Exercising with pets

Point202

I do some cardio workout videos in my living room, and my shepherd/lab mix (85lb dog) thinks it is playtime, every time. He brings me toys and places them strategically in my way. It's turned into a game - I toss his toy, and he fetches while I do some cardio, when we transition to the next move, I toss it again... It makes for a good workout for both of us.

I've just started doing some weight lifting at home, and he thinks the barbell is for him to jump over / walk under. I don't want to hurt him by dropping the heavy weights on him, so I started locking him out of our basement where the weight room is. When I come upstairs, he is laying by the door and pouting because I left him out of something fun.

FireOpalCO

My dog is a German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix. She is great to walk with, since she definitely wants to go faster. I do have her on a pinch collar so she can't pull my arm out of its socket. I'm hoping to work my way up to being able to jog or run with her, since she definitely has the energy.

I've started doing Step at home on days when we can't walk and she sits outside and stares at me through the sliding glass door.

The cats just hang out upstairs, but they do like it when I move the couch to make room for the step.

tracydr

That's my experience, too. They think yoga workouts mean cuddle and puppy play.
We walk the dogs for 30-35 minutes twice a day. These little walks are good for all. My dogs are trained to be under control off-leash and wear a beeper on their neck that I can beep if they accidently do something wrong. We have so many bunnies and cats in our neighborhood but my dogs, who love to chase, don't do it when they have their beepers on.
The beepers are actually a Tri-tec electric collar but I never use the shock. I can have as many as three dogs with one remote, although my old dog passed away last year.
By having the collars on, it also meets our leash law.
I have a papillon ( 7 pound dog) and a large Doberman. ( 90 lbs) both have been to agility and obedience classes. Btw, agility is a workout, once you get past the early slow exercises. Eve watch the trainers on the televised competitions? The good ones are always ultra-fit.

toadg53

Rieann, my terrier is a rescue too; I am glad to know that mine isn't the only dumb one I've come to realize that I am just not a strong enuf person to be a terrier mom. And ya, she has no idea that: walk in front of mom...you're gonna get stepped on. She's a wild one. But she's a keeper anyway.

FIT_Goat

My dog nearly killed me one day. I was working out in the spare bedroom. He was laying on the bed watching. I started doing pushups. As I was coming up from the bottom of one pushup, he jumped off the bed onto the back of my head. I guess he thought it was a game. He was about 15kg at the time (33 lbs). He's a lot larger now.

As it was, it was bad. My face slammed into the carpet and I was knocked senseless for a second or two. My nose, while not broken, was bleeding profusely. My neck and head hurt for days.

The end result is, he's not allowed to work out with me anymore. The only time we exercise together is his daily walks.

Aaron_K123

I exercise at home with my cat. When I do push-ups he likes to assist by running under me everytime I push up which means I have to knock him out of the way in order to go back down. Its a fun game.

bookworm_847

I have two kitties who like to help me with awareness of my surroundings when I exercise. One cat likes to run back and forth from the living room chairs to the window, but she runs in front of me where I can kick or step on her if I'm not watching... I haven't gotten her yet, though! My other cat likes to burrow under my yoga mat when I'm not using it. She'll be feeling extra snuggly sometimes and will burrow under the back of it when I'm only sitting/standing at the front. So I have to watch her, too.

I had a cat once who would climb up on my chest or back when I was laying down for Pilates. I'd make him get down, but he'd get right back up again.

Strokingdiction

I walk 2-4 miles a day and run a couple of miles 2-3 a week with my large, athletic dog because he gets seriously depressed if I don't. He's a touch and go kind of pup, showing up every few minutes to touch base before sprinting off again. I walk and he disappears, ranging out about a 1/4 of a mile. You'd think he wouldn't know where I am or that he even needs me for the walk but the moment I stop the walk, he wants to come in the house too and won't go out by himself.

trinity5703

Ive got a big (70 pound) 10 yr old Belgian Tervuren, Very intelligent dog but If he doesn't get at least an hour walking daily (when HE wants it.. not on my schedule) he morphs into the most annoying creature on the face of the earth. He will sit next to my desk chair and just stare.... and the make that "huffing" noise if I ignore him. They were bred for heading, so if I get up for any reason and dont lace up my shoes and grabbed the leash quick enough to suit him he will "herd" me... nudging my legs with his body, (darn near knocking me over) and plant himself in front of me to prevent forward movement.

So yea, he gets his walk...now granted.. we dont walk real fast.... lets face it when a 70 pound dog HAS to check his "P-mail" and sniff every bush. tree, blade of grass within a 2 mile radius, your walk isnt going to be swift. (sigh) I love him tho, and he does force me to get the exercise I need.