Keeping Fido Fit During the Holidays

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for some, but for people and pets, it can be a time of stress, little exercise and holiday happenings. With the average weight gain during the holiday season of 8 – 12 pounds (and that’s just humans….) Oh My Dog!!! That’s probably not the gift you or your clients were hoping for this year!

What better way to PAWtner with your clients than to help them with exercise? Here are some Cool Yule holiday exercises. Recommend these to your clients or better yet, incorporate them into your December activities with pets and use them to market the fun you have at your pet care facility!

Santa’s Sit & Sleigh Lunges

1. Begin standing with your feet together. Your dog should be on your left side
2. Take a giant step out to your right with your right leg, landing with your knee bent to absorb the impact. As you step, bring your dog with you, switching lead to right side. Have him sit while you hold the lunge for a count of 15 seconds.
3. Push off the right food and return to starting position with your dog moving with you in same direction. During each side, be sure to hold the lunge while your dog is in an obedient sit.
4. Repeat 10 times on the right and 10 times on the left, providing your dog plenty of praise.

Rudolph’s Reverse Lunges

1. With your dog directly in front of you, holding the leash in your left hand a guiding with your right, begin in a standing position.
2. Take a giant step backward with your left leg, reaching in your right leg back behind you. Lower the body down so your left knee forms a 90 degree angle.
3. Press through the heel of your left foot and return to standing. Alternate between your right and left leg. With each step, bringing your dog with you.
4. Perform the same step backward using your right leg, with your left leg behind you.
5. Repeat 10 times on the right leg and 10 times on the left leg.

Candy Cane Canine Crunch

Instead of reaching for the candy dish, reach for your canine!

1. Start with your back down on the ground and your dog sitting and staying on your left side!
2. Inch your feet in until your knees are bent!
3. Place your hands on the back of your head or behind your ears!
4. Engage your abdominals as you lift your shoulder blades off the ground!
5. Hold the crunch and while keeping your lower spine and hips flat, reach one arm across to touch your opposite knee!
6. Return your hand behind your head as you use your abs to slowly lower your shoulders back to the ground!
7. Briefly rest before you perform another crunch and reach to the opposite side!
8. To make things more interesting, alternate lifting one foot off the ground and point your knee to your head on every up!
9. Praise your dog for being obedient and staying by giving them a pat on the head with your hand on every other canine crunch!

As the Leader in human/canine fitness in the Nation, it is our business to get people and their pooches healthy. Being healthy begins with a healthy weight for both humans and dogs. K9 Fit Cub believes that that a great fitness program and a smart and healthy weight program can help reduce the risk of future health problems.

Happy Holidays!