Winter Activities For Your Dog...And You!

Raise your paw if you'd rather hide under the covers than go outside in winter weather...

Truthfully, I love going outside in cold, snowy weather, but Parental Unit...not so much. She manages to faithfully take me for at least one walk each day, no matter the weather. Take today for example. We went for our usual length walk despite the single digit temperatures and a few inches of snow and ice on the ground.

But there are lots of ways you can exercise with your dog in the winter, both indoors and out. Check out these tips from PetMD (complete with invigorating slide show) to get some ideas for winter fun  with your pooch. What we like about these top ten winter exercises is that they vary in intensity from a stroll around the block and the usual game of indoor or outdoor fetch, to interval training and "Skijor" a combination of cross-country skiing and mushing. Thanks, but we'll just stick with a walk and some fetch!

Here are six more excellent winter exercise tips for you and your canine companion from Cesar's Way. These focus a bit more on mental engagement which can be as stimulating for your pooch as that Skijor thing.

Depending on the temps and wind chill factors, and your dog's age and type of fur, he or she may need to wear a coat and/or booties. And don't forget to thoroughly wipe your dogs' paws after each walk to remove salt and other ice melting agents before they lick them.

                                 You hoo, Parental Unit!

Let us know how you and your dog get your exercise during the winter months—we'd love to hear your tips for staying fit when it's cold outside!

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BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Pet Blogger Hop!

Did you know that January is "Get Fit With Your Pet" Month? BlogPaws has jumped right on it and is celebrating starting today—this first Wordless Wednesday of the new year. What will you do to get fit with your pet? Let us know!

                     Clever infographic courtesy of BlogPaws

Meanwhile, back at the Ohio ranch...Parental Unit and I thought we'd rest up a bit before we tried to get fit.

After our nap, we'll check out the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Pet Blogger Hop and see if our blogging buddies are hitting the gym, or what.

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BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Pet Blogger Hop!

This Wordless Wednesday, the good folks at BlogPaws are continuing the important monthly theme of "Get fit with your pet!" As we know, "follow through is everything", so exactly what are you doing to help you and your pet get and stay fit? We'd love to know!

Meanwhile, back at the Ohio ranch...it's been tough to stay fit (and for Parental Unit to continue her weight loss) with all of Central Ohio's bad weather. Sub-zero temps and even lower windchill followed by an ice storm, have kept us to only one longish walk a day. I don't mind this weather, but Parental Unit hates it!

      Let me in, would you! Did I say I didn't mind this weather?

Now on to the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Pet Blogger Hop to meet some fellow exercisers!

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BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Pet Blogger Hop: Get Fit With Your Pet!

The good folks at BlogPaws have appropriately dubbed January "Get Fit With Your Pet Month"...what are you doing to get you and your pooch off the couch and into tip-top shape? Let us know!

                      Clever graphic courtesy of BlogPaws

Meanwhile, back at the Ohio ranch, we have to admit that it's been tough to go for our usual two to three walks a day. There's snow and ice on the ground and wind chills are well into the negative digits. Today, Parental Unit vows to take me on two shorter walks instead of the one long one we did yesterday. Unfortunately, we don't have a treadmill, just an exercise bike (which would be a bit difficult for me to ride). And yes, Parental Unit faithfully rides that "bike to nowhere" while watching HGTV...

                Until we go walking, I'm doing a lot of this...

Now on to the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Pet Blogger Hop to meet some new exercise buddies!

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What To Feed Or Not To Feed A Canine Athlete

 I do look like a "canine athlete", don't I Parental Unit? At least I'm smart enough to guard the backyard via your bed!

Is your pooch a canine athlete? And if so, should you add or subtract anything from your dog's diet to help them perform at their optimal level? O.K., just like with humans, it's kinda hard to tell the difference between a "weekend warrior" and a canine in full training mode, especially when you humans are doing the guesstimating. But this post from The New York Times "Wellness" blog will help you decide the answer to both.

For example, If you jog with your dog for 20 minutes a few times a week, there's probably no need to share your Gatorade and energy bar with Fido. And they probably don't need extra protein or fat calories, either. But if that 20 minute jog turns into a five to ten mile run most days, or you're training for agility trials, then we're likely talking canine athlete. The question and answer section, courtesy of  Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, a professor of clinical nutrition and sports medicine at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the author of a comprehensive new review about nutrition for active dogs, will help you determine how much and what foods are best for dogs in training. Hint: lay off the carbs—fat is what dogs store for energy.

Now, are you ready for a run?

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Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Traveling And Exercising With Your Pet In Winter

         Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

Today, we're bringing you two different pet care tips that have a lot in common: Both involve winter weather (hello Mid-West blizzard!) and making sure that both you and your pet stay happy and healthy, despite the wintry chill.

First up are winter travel tips from our friends at Dog Fancy, that run the gamut from protecting Fido's sensitive paws from the elements to packing a winter survival pack. And we believe that travel and exercise go together-if you're bound for a long drive to Grandma's (and then plan to eat copious amounts of her delicious food, it's a good idea to exercise at least a few of those calories away. But daily exercise isn't just about weight maintenance for either you or your furry friend-it's about using that excess energy in a positive way, clearing your mind, strengthening your resolve and helping both you and your dog feel more invigorated. So here are some tips from Cesar's Way to exercise both the canine mind and body, indoors. Sign up your dog for an indoor fly ball class, or play hide and seek, for example. One of the many things Parental Unit has learned from Cesar Millan is that dogs appreciate and need mental as well as physical exercise, and mental games that challenge your dog can be just as physically draining as a long walk. Good to know when you don't feel like trudging through mounds of snow or risking your vertebrae on icy sidewalks!

Now that you're armed with these tips for traveling and exercising with your pooch in winter weather, we hope you'll use them to have a safe and fun trip and holiday.

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