For those who are seeking a change, the start of the new year is often seen as a signal for a fresh start be it in work, relationships, health or life in general.
Setting resolutions at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve is a way of commemorating the start of these changes.
Starting the resolutions is the easy part, committing to them is the hard part. It’s usually around the two-week mark into the new routine that people start slacking off while thinking: this sucks!
One way to help stick to the new routine is to recruit a partner to help keep you accountable to the changes that you want to accomplish.
Most people wouldn’t consider their dog to be a good partner in maintaining goals, but when it comes to the resolution that tends to top most peoples list there really is no better partner.
Losing weight, getting in better shape or adopting an overall healthier lifestyle tends to be in the top 3 of most people’s resolution goals and Fido is the best health and lifestyle coach there is.
Most people tend to gravitate towards group classes or sign up for a gym membership when it comes to changing their fitness habits. Both of these are great to start but they tend to offer little in the way of variety, often resulting in people giving up and dropping out due to the hard physical work they are not used to or boredom because of the repetitive nature of the classes.
But to really make a change and get the result you want, you have to adopt a completely new outlook on how exercise is incorporated into your life. It’s more than a six-week boot camp or three days a week of weight training at the gym. It is a complete change of lifestyle, and utilizing a dog’s natural love of fitness can keep the interest alive and the focus on a healthy lifestyle change.
Right about now some of you are probably wondering why a dog trainer is giving health and fitness advice. Well, besides being a dog trainer I am also a certified Pilates instructor and fitness coach. I often combine fitness programs into my dog training programs.
There are plenty of canine-related outdoor activities that can be incorporated into a new healthy lifestyle. Boot camps are great but so is snowshoeing with your dog for an hour in the gorgeous local mountains. You can do both. Not in one day but certainly in one week. Bored of running on a treadmill or through your neighbourhood? How about something a bit more adventurous like skijoring (a person on skis being pulled by a dog) with your dog?
Both of those activities get you and your dog out of a walking or exercise rut and out enjoying the natural beauty and fresh air of the outdoors. The benefit is not only a more fit owner and dog but an improved bond between the owner and dog.
The local trails offer loads of hiking opportunities but it gets a bit tedious if you follow the same routine every day. Source out alternate trails off the beaten path or hike the local ones with a friend. Find a dog-friendly hiking group with fellow canine-owning fitness lovers and make a point of meeting a couple of times of week for a good hike with the dogs and maybe an après hike coffee for socializing and support. It’s a great way to make new friends (outside of Facebook) and keep the healthy lifestyle focus. Can’t find a canine hiking group? Then start one.
Facebook is a great way to set up a local group and invite people to join in your activity. Not on Facebook? Then post notices at pet stores, coffee shops or the local recreation centre. Most of these places have public notice boards for these sorts of things. Dog people tend to be very supportive of one another and if you create a hiking group of like minds who want a healthier lifestyle for themselves with their dogs you are even more likely to stick to your new year’s goals.
If a healthier lifestyle is one of your resolutions and you are struggling to stay focused, find a way to include your dog. Your health and, of course, your dog will benefit from your commitment.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her through her website k9kinship.com.
