Maria Allen
The days are getting longer again, the temperatures are a bit warmer, and walking the dog in the fresh air is more fun again. Maybe you have even set resolutions in terms of sport that you now want to implement purposefully. Your four-legged friend certainly not only likes to cuddle with you but also loves to be part of all sporting activities. With a few simple exercises, you can get fit through spring together.
Fit Through Spring: Not Without Warming Up
Even if you are not planning the most challenging workout, it is important to warm up beforehand. It is best to do a normal round first, giving your dog the opportunity to detach itself and sniff around extensively. Then you can start walking faster and then do some stretching exercises. Make sure that you focus on the areas that you want to use afterward to keep the risk of injury low. Your dog should also warm-up. In addition to controlled walking, multiple changes between signals such as “stand” and “bow” or “sit” and “down” are suitable for this. You can have your dog do this while you stretch.
Cardio
Endurance can be trained wonderfully together with your four-legged friend and a few calories can be burned in no time at all. Since you don’t need a lot of accessories, you can just go jogging with your dog spontaneously and only need good running shoes and a harness that fits perfectly for your dog. If you enjoy running, Canicross would certainly be worth considering.
If you have a small dog or a dog that reacts really reliably to your signals, inline skating can also be a lot of fun. But before you step on the rollers, consider whether you really feel safe having your dog on a leash without having a secure footing.
Cycling with a dog is just as popular as walking with a dog. It’s a great way to really get going. However, cycling carries the risk that people do not even notice which route they have actually covered and at what speed since they do not really have to exert themselves. The dog, on the other hand, runs and runs. It is therefore important to be aware of the exertion of the four-legged friend, to check the outside temperature beforehand and only increase it slowly.
Lunges
A great and easy to implement exercise are the lunges. You take a big step forward and go far down with the knee during the movement. Now you can lure your dog under the raised leg with a treat. You repeat this a few times so that your four-legged friend threads itself through your legs from left to right and back again. If your dog is bigger, he has to crouch a bit and at the same time strengthen his back muscles.
Flexões
The classic, the push-ups, can be done in a variety of ways with the dog. Find a very large tree trunk or a bench to support yourself on the side to do the push-ups at an angle. You lure your four-legged friend to the opposite side, with the front paws up. Now you start with the first push-up and let the dog give you the paw after each execution. The motivation of your four-legged friend can definitely be increased with treats, then he will want to stick around and not go down again straight away.
Wall Sitting
Wall seating can be easily installed anywhere. All you need is a bench, a tree, or a house wall to lean against. Lean your back and squat down until your legs form a 90° angle. To add to the difficulty, you can lure your dog onto your thighs with their front legs, requiring you to hold the extra weight. If your dog is small, you can let him jump directly onto your lap.
No matter which sporting activity you choose, your dog will be very happy even with extended walks. The fresh air and exercise will get you fit through spring and your bond will be strengthened at the same time!