"You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is."
If I haven't taken my pooch out for her daily romp, she'll let me know, either by dumping over the garbage can in the kitchen or by giving me that hopeful look. I can't not take her out for a daily walk or run because I feel like I'm letting her down. That's part of the reason new research from the University of Missouri shows that when it comes to exercise buddies, canines are better than humans.
If you have knee pain, asthma, or just don't like running, walking for exercise is an excellent option. It's free, you can do it anywhere, and since it's low impact, you're less likely to injure yourself with this form of exercise. The only problem is that it can be very boring, so here are some ways to pep up your walks.
Since I'm a dog owner, there's always a walk on my horizon, no matter what day of the year it is. But on Thanksgiving especially, I welcome a nice after-dinner walk. Whether it's just me and the pups or a whole group of friends or family, it can really add a nice element to the day of feasting.
Some of you have families that get active before the big Thanksgiving meal, playing a game of touch football, going for a hike, or running a few miles before gorging on the turkey and all the trimmings. If this doesn't sound like you're family, that's OK. But after your feast, encourage the family to go for a walk, instead of slumping onto the couch after the big feast.
I love hiking in the Fall because of the beautiful scenery and perfect weather — the crisp air never leaves me too hot or too cold. On the weekends I often go on all-day or multi-day hikes in Yosemite valley or the Lake Tahoe region. Some of my friends equate hiking with a leisurely stroll through the woods, but anyone who hikes regularly knows this isn't always the case.
Whether it's double trouble or two times the fun, two pups definitely provide twice the tangles when being walked together. I'm a fan of tandem leashes (like this one) in theory, but I've never had to hook North up with another furry friend.
Community Member Kelli Ann asks:
This is our second dog and we want to try out a dual leash.
If you enjoy walking or running, sometimes exercising outside just isn't an option, so the treadmill is your saving grace. It's one of the most common pieces of gym equipment used, so check out some of its benefits and disadvantages.
Pros
Cons
Sloooow down there, Bo — I wanna get a good look at you! We've seen both Barack and the girls taking care of the first pooch, and here's Michelle walking (or getting walked by) this cute pup. It's great to have a family of humans to chip in for the dog walking (especially for early morning or late night duties) but who's left holding the leash most often in your household?
If you love working out on a treadmill, take this quiz to see how well you know your machine.
Take the quiz
Reading this from the UK?