Dog's Workout Activities Archives - Page 2 of 3

Bring Creativity On Your Dog Walks

May 3, 2013

Do you take your dog for a walk in the park? For sure there are accessible walking paths. Do you tend to take the park’s walking path all the time. It’s gets boring … for and your dog. Yes, dogs gets bored. Look around your park and check out some of the accessories available.
Use your creative mind on how to utilize them.
Find the opportunity to deviate from the park’s walking path. Why?

5 Reasons to Bring Creativity on Your Dog Walks
1) To get rid of boredom and redundancy.
2) Stimulate your dog’s mind. Providing a challenge on your dog’s walk.
3) Great way to reinforce and/or practice important basic commands
such as sit/stand, stay and come. It does not matter the age of your dog,
it is always good to practice these basic commands.
4) Eliminating fear and/or any uneasiness on unfamiliar places/equipments.
5) The main propose on going to the park beside walking is to have FUN. Being Creative is Fun.

How do we make our daily walks creative.

When I was a young pup I did agility. I went to shows, competed and mastered many agility equipment terms. I carried this knowledge to make my walks creatively Golden FUN.
1) Bike Racks – Most parks have bike racks and they are now built in many different ways. My favorite is the round bike racks which I associate as a tunnel. The second one is just the arch bike racks which I associate as weave poles.
2) Tables – Many parks have picnic tables, it a good place to rest or take a break from your walk. Also, reinforcing/practicing sit, stay and come commands.

3) Playground – Nowadays, many playground equipments are built in recycled materials, a great way for your dog to get familiarized. I usually enjoy walking on the bridge then thru the steps several times. Take Note: please obey your park rules, many do not allow dogs in the playground and only go when no children are playing.

4) Fitness Equipment – Take this opportunity to rest your dog while you take advantage of the series of equipments. Another good way to reinforce/practice stand, stay and come commands.

5) Stairs – We’ve previously shared how we enjoy stair climbing, its our favorite. I’m fast so mom goes first as I stand and stay at the bottom of the stair. I wait for her to say command “come” and I go. Sometimes I go first and I wait for her at the top. Got to try it as it’s FUN! You can always start and/or practice on park ledges.

I invite you to look around your park and check the accessories.
Surely you can think of Creative FUN Ways to utilize them on your dog walking.

Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR

A Good Park For You And Your Dog

April 26, 2013

A good park is essential to have a joyful stroll/walk/run with your dog.
We are very fortunate that there are many parks around us.
Some are walking distance but a car ride is needed to go to our favorite park.
What makes a good park for and your dog? Here’s our 5 criteria…
1) The location need to be SAFE.
2) Ample SPACE of grass area and walking paths.
3) Assurance that the park is dog-friendly.
There are available materials cleaning up after your dog (bags and garbage cans).
4) Available resting areas/facilities and water fountains.
5) Natural visual barriers within the park such as plants, trees, hills, etc
One of my favorite park is called Gallery Park. It is about a 20 minute drive from my home but well worth it. My “4 Paws Up” photo was taken from this park. This is where mom and I do our walk/run interval workouts. Also, this is where I go running up-hill and down-hill.
Gallery Park is 142 acres, one of the largest park located in Glenview IL.
There are approximately 6 miles of bicycle/jogging and walking paths which encompass a man-made 45 acre lake. The lake and surrounding area provide habitat for wildlife such as blue herons, crayfish, snapping turtles and dragonflies. Its prairie like landscape provides the opportunity for hiking recreation and/or quiet reflection.
Gallery Park used to be part of a Naval Air Station which closed in 1993. It primarily operated as an aircraft training facilities as well as seaplanes then it was reconfigured as a Naval Air Reserve base. Do you see the aircraft control tower behind me?
We usually spend hours when we go to this park.
I always have an enjoyable Golden FUN walk/run.
Do you have a favorite park?

I am joining Park Day Hop, hosted by Gizmo and Finn.
AND
I am joining FitDog Friday Hop, hosted by SlimDoggy and Peggy’s Pet Place.
Click Here to read our review of SlimDoggy App.
Read our previous posts on my Dog’s Health page.

Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR

Making a Golden SPLASH: Canine Hydrotherapy

April 25, 2013

I am a Golden Retriever that enjoys swimming. When I lived in HI last year I swam in the ocean 2-4 times a week. I Golden LOVEd it and if you’ve followed my blog you’ve seen photos and read many of my HI beach blog posts. Click Here to read my HI beach adventures.

Swimming is an excellent total body conditioning activity. For an active senior dog like ME, swimming will always be on my list of activity. Now that I am back home, swimming in the lake is not an option. I swam in the lake when I was young but my Golden skin did not do well with the quality of the lake water. An indoor pool is the only option. It is certainly not free but mom says it’s well worth it. In our area, most of the indoor pool are built for Canine Hydrotherapy. The pool tends to be smaller than a human swimming pool. The water is safely treated and heated in certain degree like 88-92 degrees which helps relaxes the muscles. The warm water allows for a decrease in pain, muscle spasms and stiffness.

Typically canine hydrotherapy is used as treatments for injuries and rehabilitation. Nowadays, lots of dogs use canine hydrotherapy as a form of exercise to help maintain a fitness level.

We found out that a 20-25 minute swim is equivalent to about a 4-5 mile walk. WOW!
Exercising in warm water and a controlled environment provides many benefits, such as:

Non weight baring exercise
Builds Muscles
Reduces stiffness in the joints
Lessens stress on joints and muscles
Improves circulation
Provides anti inflammatory relief
Improves overall well being

I went to Splash Dog (about 30 minutes from my home). I went for a Canine Hydrotherapy fun swim. Even though I am a good swimmer, I had to wear a safety vest. The harness on the vest was used to guide me on the pool (stay in the pool). There’s a bench on the edge of the pool which serves as a resting place. ME resting … I only rested for seconds and I Woof Woof and more Woofs ready to go again again again …

I brought my beach buddy Chuck It. Definitely, A Golden SPLASH Joyful Swim.
Golden Thanks to Splash Dog for their superb service and
making my first canine hydrotherapy fun swim enjoyable.

I am joining this post to FitDog Friday Hop,
hosted by SlimDoggy and Peggy’s Pet Place.

Click Here to read our review of SlimDoggy App.
Read our previous posts on my Dog’s Health page.

Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR

Exercising Your Dog When You Are Injured

April 19, 2013

It is hard when a dog owner has an injury and/or physical limitation and has an active dog.
My mom can totally relate to this.
It’s been 15 years when she had her major injury training for a marathon.
She was unable to fulfill her dream to run a marathon as it took her years to recover.

During her 2nd year of recovery, I came to her life.
In the beginning, she was not aware but I became her key to recovery.
I’m now a senior dog, still active but just imagine ME when I was a young golden pup.
Participating in various dog behavioral classes was a workout for both of us.
Agility/Flyball classes were my favorite. A backyard run was not enough, mom did not have a choice but to take me for several long walks a day. Mom and I surely bonded well.
I easily learned how to heel.
The sit-stay and down-stay became a game of commands during our fetch play.

Mom has not fully recovered from her injuries but she learned how to work around it.
She always says, “Pain Kills Pain.”
Being an active senior dog, I provide her lots of motivation
and continue to inspire her to be active.

Mom is able to run in short intervals which works well for me.
Down-hill and up-hill runs are my favorite.
My behavioral classes are very handy when we do these runs as I have to be off-leash,
be on a “sit” command (when going up hill) or be on a “stand” command (when going down hill) and be attentive to the “come” command.

Always use your best judgement and consult your doctor if you have any injury that limits you exercising your dog. There are many alternative and ways. Just keep in mind, you are lucky to own a dog as he/she is the best medicine you’ve got.

I am joining FitDog Friday Hop,
hosted by SlimDoggy and Peggy’s Pet Place.

Click Here to read our review of SlimDoggy App.
Read our previous posts on my Dog’s Health page.

Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR

Reminder!
If you have not check out my current giveaway, Sugar’s Furry Friend BOOK, Click HERE!

Golden Joy of Running: Ready Set Go … RUN!

April 11, 2013

I am an energetic Retriever dog that LOVES to RUN. Yesterday I showed you this photo …
Just finished a 1.5 mile run/walk with my mom.
We are finishing up by running up the hill.

Why run with your dog?
Most dogs love to run. They were born to run and the best running partners.
Running is a great cardiovascular workout that helps maintain your dog’s weight.
It also helps improves muscle tone and definitely builds endurance.
Running makes me joyful and certainly helps release all my energy.

Have you tried to run with your dog?

First, I do recommend to check with your vet, if running is suitable for your dog. Also your dog must have an understanding and responds well on commands such as heel, side, sit, slow and back. Most importantly the “no” and “leave it” commands as your dog will encounter many distractions on your run.

If you walk with your dog that’s a good start.
As walking is the beginning stage of running.
Start with a 5 minutes brisk walk.
Then you can gradually proceed, 2mins of walk and 1min of run.
Increase your running minutes as you feel comfortable.
Always end with 5 minutes (or more) cool down walk.

Truly no strings attached on my purple PAWZ.
Many of you I’ve asked WHY? am I still wearing PAWZ, click here to read my previous post.
I guess doing agility when I was young, helped out with my jumping skills.
Yes I am a senior dog but have an energy of a pup.
My family has been so creative in keeping up with my energy.

Where am I in these photos? It’s my favorite park. I was just gone for a year and lots of great changes happened to this park. There’s a story/history behind this beautiful park. I will share it with you on Friday, April 26th as my friends Gizmo and Finn are hosting Park Day.

Give RUNNING with your dog a try … and always keep in mind to have FUN!

Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR

Bring Creativity On Your Dog Walks

A Good Park For You And Your Dog

Making a Golden SPLASH: Canine Hydrotherapy

Exercising Your Dog When You Are Injured

Golden Joy of Running: Ready Set Go … RUN!

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