Posts tagged "workout"

Both you and your pooch love playing at the park, but you can use the time for more than just hanging out with your dog. The park is a great spot for strength training. It only takes a little planning. We talked to some pet people and fitness experts to get the lowdown on how to involve your best buddy in your workouts.

Before You Exercise
"Remember to stretch out, and that goes for your dog too," says certified professional dog trainer Sarah Westcott of the Doggie Academy in New York. "Teach your dog how to bow for a great downward-dog-type stretch. Use a treat to lure your dog's head up and back to stretch his chest, then all the way around to his rump from either side to stretch his torso." (Of course if your pup seems stressed out by being included in any of the exercises here, continue without including him or her.)

Once you and Fido are loosened up, the next step is to move onto your workout. Of course, not everybody starts out at the same level of fitness, so fitness expert Andrea Metcalf provided us with some suggestions for three different levels. If you have any health concerns at all, of course, check with your doctor before trying the workouts.

Pup Fitness (Beginners)
"Practice some Paws-ilates moves. Leash leans are a great way to give your pet a break from a walk and start to tone up your waistline. Begin with your dog seated and the leash arm out to the side. Reach up and over your head to stretch your obliques and then return to side arm position. Perform on both sides of the body, switching the leash hand and moving your pet around to the other side. Try for eight to 15 reps, and don't worry if Fido starts to move around," says Metcalf. "Their moving will offer some bicep stabilizing resistance exercise. Strong arms and abs!"

Walking your dog doesn't have to be a complicated process. You grab a leash, some water, something to scoop poop, and you're out the door. But if you're trying to turn a simple dog walk into a serious workout, the right equipment will help you and your dog make the most of your time.

Keep Both of You Well Hydrated
Hands-free hydration is a cinch with a CamelBak hydration pack. We love that it holds enough water for a long walk or run. Not only is it handy for a quick sip, but it's easy to squeeze some water into your dog's mouth too. The zippered pockets have room for keys, a phone, a snack and even a collapsible bowl.

Track Your Workout While You Walk Your Dog
The Pupercise Kit by The Shabby Dog comes with a hands-free wristwatch cuff with attached adjustable leash so you can time your workout without hanging onto anything bulky. It also includes a pedometer to track your steps and an accessory wristlet to hold treats, baggies, a phone or whatever else you might need. We found the Pupercise Kit very easy to use. We'd love to see the cuff come in a more breathable material since we wear it while getting sweaty, but we like having our hands free to play with an iPod or hold a water bottle.

PetSmart encourages customers to bring their pets to the store when they shop. But when it comes to employees' pets? Not so much.

PetSmart gave New Jersey resident Eric Favetta the axe after he brought his 3-year-old Belgian malinois, Gizmo, to work with him one night, the (Newark) Star-Ledger reported.

According to the Star-Ledger, Favetta, a former dog handler at military units in Afghanistan and Bahrain, had worked as an operations manager at PetSmart since July 2008. Last spring, because of his success cleaning up the Wayne, N.J., store, he was transferred to the busy Seacaucus, N.J., store to help make improvements.

One night in December, PetSmart staff asked Favetta to work a special overnight shift to get the store spiffed up for a viewing the following day by potential business partners. "I brought my dog with me because I knew if I didn't, he would have been home alone all day and all night until I returned home at 6 a.m. the next day," Favetta told the Star-Ledger.

Favetta put Gizmo in the store's empty daycare facility and got to work. Two weeks later, he was fired for "theft of service."

PetSmart spokeswoman Jessica White told the Star-Ledger that the daycare service is an item the company charges for, just like the toys and treats on the store shelves. Using the facilities for free, she said, qualified as theft.

Source