You know that feeling you get when you’ve eaten too much and it’s been a while since you’ve hit the gym? You feel absolutely awful about yourself. Well if you’ve got an overweight dog, he or she probably feels the same way. Obesity rates in dogs are on the rise, just as it can be seen in their human counterparts. Why not combat this unhealthy trend by pushing your dog to get in shape. Dogs don’t feed themselves and they usually can’t go out for exercise without a little help, so it’s your responsibility to make sure your dog is at a healthy weight. There are tons of fun ways for you and your dog to workout together. Check out my list below for some suggestions.

1. Go for a jog together. This can be a refreshing activity for the both of you. Jogging simply isn’t that fun unless you have a workout buddy. So grab your running shoes and a leash. If you think they may be a little too strenuous for you or your dog, take it easy. You can start out walking first and then gradually work your way up to a fast paced jog.

2. Play Frisbee in the park. This is a relatively low intensity workout, but as long as you dedicate about an hour of your time, it’s burn tons of calories for you and your dog.

3. Go swimming. You don’t actually have to get in the water, but take your dog to a local lake. Brings some toys with you, throw them out into the water and watch your dog chase after them. If your dog is a little water shy, then may want to bring your swimming gear as well. If he or she sees you get in, they’ll be more likely to follow.

4. Teach your dog tricks. Make sure they are physical tricks. Commands like ‘speak’ simply won’t do, but if you can train you dog to rollover or to walk on their hind legs, it’s sure to get them more active. Anything is better than having them curled up on an orthopedic dog bed all day.

Well there you have it. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to have to make a little effort if you want to get your dog in shape. If getting more physical activity doesn’t seem to be helping, then maybe you’re feeding your dog a little too much. Avoid the table scraps and get outside with your dog. Who knows, you might even lose a pounds in the process as well.

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