the back to see what the recommendation for your dog is. Yes believe it or not there are some standards to go by when feeding your dog. Don’t just estimate it, measure it!
• Feed your dog twice a day by dividing the total amount suggested by two.
• Use a lower calorie food. They are available at most Veterinary offices.
• Don’t give your dog lots of high calorie treats or leftover food. As a treat for my dogs I use vegetables. My dogs love carrots, broccoli, or green beans.
• If your dog eats really fast like mine you can try these dishes available at http://www.brake-fast.com/.

Exercise is an important part of your dog’s weight loss. To start dedicate 20 minutes a day to get Fido moving. It needs to be a priority just like exercise has to be a priority for humans. 20 minutes for very overweight dogs will be a great start. This can be done 3-4 times a week. 20 minutes is not a lot to ask! Each week you can slowly increase the time as your dog becomes more fit. Your dog’s health is important and it’s up to you to manage it!