A DOG is your BodiBuddie

Posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2009

A DOG is your BodiBuddie!! I love walking my Grand-dog because it’s good for me but really I do it for her…she loves me for it. When I am getting ready to take her out for a walk, she starts racing up and down the stairs in complete dog ecstasy. That excitement puts a huge smile on my face and I feel totally satisfied to be giving her such buddies_72pleasure. On the trail I am at peace walking in the redwoods with an animal, one that looks back at me to be sure I’m staying up with her. When we get home my legs and heart are stronger and my bodi buddie falls contentedly asleep sprawled out on the floor.

Benefits of walking with a dog:

  • Forces you to go outside and walk because dog’s have to use the bathroom…it’s necessary.
  • Always there, never call with an excuse.
  • Persistent in demanding to be walked.
  • Provides increased safety, greatly reducing your chances of being accosted.
  • Increases your visibility in your neighborhood by walking regularly with your canine companion.

AND you can lose weight walking a dog!

Can You Walk Off Pounds With Your Dog?

Walking the dog 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week produced an average weight loss of 14 pounds for participants in a University of Missouri-Columbia study.

The additional walking time for dog walkers adds up to about 600 calories a week. Over a year’s time, that’s enough to burn off 10 pounds or prevent adding 10 pounds.
Another study showed that dog owners got almost twice as much mild to moderate exercise as those without dogs. The duty to walk the dog made the difference.

Walking a dog can make the difference between getting out and walking and deciding to skip it for the day. The commitment to the dog enforces faithfulness to a simple exercise program. “Many participants in the study told us that they didn’t necessarily walk in the study because they knew it was good for their health; they enjoyed walking because they knew it was good for the animals,” said researcher Rebecca Johnson in a press release.
SOURCE: University of Missouri-Columbia, news release, October 2005
Last Updated: 12/10/05

Dog Walking Stories:

Carol Koch: I have a spouse who is not particularly interested in walking; and while I have a few friends who enjoy it, getting together or walking at the same pace seems to be a problem. Sam is always willing to go, matches my pace, loves it, and is good company. What more can you ask in a walking buddy?

On more information on how to keep your pet healthy, check out this book! Dr. Pitcairn’s New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats