Exercise My Dog » In The News

What you lose when you can’t walk your dogs

Tranndee — Thu, 27 May 2010 21:43:43 +0000

Sometimes you might blow off walking your dog. But do this too much, and your dog suffers–more than you know. You do too whether you realize it or not. Check out this great article by Christie Keith on the Pet Connection Blog about

“What you lose when you can’t walk your dogs”

Dog People Get More Exercise

Tranndee — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:25:02 +0000

Need motivation to keep up your exercise program? No need to hire a personal trainer or pay for a boot camp. You don’t have to look any further than your dog.

A new survey in the British paper, The Daily Mail, found that people who have dogs tend to get more exercise than the average gym member.

According to the survey of 5,000 Britons, dog people walk their pets, on average, twice a day for 24 minutes each walk. (And at least three times a week, the walks are even longer.) Those of us who walk our dogs regularly, know that our dogs need this much exercise to work off energy, relieve themselves or just get a change of scenery.

When you add up the hours, you have dog walkers getting around six to eight hours of exercise per week! On the other hand, those without a dog spend just one hour and 20 minutes a week on average on regular exercising like going to the gym or going out for a jog or stroll.

Not just do dog owners get more exercise, they are more likely to exercise too, and not blow it off. How many times have you thought about staying on the couch and avoiding the weather, but your dog has pressed the issue until you got up and took the walk. Or you feel so bad not to give your friend the opportunity to stretch that you can’t bear to sit on the couch a minure longer.

The study found that 60 percent of dog owner made the time to walk their pooches, while nearly half of gym goers admitted to finding other things to do instead of going to the gym.

So if you do a good job walking your dog regular, pat yourself on the back for the additional benefit of maintaining your weight, improving your heart, etc. If you aren’t walking your dog this much, consider getting out there more. It is so good for the dog AND you.

Selecting the Obama Family’s First Puppy – Pet Adoption Expert Offers Tips

Tranndee — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:00:12 +0000

Unlike the presidency, which lasts for only four years, adopting a dog is for life. Susan Daffron, the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals and the author of “Happy Hound: Develop a Great Relationship with Your Adopted Dog or Puppy” (www.HappyHoundBook.com) has a few tips for how the Obama family can make good choices regarding the new “First Puppy.”

1. Kids need to learn the responsibilities involved in pet ownership. Malia and Sasha should be involved caring for the new puppy with simple tasks such as regular brushing and feeding. The girls need to understand the realities of housebreaking a puppy. (Accidents are inevitable and the puppy will have to go outside innumerable times!) The two most important elements of successful dog ownership are time and patience. Given their complex life, the Obama family will need to work together and talk about how the new dog will fit in with life at the White House.

2. Even if the Obamas opt to adopt a mixed breed, it helps to know the characteristics of the breeds that make up the mutt. Breed information is available from books, Web sites, and animal shelters. The Obamas need to consider the dog’s activity level. For example, a border collie (or mix) needs more exercise than a Bassett hound.

3. Although learning about dog breeds can help, people often assume a breed of dog is destined to behave a certain way. Although genetics come into play, stereotyping breed behavior can result in a bad dog-owner match. Dogs are individuals. Some people like exuberant outgoing dogs, but others prefer dogs with more reserved, relaxed behavior. The Obamas should select a puppy with a compatible personality. Additionally, this puppy will be one of the most photographed animals in the world, so he or she should be extremely well socialized and friendly toward people.

4. The Obamas also must take Malia’s allergies into account. Dogs with short hair, such a greyhounds and whippets, “non-shedding” coats such as poodles, or silky coats like certain terriers are often better for allergy sufferers. These coat characteristics occur in mixes of these breeds as well. Bathing the dog frequently can help reduce the number of allergens.

Daffron says, “Adopting a dog is a big commitment, but so is being President of the United States. I’m confident that with a little understanding and TLC, the Obamas will be able to help their newly adopted shelter puppy feel comfortable and become a cherished part of the family. The Obamas have a great opportunity to be outstanding role models for other people who are considering the pet adoption option.”

For more information about Happy Hound, visit the web site at http://www.HappyHoundBook.com. For information on the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals, visit http://www.naprp.com

Susan Daffron
Logical Expressions, Inc.
Sandpoint, ID
Phone : 208-265-6147