Volume 18, Number 1, Fall 2007

Exercise Is Going to the Dogs!

Gwin Simpson, president, Iosco County 4-H PUP Club

You might not think that taking the dog out for a walk is a lot of work or even exercise, but the members of the Iosco County 4-H Pretty Unique Pals (PUP) Dog Club know better. Parades, obedience and agility training are just part of the exercise that our members get.

In obedience, the audience will see the dog sit, lay and stay, but the dog and his master also perform figure eights and walks around toys and food to train the dog to ignore items that are not theirs.

Walking in the various parades, which can be from one mile to three miles, can become very interesting when kids are yelling and sirens are blaring. The strength needed in your arms and legs to hold the dogs can make your extremities rather tired and you realize you are burning a lot of calories during this time. Get six dogs together who are rather excited from the “energy” felt around them and this can make for a long and grueling walk. Now add the weather that can be hot or cold, and dodge a water balloon or two and you feel like you just did a cardiovascular routine on top of the walk.

Agility training provides the most exercise for both the member and their dog. Running from obstacle to obstacle (which include tunnels, shoots, A-frames, weave poles and a variety of jumps) as fast and accurately as you can during these timed events gets the heart pumping and the calories used up. Accuracy is a big factor in how many calories you burn because if you complete the course incorrectly, you must re-do the course!

Working with your dog is a lot of fun, but includes a lot of work and exercise. So the next time you see someone working or playing with their dog, it can be a reminder that exercise can be fun. Maybe you’ll think about joining a dog club for the “health of it.”