If one of your New Year resolutions was to lose some weight you gained during Christmas and get fit, your dog companion may help you with that. Also, dog obesity is one of the issues vets have to deal with the most in recent years. What to do for a proper winter exercise?
January is the month full of ambitious resolutions. Most of us wish to get in shape and feel great in the new year if we enjoyed the food at Christmas. It is similar with our dogs as we – let’s be honest – didn’t pay as much attention as they deserve to them during the chaos before Christmans and shopping for presents and they might use some extra exercise as well. :) How to do that so you both enjoy winter exercising and successfully achieve your goal?
Set realistic objectives
There’s nothing worse than to start with too much exercise. Therefore, it is important to set objective you can really achieve. And by that you won’t be tired or stressed out that you couldn’t stick to it. It’s perfect to start with easy walks. Pick various routes and choose another one for every walk so you still enjoy it. It should be at least for 20–30 minutes. And you can add more kilometres every week. Your furry friend will definitely appreciate that. If you feel well enough, you can start with level 2 – running with a dog, i.e. canicross (you can read more about this sport in one of our older articles).
Get yourself and your dog proper equipment
Doing sports with a dog in winter is something different from other seasons. Proper equipment is important in winter more than in any other season as it has to protect you as well as your buddy from cold. If you live in a city where the pavements are treated with salt or you have to walk on an icy road on your walk, you also shouldn’t forget about the protection of your dog’s paws. Therefore, I recommend getting dog shoes you can also use in the mountains both in winter and summer. Suitable clothes is definitely one of the most important things from the equipment. For a four-legged companion, a dog vest that covers the most sensitive parts of its body might be a good choice.. And you also can't make excuses when it’s raining outside and have to train in all kinds of weather. :)
Adjust nutrition to your training
With regular exercising, the need for regular diet comes. You shouldn’t take nutrition lightly in this case. If you increase the burden of your dog, even if it’s only a bit, you also need to adjust its feeding to it. And also in the case you want it to get fit again. There’s nothing worse than letting your dog starve. For example meat cans belong to great nutritional supplements and provide your dog enough energy it uses when walking with you. If you are not sure how to adjust daily food portions when under load, you can talk to your vet or a nutrition specialist, for example. There are also online advisory services which are for free.
Consult specialists or train with them
You can also get advice about training. There are many interest groups. You can get in touch with them not only through social networks. You can join some of their regular meetings these sporty dog owners organize for canicross beginners, for example. It was always the best option for us. It’s better for your motivation to be a part of a group.
And what is your experience with getting rid of the kilograms you gained during Christmas? Is your January also active or would you rather stay on the sofa under your blanket with your dog?
Cuddling and caressing is not everything. Cats also enjoy time spent together playing a game and moreover, this activity leads to strengthening your relationship. Your furry friend will let off some steam and will be definitely grateful that you spent...
Brussels griffons cannot deny their resemblance to Ewoks from Star Wars. And legitimately! This imaginary race was created having these dogs in mind. The director, George Lucas, had a Brussels griffon at home.
You’ll recognize Scottish fold cat at first glance – as the name suggest, its ears are typically fold. It is a laid-back, balanced cat with undemanding nature and which looks cute.
Spring is already coming but if you love mountains as much as I do, there’s still a lot of snow. Therefore, we can remember what you can do with your dog to keep it fit in winter.
The current domestic, bred dogs are no longer the tenacious wolves as they used to be. Even though they are in their best shape, it might not be enough for winter and it is necessary to keep them warm.
What are the newest trends in dog nutrition? And what is the opinion of experts and dog owners themselves? I have made a summary for you about what hot topics have been discussed in pet nutrition recently, both at home and abroad.
Even though animal protection associations try hard, the number of semi-captive animals has been rising in the Czech Republic recently. Cat colonies are to be blamed for that as the cats reproduce there uncontrollably.
Are you planning to get a ferret and don’t know how to take care of this pet? Ferrets love freedom and movement, therefore it needs a lot of space as well as your attention. That’s why I come with 10 tips how to take care of this little beast. :)
If one of your New Year resolutions was to lose some weight you gained during Christmas and get fit, your dog companion may help you with that. Also, dog obesity is one of the issues vets have to deal with the most in recent years. What to do for a...
Dogs trained for the localization of beast excrements in environmental protection projects sometimes identify a wrong species. In 4 to 45 % of cases. A study published in Scientific Reports came up with a possible explanation why this happens. It...
This African feline has an untypical constitution for a cat. Thanks to its long legs it looks more like a dog. Although it is a wild animal, it is often a pet.
While Catnip is a herb with medicinal effect for people, it has different and much stronger effects on cats. Why does this undemanding perennial plant have an intoxicating effect on cats?