exercising with your dog: basics, breeds, and beliefs

With the new year often comes the resolve to be more active, lose weight, and become healthier. Hopefully we haven't given up on our new year's resolutions already! In our quest to exercise more, it often helps to have a friend along, and what better buddy and motivation than a dog?

Exercise is just as important for the health of your dog as it is for you. Dogs who exercise regularly are less likely to be obese. When your dog maintains a healthy weight, he is less likely to suffer from ailments such as:

• heart disease

• diabetes

• respiratory disease

• arthritis

• joint pain

• hip displasia

In addition, a sufficient amount of exercise will help with behavior problems such as excessive barking and being destructive. People often surrender their animals because, despite training, they still tear up the couch, go through the trash, or chew on your new fancy shoes. These unwanted behaviors are not a sign of malice, but evidence that your dog is not being physically or mentally challenged. He's bored and restless! 

And did you know that dog owners typically get more exercise than non-dog owners? Dog owners are a step ahead of the pack, when it comes to being physically active!

All dogs need exercise. The type and amount of exercise depends on the age, breed, and health of your dog. Dogs are as individual as we are, so there is no magic formula, but there are some loose guidelines to consider:

• Most dogs need between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise each day.

• Active breeds need more intense aerobic exercise such as running or swimming, preferably at least 30 minutes each day.

• Inactive dogs still need exercise. Playing fetch several times a day or going for a 30 minute walk works well.

• Small dogs are often thought to get enough exercise on their own around the house, but this is usually not the case. For this reason, small dogs are most often obese. Make sure your tiny pooch gets his fair share of activity. 

The good news is that dogs enjoy most physical activities that humans enjoy. So whatever your pleasure, chances are, your dog can do it with you. A good off-leash romp in the dog park is a great way for your dog to get physical, as long as he's the social type and won't crash the party. The dog park can also be a great place for you to get social with other pet parents. Some other activities that people and dogs can enjoy together are:

• running

• walking and hiking

• swimming

• roller blading, skating, or skateboarding

• cycling

• dancing

• frisbee or catch

• surfing

• flyball

• sledding

Before embarking on any new fitness activity, it's important to consult with your doctor and with your pet's vet. The veterinarian can help determine the intensity level that is best for your pooch and can monitor your dog, physically, as he gets in shape. If your pooch is more active, you can even up the ante by adding a weighted vest. This can be particularly helpful if your pooch can outlast you on your walk or run. 

If you don't already have a pooch and you're looking to choose one whose activity level will match the time and physical commitment that works best for you, it's helpful to understand the history of the breed your are considering and what their strengths are. 

Sporting Dogs require a lot of physical activity and are usually the best runners and swimmers. Their workouts can be intense, and they usually have considerable endurance.

Working Dogs are happiest when given a job or specific task that requires physical activity. Sled-pulling and flyball are examples. These dogs are quite physical and do best with a purpose in mind.

Herding Dogs need to be challenged mentally and are also require the highest activity level. Herding, of course, is phenomenal, if you happen to live on a sheep farm, but these dogs will also try to herd groups of children or cats. Talk about frustrating! Finding an activity that stimulates these smart, active animals is key.

Small and Toy Breeds don't typically require quite as much activity as other canine types (but still need a daily romp), with the exception of terriers, who are usually quite active and capable of going the distance. Terriers often like to dig, so providing your little guy with an appropriate digging outlet (or enough physical activity so that he's too tired to dig) will keep him out of your flower bed. 

According to pawnation.com, the dog breeds most prone to obesity who can be helped tremendously by exercising regularly are:

Beagle

Bulldog

Boxer

Dachshund

German Shepherd

Golden Retriever

Labrador Retriever

Newfoundland

Pug

Rottweiler

Ironically, many of these dogs do quite will with high levels of physical activity. If you're looking for a real physical challenge and are the outdoorsy, athletic type, Animal Planet outlines the following breeds as most active:

Australian Shepherd

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Shiba Inu

Alaskan Malamute

Miniature Schnauzer

German Shorthaired Pointer

Since most of these great activities you and your pooch can do together are outside, weather must be considered. Some climates can be extremely cold or extremely hot during certain times of year, and it can be unsafe to exercise outdoors for any length of time. Since I am a professional pet sitter in Phoenix, we deal with extremely high summer temperatures. I to not walk dogs when temps are over 100 degrees, so I most often exercise them just before dawn. It's still quite warm, often in the upper 80s or low 90s, but we don't have the intense sun to deal with and after the night, the sidewalk isn't as hot as it would be in the evening. The opposite holds true in extremely cold climates. The best time to exercise your dog would be when the temps are at their highest, usually in the late afternoon. A good guideline is not to do any form of prolonged outdoor exercise with your dog in temps below 32° F or above 85° F. Dogs are most comfortable exercising when the temperature is between 32° F and 70° F. Breed and coat must also be considered. Smaller dogs are not able to handle cold well, and dogs with shorter hair are also less tolerant of cold temperatures. The case is the opposite in the heat. Larger dogs with more hair are the least heat-tolerant. 

When considering adopting a dog, it's important to be realistic about the activity level that animal requires. If you're a marathoner who wants a running buddy, an English Bulldog is not a good choice. If you already have a pooch whose energy level surpasses yours, maybe use that as motivation to become a bit more active, yourself. 

Do you and your pooch exercise together? What are some of your favorite activities?

natural supplement for your pet: @somapet 20% off #couponcode

SomaPet is a 100% natural supplement for pets that we have been giving N.A.S.H.A. since last summer. She's still thriving on it, so I like to spread the word from time-to-time, especially when there is a killer sale on the stuff.

What is so great about SomaPet?

• strengthens collagen and bones

• improves immune system function

• renews vitality

• helps reduce body fat

• healthier skin and coat

• promotes cellular energy

• increases healing

It comes in powder form that you add directly to your pet's food. My favorite part is that it's 100% natural, so you're not giving your pet any additives or chemicals that could counteract the benefits. 

N.A.S.H.A., our nine-year-old mixed terrier is enjoying a healthier, shinier coat and an abundance of energy. My husband said to me just last week, "that SomaPet really works! Like, really! I can't believe how soft her coat is, now." 

I highly recommend you give SomaPet a shot, and now is an excellent time to do so because they are having a killer sale, today through January 31st. Just click the link, below and enter code NYVIGOR at checkout to receive 20% off your SomaPet order. Pawesome!

Come back and let us know how you like it!

phoenix family makes huge sacrifice for their pets

I read a post yesterday on Facebook that caught my attention. A client of mine reported that a friend of hers was in need of some camping gear. But not because she was going on a vacation. This woman and her family will be homeless as of the 30th of this month. They need camping gear to survive as a newly homeless family.

You see, money is tight for them like it is for so many others. This family has beloved pets, some of which are service animals, and their apartment gave them a mere thirty-days notice that they would no longer be accommodating animals. The service animals could stay by law, but the others who provide them so much emotional support could not. So the family had to make a choice: get rid of the animals or move.

They can't stay, and they don't have the money to move. They won't sever ties with their furry family members, so they are making a huge sacrifice. They are starting over, Little House on the Prairie-style. They are saving every dime and waiting for their tax return to come. Through the generosity of others, they have secured a large tent and a few other necessities, but they need so much more. 

Now before you judge...not that you would, but some might, and I know how these things go and what questions might be asked:

• If they don't have any money, why do they have pets?

• Why don't they just get rid of the pets so they can have a safe place to live?

• Why don't they get a better job that pays more?

Let me fill you in.

I spoke to Dawn, the matriarch of the family. She told me about her husband, Michael, her daughter, Kim (19 years old), and her daughter, Deanna (18 years old). 

Dawn suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS). Since our mutual friend who connected us also suffers from it, I am somewhat familiar with the disease, but, from what I understand, the symptoms and problems that arise from EDS are plentiful and infinite, and differ from person to person, so I would never claim to know all about it. The Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation describes it as:

"Individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) have a genetic defect in their connective tissue, the tissue that provides support to many body parts such as the skin, muscles, and ligaments. The fragile skin and unstable joints found in patients with EDS are the result of faulty or reduced amounts of collagen. Collagen is a protein which acts as a "glue" in the body, adding  strength and elasticity to connective tissue.

"EDS is a heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders, characterized by articular (joint) hyper mobility, skin extensibility and tissue fragility. There are six major types of EDS. The different types of EDS are classified according to their manifestations of signs and symptoms." 

I could provide you with the list of symptoms, but you'll probably move on to another post in your feed within the first...eh...twenty pages or so, so I'll let those of you who are truly interested in exploring more check out the link to the EDNF web site and see for yourselves. I encourage you to do so. In summary, it's like something out of a horror story. 

What Dawn has been able to achieve is remarkable. She beat the odds and got out of a wheelchair she had been sentenced to for life because of her EDS. She was in that wheelchair for thirteen (YES, 13) years. She describes her victory: "I was on my way to hospice when I said I needed help. I could ask an animal for anything; people much less so." Then along came Bella. Bella was a neglected and abused animal before she connected with Dawn. The two are inseparable. As an untrained rescue dog, Bella learned 53 commands and became her service dog. "Bella made me want to walk and fight and so much more. I have been out of a wheelchair for three years and pharmaceutical-free. I recovered both kidneys and my liver that thirteen years of medications had all but killed off. I did it all with my pets, for my girls, husband, and myself."

Not to be chiché, but they seem to be the definition of "rescuing each other." 

Dawn's daughters, now young adults, both have EDS. Now that they are both over 18, their Social Security benefits (like the kind people really need) are greatly reduced, so money is tighter than ever. To make matters worse, Deanna has autism. She will be filing for disability as a young adult, but these things take time.

So what about Dawn's husband, Michael? Where does he stand? 

Dawn filled me in. "Mike and I were teenage sweethearts...we are disabled family...Mike also has a connective tissue disorder that the doctors are trying to diagnose. He is barely physically able to work part time."

Despite all of these tribulations, the family devotes their time to and has been glued together by animal-related causes. Dawn told me that she doesn't remember a time when she wasn't rescuing some sort of creature (I could relate), and that she holds a special place in her heart for the bully and shepherd breeds–the underdogs. She says "so often they are overlooked, but they are wonderful little souls." Even though their family needs, they give to animals. Dawn reflects that "I have been trying to save every animal I could, since my first memories. Rescuing reptiles, dogs, cats, birds, and whatever helpless being heeded me...our rescue driving has been grounded, as the van has over 160,000 miles on it now, and we can't afford to replace it. All we ever asked for our transports is gas. We did the rest on a limited budget as a family."

Sometimes those who need the most give the most.

So what about their pack? Let's hear about their awesome animals! 

Seven: A therapy cat for Deanna. An elderly orange tabby.

Sweetness: An ESA/therapy dog. Helps the family to alert when Deanna is at her worst. This chihuahua also loves to cuddle with Michael.

Bella: Dawn's "pride and joy," as described. A five-year-old Anatolian Shepherd.

Monty and Snauters: leopard gekos.

Dawn let me know that with her husband's health decline and loss of part-time income due to his condition, they have financially slipped to the point where difficult decisions have to be made. She says "I am not taking my children back to low income housing where we were victims of crime multiple times...I looked into shelters, but none could keep us all together given our daughters' ages and the pets...So yes, we will be homeless, but only for a bit. I will not settle for this for my family."

Even at this bleak time, Dawn maintains a positive spirit and a great deal of hope. Once they receive their tax return, they plan to purchase an RV, some land, and build up a home with their own hands. She pictures it:

"We'll build up chicken coops for eggs, a barn for a goat for milk products, and places to grow fruits and vegetables year-round. Maybe even plant a small orchard for nuts, avocados, and olives. We will have to build up solar panels for power, and a water cistern for bathing and drinking. We will build planters and fill them by hand composting and building soil. Adding in greenhouses and cold boxes for a year-round natural food supply. It's going to be hard. Many would think impossibly so, but I have come back from death's door and proved many experts wrong with just that one act. I was also not supposed to be able to carry children, or to ever walk again. Being told something is hard or even impossible has never stopped me from giving something my everything until another path opens or I progress. The only futile thought is not even trying."

If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is.

So while they wait for their tax returns so that they can start the next chapter in their lives, they'll be camping. Right now, the family is working on gathering the essentials and minimizing expenditures as they spend their last week in their apartment. They are still in need of quite a few things, so if anyone local or otherwise can provide any of the following, they would be forever grateful:

• foster home for their elderly cat, Seven, who would not fare well in a tent.

• campfire cookware

• small camp stove or solar oven

• a few good warm, low temperature sleeping bags

• camp cots

Dawn says "anything will help, and everything is appreciated." 

She didn't ask for it, but I would be happy to facilitate any monetary donations that could go toward purchasing what they need in this transitional period. If you would like to donate, we've established a funding page.

When learning about this family's situation and the sacrifices they are making to keep their entire family together, it makes me cry and smile at the same time. While some people treat animals as if they are last year's fashion accessory, easily discarded, this struggling family is making a huge sacrifice to honor the commitment they made to their pets. They may not have much, but they have each other, and sometimes that's all a family needs to come out sparkling on the other end. 

Connect with EDNF on Facebook and Twitter.

dear lady selling her kids' guinea pig

I belong to a local group on Facebook that allows folks in our community to post things they have for sale, things they would like to trade, or things they are in search of. I've never sold or purchased anything from the group, but occasionally people are in search of a pet sitter, so I chime in where appropriate. People put all sorts of things on the site.

This morning I saw something for sale that disgusted me. 

Guinea pig. One year old. Sweet. The kids have simply "outgrown it." Paid $80 for everything...offering pet and cage and everything for a mere $60. 

I paraphrase, but you get the gist. The "outgrown it" part is a direct quote. 

I wonder how one outgrows a pet. I looked up the definition of "outgrow", just to make sure I'm not off-base or insensitive.

out•grow

/,out'gro/

verb

grow too big for (something). leave behind as one matures. grow faster or taller than.

So to outgrow a guinea pig or any other pet, it would require one to either grow too large for the animal or mature beyond the capacity to care for it. 

Let's cut the crap, lady.

Let's be clear.

Dear Lady Selling her Guinea Pig,

You didn't do the research any person should do when accepting a new pet into the household. You didn't realize how much time and care a guinea pig would require, and when your kids didn't pull their load, you were not "mature" enough to parent them and help them understand their responsibility, or–at the very least–take over their responsibility to make sure that the animal survives and thrives. You hold no love for or bond with this animal. You see it as a "thing" rather than a "being." Not only are you trying to find any old other home for this animal, you are also trying to make some money back on this living thing. 

Not that I'm judging.

Let's hope this guinea pig hits the lottery and finds a home much more loving than the one you and your rapidly excelling children have provided. Let's hope this little one finds a family who understands that a pet is not a thing. It's a living being with feelings. 

Let's hope that the person who "buys" your guinea pig understands the life span and care required before taking on the task. I doubt you'll screen for that, so we'll all have to cross our fingers.

Let's hope that their children won't "outgrow" the pet. 

Your children must be quite advanced. I know quite a few adults and children who have managed to stick by their pets through the years despite strides in maturity and physical growth.

So, lady, you suck.

I hope you outgrow your immaturity and lack of compassion and void of responsibility.

I congratulate your adorable guinea pig and wish him well in his new life. Please pass that on to him, if you will. 

Sincerely...

pet sitting vs. professional pet sitting

Isn't it true that anyone can be a pet sitter?

Technically, yes. I got my start taking care of the neighborhood pets when I was twelve years old. Looking back, I definitely left room for improvement. I was a pet sitter, but I was not a professional. I was a neighbor. I was a kid. I was cheap. Would I have hired me? Even though I was probably more responsible than the average twelve-year-old, I'd have to go with "no."

There is definitely a difference between a pet sitter and a professional pet sitter. Pet sitters can be neighbors or friends. If I had a dollar for every time a potential new client informed me that they "tried the neighbor, but it didn't really work out," I'd be a retired pet sitter. Neighbors and friends are great–as neighbors and friends. They have other stuff to worry about, so it's rare that your pets are their top priority. A professional pet sitter has chosen to make pet sitting a career and will place your pet's needs first. Sure, you'll pay more for a professional pet sitter than a neighbor, but, in the long run, it's worth it. 

There are several things that set professional pet sitters apart from pet sitters:

• Being bonded and insured. A professional pet sitter should be bonded and insured. If something happens, everyone is covered. If the neighbor leaves the water running and floods the house, you're SOL.

• Having a license. It is important to have a license to do business in your city and state, but realize that a business license does not require any knowledge in a field. A licensed pet sitter is simply one that is registered.

• Professional associations and knowledge. A professional pet sitter will likely belong to professional pet sitting organizations and will have training such as pet first aid. 

• Will do a consult. Professional pet sitters should come to your home to do an initial consult where you will see them interact with your pet and they can get a good feel for your pet's routine. Never hire a pet sitter you have never met.

• References. A professional pet sitter will have references you can call upon to verify the quality of his or her work. 

• Service contract. A service contract should be signed in order to protect both parties. 

• Experience. Depending on how long a professional pet sitter has been at it, he or she likely has much more experience dealing with animals and vacant homes than the neighbor does. A professional has a list and checks it twice and can draw upon their knowledge to deal with difficult or unusual situations and circumstances.

• Love. Professional pet sitters become such because they love animals. You should be able to see that love during the initial consultation and feel assured that your pet will be in the hands of someone who will not only provide food and water, but will go the extra mile to make sure your pet feels happy and secure in your absence. 

Since a professional pet sitter is being contracted to take care of your pets and your home for a designated period of time and they are being paid to do so, a quality sitter will honor that or even go above and beyond. Even though a neighbor or friend may be receiving some sort of compensation, it is more likely that they will rush the visit and not spend an optimum amount of time with the animals. Details may be overlooked.

This past holiday season, I was sharing the care of a client's pets with a neighbor. It's not something I like to do, but I was flexible about it because I know the client really needed to save money. Whenever another party will enter the home during the service contract period, I remind my client of my "dual care clause (included in the initial service contract)," which releases me of all liability during the service period. Since I don't have complete control over the situation, I cover my butt. I was contracted to go in once a day in the middle of the day to walk the dogs only, and the neighbor was making morning and evening visits, in charge of feeding and cleaning and what not. 

The pets were all healthy and seemed happy, and nothing disastrous happened, but I definitely noticed some things that I would have done differently, had the care been contracted to me 100%. For example, I don't believe the litter box was scooped at all during the course of the four days, and the area around the litter box was never swept. In addition, I noticed a puddle of piddle on the tile floor. I let it sit for two days to see if the other party would notice or clean it. When that didn't happen, I cleaned it. Newspapers were brought in by me...they may have sat in the driveway otherwise, alerting passers-by to the client's absence. The pets were fine, mind you, but the differences between what was being done by the neighbor and the care I would have provided as a professional were marked. 

When choosing a pet sitter to care for your fur babies, there are many factors to consider. Whether you choose to go with a neighbor, friend, or professional, it's important to be educated about the differences between pet sitters and professional pet sitters.

Leave it to me. I'm a professional.

Pet photo source: petsgetslim.co.uk