3 Tips for Keeping Your Pet Fit
Your pets are there for you in companionship and love. What better way to reward your pet with some fun and playtime outdoors. It’s especially beneficial for kids that want a pet in the family. Studies have shown that pet owners are more likely to walk or jog outdoors a least once or twice a week than non-pet owners. Having a pet in the family helps boost physical health as well as mental health for owners and pets.
Here are some tips that will help you get back to better health and well-being with your pet.
Have a Schedule for Walking your Dog
Putting things aside for at least a half hour every other day is essential when managing your time with your dog. Morning walks and potty breaks for your pet are a perfect way to get your day started if you’re an early riser. More people are choosing to work from home and with a pet, in the house, this is a perfect opportunity to schedule a walking regimen that benefits you and your pet. So, get outside and take a spin around the block. You’ll be surprised how refreshed you feel afterward.
Get to the Park or Wide Open Spaces
Dogs love to explore the world around them. Going to the park with wide-open space gives them an opportunity to let loose. As long as it’s a pet-friendly park that is. Be sure to follow the leash rules if it applies to certain parks. If you notice other pet owners not using a leash this is a clear sign that the park is okay to let your dog run around without one.
Caution: If you think your pet is aggressive around other pets it might be a good idea to keep your dog on a leash until you have properly trained your dog to be less aggressive around other pets or humans.
Playing fetch and (if you are fit enough to do so), running along with your pet as your throw a ball or frisbee can be an excellent way to get fit with your pet. If running or jogging is a bit much, just walk briskly and reap the benefits of moving around with your pet.
Walking with your pet at your side is a great way to feel comfortable with getting out and getting some much-needed exercise. More than half of pet owners agree they have a more active lifestyle and are most likely to exercise compared to non-pet owners. This is great for you and your pet!
Relieve Stress and Emotional Swings
Believe it or not, we’ve all been there. Whether it be stress from work or emotional swings in relationships. We’ve all had bouts with these emotional triggers which can have a toll on our mental health. Your pets can help deal with these triggers by petting and holding them close to you. We do this all the time even if you don’t have a pet. You see someone with their dogs and you want to pet or say hello to them. This almost always relaxes you in any situation you are in and you tend to forget about your problems for a brief moment. This is how pets benefit your mental health in the same way your petting a dog, cat or any pet of your choice. You are inadvertently comforting the pet at the same time.
Pets can have stress and emotional triggers just like humans do. But when we comfort and play with pets it works in tandem in that both humans and animals benefit from each other’s kindness resulting in most cases better mental health. So, go get a pet and live longer, laugh louder, and stay fit together.