Dog walking for weight loss

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Replies

  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,068 Member
    It depends on how you walk your dog - granted, even a leisurely stroll is better than sitting on the couch, but I wouldn't consider it as being "exercise."

    My last dog, however, our walks were meant to give her a workout, not to get her to go to the bathroom (had a yard for that) and she was a big dog, so walks were definitely a (minor) workout, but I could turn them into legitimate workouts if running, hills, climbing, etc were included.
  • Munchberry
    Munchberry Posts: 172 Member
    If she is pully and it bothers your arm, you might want to try a Gentle Lead. When my dog was young (yet big) she basically made sport of trying to pull my arm from my socket. A gentle lead nipped it. It is this little halter that goes around their muzzle (loosely) and connects to the leash. She tries to veer off straight and it gently annoys her enough to make her stop. Dogs can still pant and drink.

    I think they make for fun walks. Sometimes not too productive since everyone wants to pet... still - you will know your neighbors better!
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,731 Member
    Msmaeflowers, I too have to go on 2 or 3 walks. I take 3 of my younger/faster walkers for the long walk, then 2 slower ones for short walk. Shirley, who can go either way depending on the day will go in one group or the other. It was foggy cold & wet this morning but I took them out at 8:30 before I went to work/church. Really wore me out, being sick & all
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,731 Member
    Do any of you take your dogs out with your bike? I've been doing that for many years, so many that 20+ yrs ago when it wasn't popular, some ppl would yell the word "cruel" when we wizzed by them with my dog pulling me on the bike. Now a days I only take one of my dogs out sometime on bike & I don't let him pull
  • Jaydensmamma
    Jaydensmamma Posts: 41 Member
    Its the best! Especially if you run and play with your pup. I worked as a dog walker with only one or two dogs a day and I lost weight. Before that, I worked with lots of dogs in a daycare, played with them all day and was very skinny no matter what I ate. Children and dogs are the best to chase after in the park and its fun! Lol.
  • lillyblack1982
    lillyblack1982 Posts: 63 Member
    The boy and I got 6 miles in today. Hiking just isn’t as fun without him.
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  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,731 Member
    beautiful dog
  • cenafan
    cenafan Posts: 398 Member
    It's my main form of exercise. We walk/hike between 7-10km a day. The fresh air and walking is great for me and the dogs.

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  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,731 Member
    Today we walked 1 1/2 hrs, the first 45min was power walking
  • 100_PROOF_
    100_PROOF_ Posts: 1,168 Member
    Yes! I have 2 pitbulls and we walk every night. It's relaxing and gets them ready to settle down for the night. It's great for all of us!
    Someone else recently spoke about this. people in another thread assumed that a member only took her dog outside to use the bathroom once per day because she said she does a walk for 40 minutes per day . I'll say now that my dogs get about 8 bathroom breaks plus a nightly walk just so I don't get accused too! The poor thing never came back to her thread after that.
  • LearningToFly13
    LearningToFly13 Posts: 329 Member
    Munchberry wrote: »
    If she is pully and it bothers your arm, you might want to try a Gentle Lead. When my dog was young (yet big) she basically made sport of trying to pull my arm from my socket. A gentle lead nipped it. It is this little halter that goes around their muzzle (loosely) and connects to the leash. She tries to veer off straight and it gently annoys her enough to make her stop. Dogs can still pant and drink.

    I think they make for fun walks. Sometimes not too productive since everyone wants to pet... still - you will know your neighbors better!

    I have one of these for my golden retriever but he's so stubborn, he still tries to pull against it. He's a nightmare, it's a good job I love him <3>:)
  • SarahMacphail1
    SarahMacphail1 Posts: 36 Member
    Evamutt wrote: »
    How old is your child SarahM? I would take mine (& still do it with my grand dtr who's 4) in the jogging stoller with the dogs. She gets out & walks for a little then gets tired & gets a ride

    He's 2 and a half so 3 miles is fantastic really lol. I struggle with dog and buggy plus jack creates holy hell at being in it now. It's more him investigating everything that slows us but as I say, I really do feel he benefits from it. Better than no exercise at all and if I really want to do a long walk I use a carrier and stick him on my back but he prefers to walk.
  • SarahMacphail1
    SarahMacphail1 Posts: 36 Member
    susanbowen2 wrote: »
    Yes! I have 2 pitbulls and we walk every night. It's relaxing and gets them ready to settle down for the night. It's great for all of us!
    Someone else recently spoke about this. people in another thread assumed that a member only took her dog outside to use the bathroom once per day because she said she does a walk for 40 minutes per day . I'll say now that my dogs get about 8 bathroom breaks plus a nightly walk just so I don't get accused too! The poor thing never came back to her thread after that.

    Ugh I've had that before. My dog generally gets an hour to 2 hours on a walk once a day, sometimes more if we go out for the day. I don't count bathroom trips as walks any more than I count walking to the bathroom exercise for me!
  • LZMiner
    LZMiner Posts: 300 Member
    YESSS!!! Walking a dog is a great way to exercise!
  • imsjohnson
    imsjohnson Posts: 2 Member
    love taking my 1 yr 6 month rottie on walks..she loves it
  • poisonesse
    poisonesse Posts: 573 Member
    I've lost over 50 pounds walking my dogs... if you want to count 5-8 mile hikes through the FL wild lands walking the dogs... lol It's great exercise, even if they pull terribly (especially when they see a deer or wild hog!), but even that burns calories AND helps build upper body strength! GO for it! (And make the hubby come with, so he gets some exercise as well! ;-) )

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