You’ve seen those fitness ads on TV that promise amazing results from all sorts of contraptions. There’s really no need to spend the money. Why invest in fancy equipment when you have your dog or can borrow a dog? With a dog you have everything you need to get back into shape. Check out the following exercises. They can be done anywhere and anytime.
Check out the following exercises. They can be done anywhere and anytime.
- For your inner thighs: Place the dog’s favorite toy between your thighs. Press tighter that the dog can pull. Remember not to try this while bare legged. Dogs who favor short cuts to success can/will try to dig the toy out. This could lead to permanent damage to you.
- Upper Body Strength: Lift the dog off the couch, off the bed, out of the flower bed, etc. Repeat, repeat and repeat again. As the dog ages, the exercise is reversed – onto the couch, onto the bed, into the car, etc.
- Balance and Coordination #1: Remove the puppy from any unsuitable, tight space. If the space is too small for him it’s most certainly too small for you. Do it anyway.
- Balance and Coordination #2: Practice not falling when your dog bounds across the full length of the room, then sails through the air and slams feet first into the back of your knees with the full force of its weight and momentum.
- Balance and Coordination #3: This one requires multiple dogs – Remove all of the dogs from your lap and get to the phone to answer it before it stops ringing. Remember to not have the portable phone with you and do not try this exercise if you are sitting within an arm’s length of a phone extension.
- Balance and Coordination #4: Alternate exercise – Using older dogs, attempt to cross the room without tripping over the dog. Get off the couch without crushing any part of the sleeping elderly dog.
- Upper Arms #1: Throw a ball, squeaky toy, Frisbee or other item the dog loves to chase. Repeat this until nauseous.
- Upper Arms #2: Alternate exercise – Tug a rope, pull toy sock or any other item the dog loves to tug. Of course, if the dog’s choice/favorite item is important to you or irreplaceable or….. choose something else. Repeat the tugging with the dog until your shoulder aches or is dislocated or the dog gives up We all know which will come first, don’t we?
- Hand Coordination: Remove a foreign object from the dog’s locked jaw. This exercise is especially popular with puppy owners. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Remember this is a timed exercise. Movements must be quick and precise (think concert pianist) to prevent trips to the vet which will only offer the minimal exercise benefit of jaw firming clenches.
- Calves #1: After the dog has worn out the rest of your body, hang a circular toy on your ankle and let the dog tug while you tug back. WARNING: This is feasible only for those with strong bones and small dogs. Have you taken your calcium supplement today?
- Calves #2: Alternate exercise – Run after the dog. Pick any reason and there are and will be plenty. Dogs of any size can be used for this exercise; however it’s not advisable to use dogs of certain breeds such as the Greyhound.
- Neck Muscles: Attempt to outmaneuver the canine tongue that is headed for your ear, mouth, eyeball or other facial target. This is a lifelong fitness program. A dog is never too old or too feeble to try to “kiss” you when you least expect it.