The Dog Explosion: Maybe the Easiest Way to Stay Fit, Ever!
How Many Rescues Happened During Covid?
According to one article in the New York Times this spring, there were almost 300,000 dogs adopted in the US in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Perhaps one of the unrecognized advantages of the virus was the adoption of so many thousands of dogs, many from rescue facilities. When the proverbial shit hits the fan—in this case, that would be COVID!—and the comfort of the usual travel and entertainment vanishes, it seems that we humans continue to crave affection and closeness, wherever we can find it. A wonderful thing, in my opinion.
Enter—“Man’s and Woman’s Best Friend.”
Here’s a necessary reminder that shifting a lifestyle and/or fitness goal doesn’t always happen in a straight line or the way you might have at first imagined. But in the right environment and for those who can afford the undeniably increased expenses, a dog can help amp up your fitness level in a pain-free and delightful way.
Herewith: The Daily Walks.
In a 2019 NY Times article by Gretchen Reynolds, the writer noted that dog owners spend close to 300 minutes each week walking their dogs. That’s about 200 more minutes of walking time than non-dog owners do on average. Quite a statistic!
Even if you have a small dog, it must be taken outside daily and allowed to run and walk and sniff and cavort. And yes, this might be a no-brainer, but guess who gets to follow along with Fido without even thinking it’s exercise? And not to mention how much exploring the wonders of nature can impact your mental health. Well, okay, I’ll mention it!
Denise’s
2 Cents:
As a trainer, I’m always on the lookout for ways that people can enjoy staying fit without the strain or stress or financial drain, which many assume comes with the territory. And in my opinion, dog walking is the #1 choice.
Meet Curtis, who is walking Madeline and Henry and another dog who’s name I’ve forgotten. 🙁 You should know that even with the dogs hitching a ride, Curtis is walking a long loop, (5 miles at least sometimes), and one the dogs can’t always fully handle. If such is the case, Curtis lets them out in safe areas to wander around a bit, and then then pushes them on home.
And keep this in mind: for those of you not wanting the 100 percent responsibility or expense of dog ownership, what about sharing dog walks with your neighbors or someone who needs support with their pooch(s)? Seems like a win/win, as they say.