PetAgree
Think Spring!
Spring is coming! It may not feel like that here in Michigan, but I promise you, it will be here before we know it. If you are like me, and many other Americans, I tend to put on a few pounds every winter. Unfortunately, this also extends to my pets as well. So I wanted to focus on the variety of ways we can exercise our dogs and cats. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, especially for getting those felines moving. Who knows, maybe getting your furry friends moving might even help you spring into weight loss too!
Let's start with our feline friends first, since they are a little more finicky about exercising. Exercising your cat is NOT like exercising your dog, let's just get that straight right now. Very few cats like to be leashed and walked, although I have met a few. Instead, try to get them to burn energy in smaller increments more frequently instead of one long workout session. Laser pointers, feather toys and catnip toys are definitely some favorites for many cats. Brushing your cat is also a great way to get your cat moving. Many cats will rub and roll along the floor while being brushed and although this doesn't seem like a major calorie burner, you are still getting them to move which will help boost their metabolism. Also during feeding time try tossing 5-10 kibbles away from the food dish to have them chase it. My cat loves the game where I stand at the top of my stairs with his kibble in my hand. I then toss one a few steps down, where he runs to get it. Then he can come to the top of the stairs to receive another kibble, next I toss one a few steps further down and then he comes back up again and so on and so on. Not only is he moving but we are playing too! There are also some wonderful toys where you place some of the cat food in it and the cat has to paw at the toy in order to get the food to come out. I use the Busy Buddy Twist and Treat toy for this purpose and actually purchased the small dog one and found that it worked great, although I do think they now sell specific cat Busy Buddy toys too.
On to dogs, well we all know that walking our dogs daily is wonderful for them and it is also great for us too. If arranging that into your lifestyle is difficult try asking a responsible neighbor boy/girl to help you out a few times a week. There are also wonderful dog walking businesses whose purpose is to exercise your dog. Check them out in your area and meet with them to see what they are about. I know many people who use this service and LOVE it. As the saying goes, "A Tired Dog is a Good Dog!" Also check out rehabilitation centers for pets in your area. Many of these facilities have underwater treadmills and if your dog enjoys swimming you can purchase swimming packages and drop them off while you are at work and they get to swim during the day. There are also daycare facilities for dogs who enjoy playing with other dogs. It takes some investigative work but check out the dog friendly places in your area, dog parks are popping up everywhere too and these are all fabulous ways to get your dog moving. Of course, be sure your dog is up to date on vaccines and is friendly with other dogs before jumping into these types of programs. We want everyone to be protected and have a good time. Don't forget about those "traditional" ways of playing/exercising your dog. Frisbee, tossing the tennis ball in the back yard and taking your dog for a jog are all wonderful too. My dog loves "hide and seek." I put my dog in a sit and stay and I hide low calorie treats all throughout the house and then release her to "find" the treats. She LOVES this game! It helps with boredom and also gets her off the couch:) My final advice for getting your canine friend moving is to avoid only playing on the weekends. Try your best at working exercise into their daily schedule otherwise you risk more injuries to your dog by over doing it only a few days a week.
Well, there you have it! I hope you try a few of these tricks and hopefully it will help melt away a few of those unwanted winter pounds. Be creative and get moving, everyone benefits!
