Dog Walking

[Mar]

Oh my poor dog!! The last four days I have been taking my dog on one hour power walks after work. My SO usually walks her during the week and I take her on weekends. But, she's been ill with a bad cold.

Because I've been doing the walking for cardio, everytime she stops to sniff a fire hydrant or a pile of leaves, I pull on her collar and tell her "C'mon Montana I have to keep my heart rate up." I've been so bummed because I haven't been able to do Cathe or any other cardio. Anyone else use walking as cardio? I'll be dragging her up and down the hilly streets again tonite. LOL

Mar}(

 

[Kathy02]

You know, maybe you can try to pick it up to a jog? My dog prefers jogging to walking because then I'm keeping up with how fast he wants to go. I pull on him too when he wants to stop and smell whatever it is that he smells. That way you'll feel a little better about your cardio, because you'll be raising your heartbeat.

Kathy

 

[kelley111]

I do a lot of walking, but I'm not sure how much cardio I'm getting out of it. I also walk with my dog and she is a bit overweight. The first day I took her walking I think she panted for like an hour after we returned and had drool on the floor. Poor thing. She has gotten a lot better, and we're now walking farther and faster. As a matter of fact, the last time we went walking she actually took me instead of me taking her. I almost had to jog to keep up with her. She is still fat, though. I don't think she has lost any weight, but she has definitely improved her cardiovascular health. We haven't walked since Friday because of rain and I'm hoping we'll get to go this evening as I really thinks she misses it.

I also do Cathe for cardio a couple of times per week.

 

[ColleenM]

>Because I've been doing the walking for cardio, everytime she
>stops to sniff a fire hydrant or a pile of leaves, I pull on
>her collar and tell her "C'mon Montana I have to keep my heart
>rate up."

Teach her a leave it command and it will be easier for you. You can teach it by having a treat/cookie in your hand with your fist closed. She'll probaby goes nuts trying to get it. When she finally stops, give her the cookie. I clicker train so at that point, I'd click and give the cookie to mark the behavior. Once she has that down, try putting a cookie on the floor and cover it with your hand so she can't get it. She'll probably try again and again. When she stops trying, give her the cookie. When she is reliable with it, THEN give it a name. Don't name the behavior until she has it down.

You could also teach her a go go go command to get her excited and moving faster.

Colleen

 

[Timber99]

I always stop at one creatin spot (abandoned rialroad tracks with grass, etc.) w/my dog so she can do her business and get it overwith. That stops her from stopping ten times along the way. We also stop there on the way back. After all these years (we don't go regularly but often enough), she now knows that on the way there and back she gets to go to "her spot" and usually does her business there on the way home. I have convinced myself that she "knows" and so she "waits."

We always start out walking and she gives me the "come on mom, pick up the pace look!" Even on the really tired days, I have to break into a jog, at least for a few minutes for her!

 

[dss62467]

The only time I walked for cardio was when I was postpartem and wasn't "allowed" to do intense exercise for 6 weeks (I think I waited 4). If you take your dog, maybe you could jog in place while she does her business.