One of the few TV shows I really enjoy features a gal who helps folks deal with their problem dogs. Recently, I saw her deal with some serious problem owners who had let their dogs become grossly obese.
I just don’t get it. Overeating, under-exercised dogs? Who’s in charge? Our son’s “big boy” started gaining more weight than he ought to carry. Investigated. He was stealing the other dog’s food. Now, we simply supervise them at meal time. Big boy still wants more than we feed him, but all he gets is what we give him. So, for the past several years, both boys have been trim and fit. They pretty well take care of ther activity part, chasing squirrels, groundhogs, etc., out of the yard, running around barking at passers-by (yeh, they’re very “terrortorial” and I like that about them–a lot. Better than an alarm).
Still, taking one or the other out for a walk is a good way for me to get off my lazy butt. *heh*
But, fat dogs? I just don’t get it. Lazy, stupid owners are just about the only reason for fat dogs.
Coda: “taking one or the other out for a walk”–not both. One medium sized male dog, another large male dog (who really should be pulling a cart)? Walked at same time by me? Sure, they’re well-behaved. Sure, I could do it, but why? It’d mean one dog on each side, both hands occupied (I’d never walk two such dogs off one hand–just not smart). Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen. I’ll do it once a year taking ’em to the vet, but aside from that? Nope.
whatchu doin here..get up and walk that dog wouldya? lol 🙂
Done, Angel. Only a mile, but I augmented it with controlled “slow breathing” exercises while keeping the walkies as brisk as Buttons could stand comfortably (he’s the oldest of Son & Heir’s two dogs). Keeping my breathing rate down to 9-10 breaths per minute while getting my heart rate up into its target zone does wonders for any exercise.
Bringing things back down, a cooling off period where I aspire to getting my breathing rate down to 2-3 breaths per minute. Really the best thing for my BP. When I can do 10-15 minutes of 2 breaths per minute, simply concentrating on the breathing alone, I lower my BP–by that “exercise” alone–by nearly 1/3 (when it starts in the HBP range). Combining the breathing exercises before and after a brisk walk makes things more interesting.