The Health Benefits Of Walking Your Dog

We all know the many benefits our dogs get when we walk them. But dog owners enjoy numerous health benefits from this activity as well. Nature has provided us not only man’s best friend but also the perfect personal trainers. They are hardworking, loyal, and enthusiastic. Their energy is contagious that they provide good motivation to maintain a program.

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Here are some of the benefits of owning and walking your dog regularly:

• Breast cancer risk reduced by 75 percent and heart disease by 49 percent from regular walking exercise.
• Good social support plus people who walk their dogs are perceived as friendly and approachable.
• Dog owners who reportedly walk their dogs are 25 percent less likely to gain obesity than people without dogs.
• Studies show that 70 percent of adult dog owners achieved 150 minutes of exercise per week compared to only 40 percent among non-owners.

If having a hard time following through on your New Year’s resolution to exercise daily, maybe having a dog is the answer. Go get yourself a dog, grab a leash, and go for a walk.

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Hi, I’m Scott Jay Abraham, and I love my dog Shadow. I like to go to odd places that are ruggedly handsome in my free time to take pictures. I usually take Shadow with me. Visit my blog for more updates like this.

Getting To Know Your Pet: Qualities And Temperaments Of Dachshunds

Dachshunds are the smallest in the hound family but the biggest in terms of determination and spirit. They are well known as wiener dogs because of their long body and tiny legs. If you're considering getting a dachshund pup, then here are some things you need to know:

Image source: animalbreeds.com

The good

Dachshunds are very loyal, clever, and brave to a fault. They have a whole lot of personality for animals with such a small and fragile body. They usually have strong personalities, which makes them good watchdogs. They will not take kindly to strangers and their bark will instantly alert you of suspicious people.

They are ideal for people living in apartments because of their compact bodies and they don't need much exercise so a yard is not a requirement. Grooming is easy for dachshunds, save for the long haired variety, who needs to be brushed frequently.

The bad

Their strong personalities often equate to stubbornness so you might experience a little difficulty in training dachshunds. Despite their tiny bodies, they can be very loud. They're not very friendly with other dogs and strangers and can be possessive and territorial.

Image source: fourlittlepaws.com

Because of their long bodies and tiny legs, their main setback is their health. They are very prone to back trouble like disk problems and paralysis.

Hello there! I'm Scott Jay Abraham and I love my dachshund, Shadow. Read more about our adventures from this blog

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Fight the Fido flab and then some: Fitness tips for dogs (and their masters)

So Shadow and I are packing on the pounds as of late. This may become a problem later, so it's for the best that we do something about it now.

It should come to no surprise to anyone that our animal friends too can become overweight and be susceptible to health problems much like we do when we let ourselves go. This is particularly jarring for dogs as they are, without a doubt, some of the most active creatures on earth. If your dog is packing on the pounds, then it might be high time to ramp up your walking routine or in.

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Dogs are working creatures, first domesticated by people to hunt and gather alongside them. Many dogs were bred specifically as working animals, and the life of a pampered playmate usually goes against this. In addition to making them fat, this sedentary lifestyle has caused many of them no end to mental frustration as their pent-up instincts need to be satisfied in some way. If you've ever had a misbehaving dog, this may be one of the reasons why.

Playtime is one of the best exercises for dogs as it lets them vent their instincts in non-destructive ways. And I'm not just talking about the kind of play dogs do by themselves when you leave them with their favorite toys. Regularly playing with your pooch not only lets your dog blow off steam, but it also reinforces the bond between master and companion and is an excellent exercise in its own right for both.

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Seek a vet's opinion on what activities you and your dog can do before planning a play schedule. Too much rigorous play and exercise can be bad for some breeds. Here's a quick guide from the ASPCA for more information.

Industrial interior planner and dog lover Scott Jay Abraham here. Catch more updates from me and my canine pal Shadow on Twitter.