We’ve all heard the saying: you never ask a lady her age! Well, try asking a lady how much she weighs, and she’ll quickly let you know she is 39 years old. Ask a dog their age and they might wag a little paw in your face, but ask a doggo how much they weigh and they’ll definitely growl something foul beneath their breath at you. But we understand it – our scale also broke over the holidays and now it just keeps adding numbers to our weight.

 

Signs that your scale is telling the truth about your weight

There are many signs that you and your pooch, like most of SA, might need more exercise right now:

  • You (but mostly your dog) are always restless,
  • You are constantly barking at each other,
  • And the most annoying and obvious sign: your clothes have shrunk.

How you & your pet can lose the excess baggage

Weight loss generally comes down to 2 basic principles – for pets and people alike – a more balanced diet (bring on the booze-ban) and more exercise (and the crowd stops cheering). But the problem with counting calories and ticking off sets at the gym is that it isn’t at all fun. A combined spreadsheet capturing your dog’s weight alongside yours every month is a great way to measure progress, but again – it’s boring! And so is practicing portion control (double yawn for that).

 So, let’s make this more exciting for everyone

  •  Play more

Most dogs love playing fetch, which is a great way to get them to run and you to move. The challenge is teaching your dog to bring the stick, ball, or toy back to you, but other than that, it’s all easy fun. Tug-of-war is another great game that will help exercise your dog and keep you active as well. This simple game can help you enjoy the same benefits as hitting the gym!  Moral of the story: find a game you and your dog both enjoy and keep at it!

 

  • Go for a swim

If it doesn’t take much to convince your dog to follow you into the pool, then going for a swim one of the best ways you and your doggo can get into better shape. But, if you are unsure about pool pet dangers you can read up more on it here.

 

  • Running or cycling

If you’re not much of a walker, you can also exercise with your dog by going for a run or cycle. This is also great to help dogs get used to different paces, which is excellent for their (and your) cardiovascular health.

 

  • Dog walkathons

Getting out and around the block for your routine walk with your dog is one way to keep fit, but after a while it could become boring. A great way to make it fun for both you and your dog is to try and find pet-friendly hiking trails or doggy walkathons near you.

 

  • Don’t let bad weather ruin your good intention

Instead, look for extra playtime opportunities inside the house. This could be anything from chasing a ball around the house to turning the garage into a play zone, if you have one.