Let's Get Ready To Run!

Here we are headed out for our run....lol

I am currently working with an animal behaviorist with my dog Daisy.  As you know I have a passion about keeping pets at a healthy weight and active.  I run and walk with Daisy on a regular basis but I have trouble with her lunging at objects such as well almost everything!  She doesn't seem to like people when they say hello, bikes, skateboards, runners, motorcycles, kids and the list goes on.  One thing that has worked is feeding her lots of treats to distract her form these objects as they come up.  So how do I keep her at a healthy weight while feeding her so much?  Well its simple when its her meal time I feed her much less food.  This is very important to keep her at her healthy weight.  She is highly motivated with yummy treats such as hotdogs and peanut butter.  When I run with her I need to keep running when I see things that she lunges at.  Its tough to keep running while trying to feed her and distract her with food.  I have found using a hotdog works great because I can hold it and only give her a little at a time but still keep her attention.  It has worked great and hopefully we get to a point where she is distracted enough by just me talking to her and I don't need to use treats as a reward.  

The bottom line is when you are training your dog and you have to use treats as a reward then you really need to limit the real food you feed them.  Keep an eye on your dogs weight and if they look like they are gaining weight then make adjustments as needed.  Read the label on your dog food to make sure you are feeding them the appropriate amount of food to begin with.  It's a balancing act and you need to find the right balance for you and your mutt.  Keeping your dog at a healthy weight will keep him healthy and fit for a long time!

If you are looking for a great animal behaviorist I work with Crista Coppola and her website is www.dogandco.com.  

Keeping Fido Fit - It Just Might Keep You Fit Too!

King is available for adoption at the NSPCA
and he is a great runner!

I have always enjoyed staying fit and keeping my three mutts fit.  We do this by exercising every day and not over eating.  Its simple math for both animals and humans.  If you take in more than you burn off you will become overweight.

With people and pets weight gain can creep up and before you know it you or your dog can be obese!  Make sure you read the labels on your dogs food to make sure you are feeding them the appropriate amount of food each day.  Treats quickly add up the calories just like with humans who nibble on things throughout the day.  A pigs ear can add up to 600 calories depending on the size.  Find other ways to keep your mutt happy.  A simple game of tug-o-war can be fun for them.  Dogs get pleasure from licking and you can put chicken broth (low sodium) in a kong and freeze it.  Licking will keep them busy for quite some time.

Dogs can bring you so much joy but if they are overweight their lifespan may be shortened.  There life is so much shorter than ours don't shorten it even more by over feeding them.  Keep them healthy and happy.  A bonus of keeping your mutt fit is that you just might be burning more calories too!

I recently started running shelter dogs at the Nevada SPCA.  People always say to me that I am such a good person because I do this.  Little do they know that I am the one getting the most out of it.  Seeing those dogs excited to go for a run and hanging with them for a few hours brings me so much happiness. Its even better when they eventually find a home and I have to find a new shelter dog to run! I have so much fun I have actually doubled my running distance each week and I don't even feel like I am exercising that much more.  When I go to the shelter I always run more than I plan.  I have lost a few pounds in the process.  To say that I am a good person to go to the shelter is great but little does everyone know its the dogs that bring me joy each time I go run with them.

I thought this was pretty cute!

If you live in Las Vegas and want to run with me at the shelter you can.  Contact me for details.

www.coachcyndee.com
trainwithcyndee@yahoo.com
702-373-8269

Running With The Dogs - A Great Way To Get In Some Miles!

Wrigley is guaranteed to make you a better runner if you
adopt him.  He is very sweet but also very strong!  

Today I followed my passion.  I went for a 9 mile run but this run was different than any other run I have ever done.  I got so much satisfaction and joy from my run today.  I planned on running with shelter dogs today.  As I was getting ready to leave, I went through my typical pre-run routine.  I got my camelback ready.  I put on a winter headband because it was a little chilly. I got my sunglasses, Garmin, IPod,  garbage bags for dog poop, and leashes.  As I was doing this my dogs were sure it was time for them to run.  They were excited jumping up and down.  I felt a pang of guilt as I walked out the door but I knew what I was doing was a good thing.  I figured I would walk them later in the day.  I went to the Nevada SPCA a local no kill animal shelter.  I decided to run 3 different dogs 3 miles each.  I wanted to select dogs that had high energy and needed to get out and run.  My first choice was King.  He is a cattle dog mix.  King is a super sweet guy with lots of energy. I can't imagine why somebody would give him up but then again I can't imagine why anyone would give up their dog.  In my opinion its for better or worse with a pet.  You keep them through the good and bad.  We ran 3 miles and he was awesome to run with.  We kept about a 9 min.  pace.  I went back and decided to run Moon for my second dog.  She is a bully mix about one year old.  She is another sweet dog with lots of energy.  She is really skinny and I am sure being in the shelter is a little stressful for her or any dog for that matter.  Moon got me through the next 3 miles which made 6 total for me.  My next choice was Wrigley.  He is a Chow/Shepard mix.  He is so lovable and beautiful.  He is also a very strong dog.  I walked him once before so I was a little apprehensive taking him for a run because he was so strong.  I choose to put a harness on him because of his strength.  Once we started running he was great.  He was the fastest of all of the dogs I ran today.  We kept a 7:30 pace for most of the 3 miles.  He could have easily kept going.   Today my 9 mile run was one of the best runs ever.   Not only did I get exercise I was able to give a little joy to some dogs that deserve a good home.  I know all three of the dogs I ran today will find a good home.  I just hope whoever does adopt them likes to run and will take them along:)  

When I cam home my dogs had to inspect me because I smell like other dogs. Its like I am cheating on them.  They must have been mad that I left to run (with leashes and all) without them.  I came home to find my protein shake empty and remnants of it on the dog bed.  I will take part of the blame for leaving it on the counter. I am not sure who did it but I have my suspicions.  Well my dogs may not have got to run today but we did go for a 2 mile walk.  And one of them got about 15 grams of protein)  

Become a lean mean machine with the help of fido!

Daisy and I after a run and Spec in the back....he just had
to get in the photo!

54% of dogs and cats are overweight or obese.  If your Vet has told you that your dog needs to lose a few pounds then there are simple steps to take to start the process.  Excess weight for your pet can lead to many other health concerns. Talk to your Vet about the type of food you are feeding your dog and how much you are feeding him/her.  As a rule of thumb you should follow the recommendation on the bag of dog food (this is if your dog is normal weight).  The total daily food required for your dog should be spread into two feedings each day.  In addition to monitoring the food intake you must include exercise.  Begin slow and increase it slowly each week.  Starting with a 20-30 minute walk 3-4 times a week is a great start.  Increase about 10% each week.  If you would like to run with your dog start with a run/walk.  Run or jog for 1 minute and walk for 4 minutes.  Limit human food and treats.  If you do give your dog treats use low calorie options such as carrots.  You could also freeze low calorie foods with liquid in a kong.  I put cottage cheese, cut up carrots bits, chicken broth, and seal it with peanut butter.  Then I freeze them.  This is a great low calorie treat that takes them up to an hour to enjoy!  Pets are not much different than humans when it comes to weightless.  Diet and exercise will get you the best results!  You and your pet can become lean, mean machines.  

Follow your Pupssion

Over the past years I have always mentioned how I wanted to start a run group from the NSPCA.  I kept talking about it and thinking about how great it would be.  I recently had some time to begin the process of putting this dream into reality. Little did I know how it would impact me on a personal level. I have not even yet started my run group but I have started volunteering at the Nevada SPCA to walk dogs.  I figured I would become familiar with the shelter and dogs before beginning the run group.  I can't believe I put this off for so long!  It is amazing how much I look forward to going to the shelter and am disappointed when I don't have time to go there.  I enjoy walking the dogs so much I wish I would have done it a long time ago.  Many times I go walk dogs and go into the shelter looking for a dog I previously walked only to find they are gone.  This is bittersweet because although I want to see them I am so happy they are adopted.  I already have so many great images of spending time with these special creatures in my head.  I initially was so sad to leave the shelter and now I am so excited to get there and can't wait to come back. I had NO idea that a simple idea for a run group would bring me so much joy AND I haven't even started running with any of the dogs.  Today I walked a energetic lab mix named Terry, two older beagles named Betsy and Buddy, and an energetic so ugly he's cute patches. I got one step closer to a terrified Guadalupe.  He was found in a car and is frightened by everyone but today he licked my finger!  He took food from my hand.  Each day I see him he comes out of his shell a little more.  I went to the shelter today looking for Bellagio and Pupcake.  Pupcake is a  3 legged puppy I spent time with the other day.  Both were gone and adopted!   These dogs are in a situation that is not their fault. I feel more compassion for these amazing animals then I do for any human.  A human is in a bad situation in most cases because they have made bad decisions.  These dogs have been put in this situation because humans once again made bad decisions. If I can give them 20 minutes of pleasure and love I will and I get as much out of it as they do. Its a two way street. If you ever have considered volunteering at a shelter then don't put it off.  If you have not done it because you think you will want to take all of them home then change your mindset!  You need to go their knowing your time is best spent loving them for that short time.  You can't save them all but you can give them some love for the time you are there.  If you want to do something and keep talking about it, quit talking and do it!  

Combining Two Passions For A Great Cause!

I have a passion for health, fitness and dogs!  I try to keep myself fit as well as my 3 dogs.  I always exercise them by either running, swimming, walking or fun games.  I sometimes try and kill two birds with one stone by getting my run in while taking my dogs.  I decided to create a run/walk group that left from an animal shelter so we could multi-task.  I figured we could get our exercise and do a good deed for a shelter  dog at the same time.  The Nevada SPCA in Las Vegas has over 300 dogs on any day.  They have many high energy dogs that could benefit from a good run or brisk walk.  I live close to the NSPCA and run on a new running trail close by so I thought why not take the pups to the trail to go for a run?  Today I went to orientation and I am so excited to get this thing going!  

We need runners so here is what you need to do it you want to help:

• Go to the NSPCA volunteer orientation on any Saturday at 8am it is about 90 minutes and is mandatory if you want to be in the group.
• Make sure when you go to orientation you have had your tetanus vaccine and bring verification of it.
• Contact me at trainwithcyndee@yahoo.com so I can add you to the group email.  

It is important to understand you are there to bring a bright spot into a dogs day.  You are there to give a little joy to a dog who is in a temporary situation.  You can't save or help every dog.  You can't take every dog.  You will be the highlight of one dogs day!  It will make your exercise so much more enjoyable and rewarding.  I am hoping to do this at various times and days.  I plan to begin this program in November.  It is important to go through the orientation now and volunteer a few times before we begin the program.  It will be good to get familiar with the policies and procedures at the shelter.  

Please share this with anyone you think may be interested in joining the group.  I hope to see you out there!

To see more about the NSPCA you can go to their website at www.nevadaspca.org.  

Keeping Fido Happy and Fit - It's easy just do it!

Daisy on our walk

It is the highlight of their day!  When I walk my dogs or go running with them they get so excited.  I try and walk or run with them everyday.  Rarely do I miss a day.  I wish everyone had the same passion about walking their dogs.  Imagine if you were a dog and never got to leave your house.  You miss out on all those new smells that are outside of your yard.  Dogs love to sniff and smell everything out there in the world.  Keeping them confined to your yard (even if it is a big yard) is not the same.  I see so many dogs in my neighborhood that NEVER get outside of their yard.  I feel bad for them as I walk by with my pack of dogs.  Not only do your dogs get exercise on a walk but you will gain benefits from walking too.  Many people say they are too busy to do this.  That is a BIG excuse.  I am very busy however I force myself to take them out and once I see them enjoying the walk it is well worth it.  Don’t talk yourself out of it just do it.    Make it become a daily routine. Some days I have to be to work at 5am so walking my dogs requires me to get up at 3:15.  Yes its hard but I do it because I love my dogs. I love seeing them full of excitement to go for the walk.  It only has to be 20-30 minutes out of your day.  Just do it! 

My Pack of Pups