Dog lovers are known to be fitter and more healthy because they are more active and regularly out in the fresh air for a walk. But still, they can integrate several other fitness exercises with their dog in their daily lives.
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| Pexel/Zen Chung |
We will show you the exercises you can do with your dog and improve your fitness!
So easy you can increase your fitness and keep your dog happy at the same time
Often fitness exercises for humans can be easily combined with light dog tricks or lessons. This way you can keep your dog busy outdoors as well as indoors, training him physically and challenging him mentally while at the same time strengthening your bond and relationship with him. It is necessary to warm up a bit and stretch your tendons, ligaments, and muscles before the training class.
To get loose and mobilized, you can also go for a walk with your furry friend. Your dog may also be a little more balanced and ready for the training. In addition, you should, just like your four-legged friend, not have eaten anything for about 2 hours before the training.
Fitness exercises with a four-legged friend at home
If the weather is bad, even the most active dog owner goes for a little walk. But that doesn't have to mean the training stops indoors. With these 3 exercises, you will bring welcome variety into the dog's everyday life and ensure more fitness!
1.push-ups&pawing
Let's start with the most classic of workouts - push-ups. These exercises are really popular, but that is about to change. Combine the push-ups with the High Five or Paw Giving command. This way you can integrate your dog into the training, distract yourself from the exercise, and at the same time motivate yourself to get off the ground. Besides, it will be a new and slightly different position for your dog to perform the command.
Take up a position on your training carpet or mat and place your four-legged friend in front of you. Now execute the push-ups and, when your arms are stretched, call out the "paw" signal. To do this, you must temporarily lift one hand from the floor. Repeat the push-ups depending on your fitness and the concentration of your four-legged friend 5 - 20 times in a row.
In the starting phase, you can also do the so-called female push-up.
Tips for the correct performance of the push-ups: Tighten your buttocks and abdominal muscles so that your back is as straight as possible and you are not in a hollow back. Also, if you have to keep looking at your dog, try to keep your head straight and use it as an extension of your spine. Also, make sure that his shoulders are stable and that your hands are shoulder-width apart.
2. squat & manikin
Squats are also one of the fundamentals of training. But together with your four-legged friend, they get much more interesting and challenging. Hold the position and call out the male command at the same time. Depending on how big your dog is and how far down you can get, your dog will either stay on his bottom or he will have to stand on his hind legs to touch your hands.
Give your four-legged friend the ability to hang on with your hands and, if needed, help him to keep his position. Especially for smaller dogs that have to stand on their hind legs, this practice requires extreme concentration and a good sense of your dog's body. Hold this position for 20 seconds to one 60 seconds.
Tips for the correct execution of the squat: Stand shoulder-width apart on the floor and take your shoulders back. Now bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor and hold this position. Make sure your back is straight and go slightly into a hollow back. Your knees point slightly outward, your arms are stretched forward and you face your dog head-on.
3. Sit-ups & Stay
Sit-ups are also known to every dog owner. You can train this exercise with different lessons for your four-legged friend. If you are still at the beginning of dog training, you can simply let the dog watch with the signal "Stay". Especially for dogs that always need full control, this is a great exercise to let them see that their owner is not always focused on them.
If you regularly practice with your dog and he is physically fit, you can make the exercise a little more difficult by training his frustration tolerance. To do this, place his absolute favorite treat of his on the floor or even on his muzzle and give him the familiar signal. Only when you are done with your sit-ups may he eat it. Start small and gradually increase the number of sit-ups you do.
If your dog is more energetic and you want to turn the game around, turn it into a little game of sniffing, and in the meantime let him look for a treat in the apartment that you have hidden. You then have to keep doing the sit-ups until your four-legged friend finds the treat.
Tips for the correct execution of the sit-up: Lie down on your mat or the carpet and put your feet on the floor. Now slowly move upwards until you touch your feet with your arms and then go back towards the floor. Your lumbar spine must touch the floor, your abdomen is tense and you do not go into a hollow back.
Exercises while walking the dog
Even the daily walks can be spiced up with a few exercises. The good thing about them is that you don't need any equipment and you can do them whenever and anywhere your dog is free to walk without a leash.
4. jumping jacks & stick bring
Even though it may look a bit stupid - the jumping jack is one of the most effective exercises for more fitness. The positive thing about jumping jacks is that you can do them standing up, which makes them almost weather-independent, and you don't have to bring a mat or use any other tools. You can insert it into almost all breaks while walking and use them effectively.
The best way is to use it together with the dog walk. This way the dog can exercise at the same time and you train your mobility while throwing the stick. Throw the stick and do the jumping jack until your dog has brought the stick to you. If you want, you can also make a little game out of it and set a certain number as a goal in advance, which you have to reach before your quadruped is back.
Tips for the correct execution of the jumping jack: Actually, you can't do too much wrong with the jumping jack. Keep an upright posture throughout the exercise and make sure your legs and arms work together harmoniously.
5. sprint sessions & racing
Add a little energy to your daily routine by adding short sprints to your walk. Be sure to take your dog's health into account and adjust your pace. Sprinting sessions activate your entire body and can help you lose weight. Sprinting activates certain muscle fibers that are also used in weight training. Likewise, it also helps to clear your mind and reduces stress. If it is possible, you can also run small races with you
Training together with your dog is simply more interesting and fun! Try these exercises and make them part of your everyday life with your four-legged friend. Of course, these units can not be a replacement for professional training. But one thing is for sure - the fun is not missing.