With your dog by your side, walk or jog around the bench or table you chose for your push-up exercises. Repeat four times.
AROUND:
1
Is Your
Dog Ready?
If your dog can
sit, stay and come,
she’s ready.
Move to the obstacle that you can go under. Ask your dog to sit and stay on one side, then go under and ask your dog to follow your lead. Repeat four times.
Ask your dog to jump up on and off the bench six times. Then ask them to hold a down while you do five push-ups.
While your dog is holding the stay, do squats for 10 seconds.
WOOF!
Tip: The faster your walking pace the more calories you'll burn, but don't get frustrated if your dog wants to go slower. Adjust and reward good behavior with lots of praise and affection, says Brorsen.
WEEK 1: Practice patience
When it comes to workout partners, you can’t do much
better than your furry friend. A dog’s playful attitude and boundless energy are just what you need to stay motivated.
Pet expert Travis Brorsen, host of Animal Planet’s
My Big Fat Pet Makeover, designed a fun
three-week challenge that helps you torch
calories, build muscle and strengthen the
bond you have with your pup.
Grab the leash and let’s get started!
How to do it
How to do it
2
Place your hands on the bench or a table and walk your feet away until your body forms a straight line. Lower until your elbows form 90-degree angles and return to start.
Then walk or run up 10 stairs as fast as you can. Turn around and call your dog to you with an enthusiastic come command. Once you get to the top, take your time coming down with your dog. Repeat until you can do the entire set of stairs without stopping and then
continue until time is up.
Find a place where you have access to stairs, like your local high school football stadium, or a park. Ask your dog to sit/stay at the bottom of the stairs.
How to do it
Follow Your Dog’s Lead.
Keep an eye on your dog’s behavior and adjust the activity according
to her motivation and the temperature. Don’t forget water and treats!
Back
to Top
Week
3
Week
2
Week
1
Back
to Top
Week
3
Week
2
Week
1
UNDER:
Bench:
Find an area with a park bench or picnic table and something that you can go under like pull-up bars, a slide or table. Then for the allotted time, rotate between the following three moves.
Your assignment: Complete one 15- to 30-minute obstacle course session every other day this week. On alternate days, do the walks from week 1 or stairs from week 2.
WEEK 3: Set a Different Course
Your Dog Thanks You.
Dogs crave exercise and stimulation. Active play sessions help dogs burn off energy and promote relaxation.
Fun Fact.
Dog owners are 34 percent more likely to get the recommended
150 minutes of exercise a week than others.
Your assignment: Complete one 15- to 30-minute stair-climbing session three to five days this week. On off days, do the walk from Week 1.
WEEK 2: Reach New Heights
Stand with your feet hip-width apart; shift your weight back into your heels; lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Repeat for the entire walk.
Your assignment: Complete one 20-minute walk with your dog each day this week, asking him to sit and stay at the top of each minute for 10 seconds.
Give your dog a paws up for completing the challenge! Feel like doing more? Mix-and-match the different sessions to your liking. And think about getting a FitBark, which is an activity tracker for dogs that pairs with human activity trackers, so you have accountability for exercising your dog.
Congratulations!
Getting fit with your pup is more than good for your health—it’s also a whole lot of fun
Exercise With Your Dog
