Fitting In Fit Dog Time

Typist: Huxley
It has been a busy week. Bethany spent a few days and nights taking care of two young friends of ours while their parents were out of town. The good news is that my dachshund, Wilhelm, corgi, Brychwyn, and I got to spend a lot of time with two kid friends we have all known our whole lives. The bad news is that these kids are very busy and driving them to and from school, volleyball, soccer and piano seemed like it might cut into our fit dog time. But it didn't! We still had really fun FitDog adventures! Maybe our busy week fitness ideas will help you with fitting in fit dog time whenever you get busy too.

Wilhelm, Brychwyn and I at the soccer fields and ready for fit dog time.

Wilhelm, Brychwyn and I went to pick the kids up from school. It was a little bit crowded in the station wagon with three dogs, two kids, Bethany and all the kids school and soccer stuff, but we made it work. We took the kids to soccer practice at Starfire Sports. While soccer practice was going on, Bethany took Wilhelm, Brychwyn and I for a walk! She even used the high distraction area to practice some basic obedience commands with each of us dogs. Physical and mental stimulation for us and the kids all in one stop. Great multitasking, Bethany!

Fit dog and fit kid time.

I liked my walk but soccer looks like fun too.

Fitting in fit dog time.

Starfire Sports is a pretty special place with lot's of trails around and through the soccer fields. There were a lot of other fit dogs walking around whose humans had the same idea about fitting in fit dog time while the kids got fit kid time. We Cascadian Nomads loved this everybody moving environment!

Sit Stay

Down Stay

Stand Stay

Fitting in fit dog hydration too

The next day, while one of the kids had her piano lesson, the other young human, Bethany and us fit dogs, got to walk through one of our favorite parks, Fauntleroy Park. It was a really hot day so this cool forest walk was just what we needed. Then before the kids started their homework, we had some chasing, tugging and wrestling time with our young friends. It sure was good for us fit dogs and Bethany said it was good for the busy kids to unwind a bit too. How great is it that I got to play and help busy, stressed kids? All a collie ever wants is to be helpful, after all. And play, of course.

So fitting in fit dog time is easy, right? Okay. It's not. But we want everyone to be able to make fit dog time happen so here are some ways to help you get out and get moving even during your busiest times:

• Take the dogs along. It was a bit crowded for all of us to drive two kids around but it's how we fit in our fit dog time. As long as your trip
  

        doesn't involve leaving your dog in the car alone, you can fit in even a few short walks* or training                 sessions while your busily out and about.

• Get up early. I know. I don't like to get up early either. But getting up early and getting in some fit dog time is better than not getting in fit dog time. And I, like all dogs, love time with my humans no matter what time it is.
• Stay up late. Not to watch TV or chat on Facebook but to get in some fit dog time. Our neighborhood is nice and quiet at night and Wilhelm, Brychwyn and I love late night walks. Maybe your dog would too.
• Make sacrifices. Hopefully you won't be too busy for regular fit dog time forever so during busy days, weeks or months, you might have to make some sacrifices to fit in fit dog time. Getting up early and staying up late are definitely two examples of this but others are watching less TV, spending less time on the computer or missing a night out with friends. Fit time with your best friend is more important anyways, right?
• Multitask. One great way to make fit dog and fit human time is skipping the no dogs allowed gym or yoga class and having a workout with your dog. Take your dog with you to practices and lessons like Bethany did during her busy week to do human and canine fitness time together. Maybe when your kid has a play date or you have dinner with friends, they have a dog that would like a play date or fit dog friend time too? Even playing fetch, scent/nose work games or practicing obedience in the house while you cook dinner, do the dishes or help your kids with their homework can be good fun* for your fit dog when you are busy.
  
• Go back to school. Even just one agility, flyball, Treibball or other active dog sport class a week can mean a lot to keep your fit dog fit. It can also be a great workout for you or your kid.
  
• Focused time. Small amounts of focused time can make a big difference when you are too busy for a 30 minute cardio walk with your fit dog. One or two quick walks or jogs around the block are better than nothing. Rapidly throwing the ball or frisbee in the yard for five minutes is a better workout for us fit dogs than intermittently playing between phone calls or homework help.*
• Seek help. If you are often too busy for fit dog time, maybe a dog walker or doggie daycare would help your dog stay fit. Just make sure that your dog walker or day care facility know that you are counting on your dog getting a workout and burning calories during their time with them. Our occasional dog walker sees her job as a crate break/potty break giver and not as an exercise partner. And our occasional doggie daycare cycles dogs through playtime groups so there is quite a lot of crate time.
  

I love going to soccer practice.

And I love my friend.

I'd like to try this soccer thing...

*Most indoor games or short workouts are not a substitute for actual cardio workouts with your fit dog. Just like humans, canines don't burn a lot of calories unless their heart rates get and remain elevated and their tongues hang out of their mouths. Wait. The tongues hanging out part may be just for canines.

Check with your veterinarian before beginning or changing your dogs exercise routine.
Cascadian Nomads was not asked to or paid to promote any businesses or organizations mentioned and linked in this post. We're just sharing information or stuff we like!

How do you fit in FitDog time when you're busy?