In 2015, bulldog Otto competed the long way under a tunnel made of human legs on a skateboard and thus earned his place in the Guinness Book of Records. 30 people, i.e. 60 legs, stood between him and his goal.
Do you want to do sports for yourself and your four-legged friend and are you looking for a new challenge? You don't have to break records for that. You can easily integrate activities into your everyday life that do not require more than a little motivation and joy.
Find out what dog sports there is what you have to consider and how you and your dog can lose the winter fat.
What dog sports are there?
Dog and sport can be creatively combined. From jogging and swimming to agility and dog dancing, there are many fun challenges for you and your four-legged friend. Let's take a look at how you can discover your sporty side together.
Jogging with a furry companion
Do you want to get yourself and your four-legged friend in shape? Maybe your dog will finally give you the motivation you need to go jogging. A pair of sneakers, a leash, and maybe one of ours dog walking bags, ready and go! But what do you have to pay attention to and how far can you jog?
What do I have to consider when jogging with a dog?
Pay attention to your dog's needs when jogging. Avoid heat, in summer you should choose the cooler morning and evening hours. In general, our fluffy friends feel most comfortable jogging at a temperature of -5 - 15 degrees.
Note that at least 2-3 hours should have passed since the last meal. Your active time-out is also very suitable before breakfast. Also, make sure your dog isn't dehydrated. So you should have enough water on hand for you and your companion.
Danger: Not every four-legged friend can do sports. Advanced age and health restrictions can prevent dogs from playing sports. Breed makes a difference too: Husky, Border Collie and Labrador will be happy to pounce, while Pug, Dachshund and Bulldog should be patient.
structure and distance
You're not doing yourself or your furry friend any favors by running a half marathon overnight. Just like humans, dogs also have to train their stamina and muscles.
So start off at a leisurely pace or try interval training, so she repeatedly takes walking breaks during the running units. If you are already fit, you can switch to pure jogging and slowly increase the distance.
walking and walking with the dog
If you want to slow down a bit and like to be out in nature, walking tours or hikes are an alternative to jogging. For the little break in between you can have enough treats in our Fanny pack Hanover stow away to reward your little sports partner.
It is best if you take your dog with you on a route with soft ground. Forest paths, sand and meadows are gentler on joints, paws and feet than asphalt.
The advantage of these sports is that they are suitable for all healthy dogs. You can adjust the speed and duration of the activity and don't run the risk of overtaxing your fluffy companion. So you can move at a brisk pace for hours with your playful young dog. If your companion is already an old dog lady or a dog senior, you can content yourself with a leisurely hike.
Off into the cool water?
Have you ever thought about what you and your four-legged friend could do together in summer? Swimming is not only fun for many dogs, but also offers them a pleasant way to cool off in the heat. Make sure you let your four-legged friend swim in the right waters and under the right circumstances. The same applies here: No food before splashing around.
Cooling down in the water trains your four-legged friend in a natural way.
The great thing about swimming is that it gently trains the muscles and protects the joints, so it is also suitable for slightly older dogs. But don't be disappointed if your dog doesn't dare to go into the cool water. Not all dogs like to swim and some are not suited to exercise at all.
Puppies under six months, short-snouted dogs such as bulldogs, or heavier, short-legged dogs such as basset hounds may prefer to stay dry.
What are the challenges for sporty dogs?
You can not only train your dog physically but also mentally. With Dog sports such as agility, dog dance or frisby you can put your four-legged friend in Coordination, dexterity and teamwork schools. Let your dog overcome tricky obstacles with Agility or try something new and dare to dance with your dog with Dogdance.
Sporting challenges are fun for your dog and keep them fit.
Most of these sports are suitable for almost all healthy dogs, however there are one or the other specific requirement, which differs from sport to sport. For example, can in heavy dogs, intensive jumping in agility or frisbee can have a negative effect on the joints. With Dogdance, on the other hand, the choreography can be individually adjusted so that all dogs can let off steam. Caution is always required with puppies, their muscles and ligaments are still developing, so they need extra protection.
How can my dog lose weight?
Not only is exercise a wonderful way for humans to shed a few pounds, your furry friend will benefit from reasonable exertion too. In addition to sufficient exercise, you should pay attention to the diet so that your dog has enough energy for the day but does not overeat completely when going for a walk.
Obesity is not always obvious at first glance. If you are not sure, you can get advice from your veterinarian on whether your darling should lose a few extra pounds.
There are a number of reasons why some dogs can happily munch on without gaining weight and others can't. Not only overfeeding, but also age, breed or diseases play a role in overweight. Older dogs burn significantly fewer calories and some breeds such as retrievers, beagles or dachshunds are particularly prone to obesity.
Be careful not to overfeed your dog. If you have any doubts about the amount you need, you can talk to your veterinarian for advice on the right amount and type of food. Special diet food can also help with weight loss. Remember that treats and snacking at the kitchen table also count. If your dog is overweight, you should avoid the latter and include the treats in your menu plan.
Exercise plays a big part in weight loss. In addition to the sports already mentioned, you can basically try everything what your dog enjoys and motivates him. Fight with your four-legged friend in tugging games for his favorite toy or play catch with him.
Dog and human can have a lot of fun with these games. The heart beats pretty hard and a lot of calories are burned. Due to the tricky obstacles and different movement sequences, agility is also a helpful sport. Swimming is particularly good because it is easy on the joints, which are already strained if you are overweight.
The main thing is movement!
Whether you want to motivate your dog to skateboard or dare to take on the challenge of dog dancing, one thing is certain: Exercise is important and should be part of your daily routine. Motivate yourself and your four-legged friend. Venture outside together and try something new.
Cover photo by Sherise VD. More pictures by Jennifer Barnes and Wolfgang Hasselmann.
About the editors
Hatice Kücükhüseyin is a content expert at inara writes. Words are her favorite tool. With them she brings color and life into every text. When she's not writing, she watches French cinema.
