Staying Fit As Your Dog Ages

Regardless of what type of pet people care for and love, it is a big change when their pets become frail or injured. For dog owners though, these changes can affect the activity level of the whole family.

I have been a personal fitness trainer for over 14 years and know it is common for clients to choose to get a dog in part because it will make them get out and walk on a regular basis. Working out with an “exercise buddy” of any type can be a great way to stay motivated, enjoy companionship and have fun…until the two partners are not at the same level of fitness.

The other day I saw an older man out on a “walk” with his older looking dog. His dog was lying in some cool, shady grass while his owner stood there waiting. The dog looked remarkably comfortable and appeared to be in absolutely no hurry to get up any time soon. Perhaps they were both having a wonderful day, but it was not much exercise.

As we get older it is important to maintain, and hopefully even increase, our activity level in order to offset some of the muscular and cardiovascular declines that can come with aging. It is important for dog owners to take their own fitness goals into consideration and make sure to include other forms of exercise if the intensity or duration of the time spent walking and playing with their dogs goes down.

Since ‘dog years’ go by faster than human ones, a person may outlive a series of pets in his or her lifetime. It is hard to talk about losing a pet and the grieving process that may follow. Dog owners in particular may have a very difficult time continuing to get out for a walk after a beloved pet has passed away. The natural heavy feeling of the mourning process combined with no longer needing to cater to a dogs needs could easily lead to some extra time on the sofa.

If you have an aging dog, it would be wise to find some neighbors, friends or other family members and begin exercising more often with them now. This can stabilize your own health needs and better prepare you for an active lifestyle with companions you enjoy when your pet is no longer able. An extra suggestion is to choose a wider range of outdoor settings to visit and explore so that your exercise time is not exclusively in areas you are accustomed to visiting with your current pet.

Try and keep the exercise ups and downs of your dog in mind and make sure to keep yourself challenged at your own level. If you have additional questions about staying fit or are curious about having personalized sessions in Functional Fitness or Senior Wellness, feel free to contact me through my website: www.FunctionalFitness4you.com

Best wishes, Margo Rose