In shape

[borders4]

I would have to say that for 50+ years of age I am in pretty good shape. Not because I workout or think about it. Because I try and make sure that my 4 border collies get enough exercise to keep them in shape for flyball, agility, and herding. Not only do I feel that I owe my physical health to them but they are bright, intelligent dogs who make me have to plot how to stay one step ahead of them:). The one thing I really like about dog sports is that I see many people who because they want their dog to be mentally and physically stimulated, they end up being healthier. Of course with 4 border collies I can become mentally fatigued. Anyone else think their dog has kept them feeling more mentally and physically healthy or are they getting you down?

[Draco]

I definitely enjoy being able to take my dog out for walks. It gets me moving after a day of work (I sit at a kiosk :p ) or a day of studying and writing papers (university). It's a great stress reliever too, and it makes me feel good when I know she's enjoying herself.

[Pacha]

I really do agree that our pets keep us in shape and healthier. I am a Smoker:mad:the smoking did slow me down. I was not able to keep up with them. So I decided to quit. Because of them I will eventually become healthier. Because of Pacha I am getting there and will stay there. Our dogs really do have an influence on our well being, even if they dont know that. Thank god for pets.:)

[shell]

I am an Early Childhood Educator (glorified title for a daycare worker) With 1 5-year-old child that comes to work with me. My job is very stressful, especielly as I am in the process of potty traing 6 kids. at the end of the day all I want to do is crash and burn, but my son and my dogs need attention too. I load up everyone into the car, drive 1/2 out to the hills to our favorite spot and we spend an hour relaxing a playing by the creek. When we come home I find that I'm more relaxed and I feel like I can handle what ever comes at me the next day.:cool:

[Carol]

I am 65 and am in fairly good shape at 5'2" and 110 lbs.
With 2 dogs to walk every day, I expect to be in good shape for a long time to come.
Now that the weather is warming up, we will get back to our 3 daily long walks and we will lose any looseness in our muscles that developed over the winter from lack of enough exercise.
I find owning dogs keeps me on a regular schedule of walking briskly instead of casual walks when the urge hits otherwise.
Also, there is nothing like a dog laying on your feet while you sit at the computer, to lower your blood pressure and create a feeling of well-being.

[May209]

Yes me too with the walking the dogs. That is one of my favorite things to do. Although I must admit that the cold weather slows us a bit but nice days are coming and so are some glorious walks. Hey Pacha great job and quitting the smoking thing. Dogs are just good for all sorts of stuff.;)

[skippygurl00]

I am currently making a life long change in finally losing weight.I have been at it since the beginning of the year and my dog has been a big help in my weight loss.she gets two long walks a day and I love the time we have together.she knows when the shoes come on its time for walkies and she goes nuts.whenever I feel lazy her big brown eyes begging me for a walk is motivation enough.Im glad she is a young active dog,without her I might not be able to achieve my goals

[Carol]

I have to be so careful when I am getting dressed.
If they see my shoes come out or my jacket, it is chaos
and the butts are wiggling and they are racing back and forth.
Walks are a favorite around her for sure.

[shell]

Dogs are wonderful to have around after a serious injury. I was in a pretty major car crash about 4 years ago and I was lucky enough to come out of it with just a broken back (L1). I say lucky because I was alive and my son was not in the minivan with me. My son was 10 mths. old at the time and I was unable to care for him. I was depending very heavily on my family at the time, and needless to say I went through a bout of depression. My Stepmom and my Dad were really wonderful about helping out but there was just 1 problem: Polar, our WGS x would completely ignore them and he was causing some major stress. I was forced to get up out of bed every day to take care of things and eventually I started to get better. I had to walk Polar; first, to the end of the driveway. Then to the end of the street. Eventually, we made it around the block. 4 mths. later I was able to take off my back-brace and start caring for my son on my own again (with some minor adjustments, like a Big Boy Bed to avoid lifting him). My Dr. said it was probably because of all that walking that Polar made me do. Polar is not with us any more; He passed away from cancer about 3 years ago. The old boy had a tough start in life, but I will always believe that his way of ignoring everything that my Parents wanted him to do was his way of saying "Hey! Get your butt in gear! You have a Kid to raise and you ain't gonna get the job done in bed!" Because of Polar, I feel that I am able to be the kind of Mom that my son deserves to have- 1 that can walk.

[Carol]

What an inspirational story.
Hope you are doing well still.
I know my dogs are my reason for getting out and moving
air through my lungs and body everday.
Without them I likely would be unable to move most days.
Dogs contribute so much to our lives. They are angels in fur coats.

[chrisjonesxx]

This morning was clear and bright - just had to get out of bed and go.

I was on the beach by 6 o'clock with two, then took another two and then another two. Home by 8.30. Had to go to work then. I retire in 2009 and look forward to taking more time with the morning walks, I dislike hurrying them along because I need to take the next couple out. I could take more than two at a time, but it is sometimes more trouble than it's worth.

But it was good today, calm, warm and dry - they all ran and ran.

I met an early morning jogger on the beach, she remarked that my dogs were changing colour and shape each time she saw me. I told her that they were not the same dogs she saw me with the last time she passed !

I am sure I would find jogging boring, the interaction with dogs is so much more rewarding and I have received as much benefit from the activity as they have - I weigh no more now than when I left school (1963).

[lovethatdogg]

Yes, i get what you mean. Thank the dogs for good health. I get warm out by my 5 month old, 38 pound weimeraner. haaa, he is alot of work. my friends have to active working sheep herding border collies. They need alot of excercize.

[shell]

Have been going out on my horse pretty much every day that the weather is nice. My little Daxie x has been coming with me, so I've really had to behave myself- no mad gallops:rolleyes:. During the winter, I tend to forget how happy it makes me when its just me, the dogs, and my horse. I really love this time of year.

[lovethatdogg]

Oohhhhwww, it sounds like it make you very happy. I am glad and enjoy the nice weather wile it lasts! have fun :) :) :) :) :

[chrisjonesxx]

Today I read in the news that parents of obese children in Wales are 'fixing' the problem by fitting out bedrooms on the ground floor. Or fitting electric stair lifts so that their fat kids can get upstairs.
I also believe that a very high proportion of overweight dog owners also have overweight dogs. What a surprise.
Again I read today of a dog slimming drug - Yarvitan. (It costs around £50 - $100 I guess - for an eight-week course, and in liquid form is poured over the pet food. It works by blocking the transfer of fats into the bloodstream, and also slightly reduces the dog's appetite).

OK, what I am I misunderstanding here. Dogs and human beings were built to move - mainly by walking. Just what is the problem ?

Just walk ! And if you have a dog, don't stuff it with whatever you can lay your hands on and walk your dog !!!

[k9mania]

Chris,

I agree with you. The increase in obesity in humans has led to an increase in obesity in pets. I have spoken to vets and asked why they don't discuss obesity in dogs and cats more and they say many times, the owners are overweight and the vets don't know how to tell them about their pet w/o offending them so they don't emphasize it so much. Yet there is much research that many people with dogs lose weight because they care about their dog and when walking them they stay healthier. That is why I am such a proponent of flyball, agility, and any dog activity that keeps people moving slow or fast:) :)

[Suz23]

Dog slimming drugs whatever next = this will just give people the excuse to feed what they like with little thought to the effect it might have on the dogs weight. Controling weight isnt just about what you can see on the outside - it has huge implications for the inside of the dog too. If they are still eating the rubbish that made them fat in the first place AND taking drugs to make them lose weight - I fail to see how thats a good thing.

[chrisjonesxx]

K9mania writes :- “The increase in obesity in humans has led to an increase in obesity in pets. I have spoken to vets and asked why they don't discuss obesity in dogs and cats more and they say many times, the owners are overweight and the vets don't know how to tell them about their pet w/o offending them so they don't emphasize it so much”.

In which case, this is a abrogation of professional responsibility. I can only speak for the UK, but insofar as vets are self employed and effectively in competition with each other, the need to retain clients is close to their hearts (and wallets). Unlike UK’s National Health doctors who are refusing treatment of some kinds to people until or unless they loose weight. Presumably vets do not sign up to a form of the Hippocratic oath.

If vets have the health of animals brought to them for treatment truly at heart, then they MUST emphasise the need to control weight. Most of our pack are extremely active and love to walk and run, which I find most satisfying and enjoy taking and sharing that activity with them. However, one or two are comparatively lazy and we have put them on a reduced diet to ensure they do not store up fat (and future leg, back and internal problems associated with overweight).

Humans and canines have not existed for thousands of years by sitting around waiting for the pizza delivery man to call, they have existed by getting up and getting out. I appreciate that some people are overweight due to circumstances other than laziness, but that does not absolve them from their duty of care, there are alternatives – dog walkers come first to mind.

And if some vets are not inclined to point out the shortcomings of a duty of care to dogs by fat owners, then shame on them. Thankfully, our vet is a straight talker, not appreciated by some dog owning acquaintances of mine, but valued by me.

[Tuckerdad]

I understand aobut your dog keeping you more healthy. I love to exercise and go to the gym, but as my pup gets older, he is almost 6months, I have to work harder to keep him worn out. I am now taking him out twice a day for 30 minutes at a time. The good thing is it keeps him worn out, (like I have read many times, a tired dog is a happy owner,lol) and it gives me some more cardio exercise,since there is alot of heart problems in my family it is a great benefit. I firmly believe that it is our resposibility to keep our dogs healthy, and to make sure that they maintain a good weight.