As we move into the new year many of us look to start a fitness routine some with dread, some with excitement. Including your dog as a workout buddy can boost motivation while strengthening your bond!
Exercise and daily stretching offer numerous benefits to both humans and pets by promoting weight loss, mental calm, flexibility, circulation, and injury prevention.
Keepin’ The Check on Unwanted Pounds.
Both you and your dog can gain advantages by following a simple guideline known as the 90/10 rule: 90 per cent of calories from a complete and balanced diet, 10 per cent from treats’
Healthy Paws offers complete and balanced meals while providing many nutritious treats options to support overall health and longevity. Avoid giving pets table scraps, especially rich or high-fat foods, to prevent health issues like pancreatitis, weight. gain, and related problems.
We have examined the significance of establishing mental well-being, and nutrition; now we can explore some physical fun!
Whether 30 minutes or a leisure hour-long stroll, regular dog walking, tailored lo your pet’s breed, age, and health, boosts cardiovascular health, reduces behavioral issues, enhances happiness, and strengthens your bond while enhancing their social skills.
Puppies
While curious and full of play remember their joints are still growing so tailor walks ruffly five minutes of exercise per month of age, two times per day.
Adult
Look to your breed. Many adult dogs can handle longer more intense walks 30 – 60 minutes per day, while working breeds can tackle an hour like nothing and be begging for more!
Senior
As our gracious pet nears the eight-year mark, stamina and joint health can start to decline. Scheduling regular, gentle walks will maintain weight and support joint and muscle strength.
Slower walks with sniffing breaks provide dogs mental stimulation, aiding comprehension and reducing behavioural issues. Furthermore, exercise is beneficial for our brains too!
Let’s not forget to bring along a favourite toy to add to the adventure!
Hold the Salt!
Make sure you wash and wipe off your dog’s paws after each walk to avoid any dry, chapping paws occurring. If you notice some discomfort apply some soothers that contain calendula oil, vitamin E, lavender, aloe vera and witch hazel.
Calendula oil, with vitamin E and lavender essential oil, promotes healing, reduces redness, and soothes irritation on dogs’ paws. Aloe vera and witch hazel provide a cooling effect. Products like Healthy Paws Hot Spot Soother are designed to relieve inflammation. For preventative measures apply a paw balm before walks to protect your dog’s paws from ice, salt, and rough terrain.
Another walking bonus! Did you know regular walks also help keep you and your dog regular? Maintaining regular walks improve digestive and urinary health for both your pet and you, by increasing blood flow to our stomach muscles, boosting metabolism and helping food move through the intestines.
So, if your new year is starting a bit sluggish, turn to your four-legged furry friend for some motivation. You’ll find exercise less of a challenge, it’ll become a regular routine when you are enjoying an activity together. With your pal beside you, are you ready to put some paws on the ground to start the new year right? ABSPAWLUTELY!
To spark some additional inspiration and motivate others, share a photo of you and/or your cherished dog having a fun exercise moment, and you could win our Who Puts the ‘Health’ in Healthy Paws Pet Photo Contest.
Go walk it off!