Buy a Dog To Get Healthy?

I suggest you change the word "buy" to adopt, which should be the first choice. My Husky makes sure she walks me 2 miles daily - and she never forgets her workout :-)

You don't have to own a dog to benefit -- borrow someone elses! I take my neighbors dog out most days when I'm doing my intervals. I like having her along even though she's also a pain in the £$%^!! E.g. stops to sniff other dogs backsides when I'm trying to do the hard bits :-)

Mike.

KB,

Good point!

If one is serious about actually getting a dog, I think adoption is often the best way to do it, especially if you've got a shelter full of needy dogs nearby.

This post was meant more as a warning to the sort of people whose first instinct when they hear something might help them lose weight is to run off and "buy" it. People should get dogs because they're wonderful, not as a diet aid.

But thanks for the excellent point about adoption!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. I have had to bear witness to so many people making the mistake of getting a pet when they have no room in their lives for one. It is always the pet that suffers. In my opinion, the decision to get a pet is almost the same as deciding to have a child. You are making a decision to alter you life in order to care for another life. The rewards are great, but the work is significant. Because the pet is an animal, people tend to believe they can be ignored or tossed out without much consideration. It is just heart breaking.

Again, thank you for reminding people of the great responsibility that goes along with pet ownership.

I adopted a dog 2 years ago - and lost 40 pounds in next 4 months. Though my dog certainly wasn't entirely responsible for my transformation, I was accountable to the dog. I couldn't skip any morning runs, because my dog needed his exercise.

Now I have 2. They are fantastic and I always have a running partner or 2 - regardless of the time, weather, or day of the week.

It's heartbreakingly common to see people get all excited about fuzzy puppy and then abandoning it when it becomes a needy, albeit loving, grown dog.
If you think you want a dog, please think it through carefully before bringing a dependent critter into your life.

On the upside, once you've found the right dog to adopt (and rescue groups, both breed specific and general, take care to match dog and owner), you'll have a companion who will not judge you, no matter how you feel that day. Not only does my Golden Retriever (adopted, of course) accompany with me on my daily run, but he also makes a great playmate for my little boy. Cruise is there for me when I laugh and when I cry. He never judges me when I fall off the diet wagon, and often, keeps me from overeating, because he INSISTS on sharing.....

When it's said and done, properly chosen, with your eyes WIDE open, dogs are awesome for your health. Not only because they "make" you exercise (and if you have a fenced yard, it sort of takes that out of the equation), but because they offer a calming presence during stress, and comic relief just when you need it, even if you didn't think you did.

KB --- Huskies are the BEST! I owned one growing up.

Definitely adopt, but in my experience you pretty much have to put down money for an animal at the pound. Not all that much, but still. There is the sense that you've "bought" something. Maybe you can get them for free in other places.

I've never adopted a dog, but we adopted the best little kitty in the world. She cost $75 at the shelter (to cover her spaying and medical costs, actually), and she's worth every penny and more. The only exercise we got, though, is what we expended assembling cat skyscrapers (2) but that was considerable!

I found this article to be very helpful. I am considering buying a dog soon, more for wanting one and ready to take on the responsibility. I find that the exercise part of it will be a bonus.

I am looking forward to owning a dog, some time in the future.

My mother lost a lot of weight and kept it off when she got a dog twelve years ago. The problem now is that her dog is very old and just can't walk as far or as long as she used to. My mother put some of her weight back on and took a while to realize it was probably because she was getting less dog-walking in. Now she's having to find ways to make time to walk and is missing her dog on these walks quite a bit. Actually, that's been really difficult for her. She knows her dog doesn't have long to live and is finding it painful to experience things on her own that that she associates with her dog.

Deirdre said:
Deirdre[...]

Wow, I love hearing these inspiring dog stories.

I have to confess I have a bit of dog envy--I've had dogs before but right now just a cat. They really are remarkable animals.

(And Deirdre, sorry to hear about your Mom's ailing dog, but I like Dr. J's suggestion! Don't know if it's practical for your mom in her situation but it sounds like a very sweet solution.)

Call me nuts, but I think I heard of someone training their dog to run on a treadmill by using dog treats tied to the front to keep it enticed to run in a straight line. I wish I could remember where I heard this. Or, why they did it. I think it was actually so they didn't have to take it for a walk. Though I don't think anyone should get a dog with this idea in mind. Doggies need fresh air and play room, just like the rest of us!

Excellent list of reminders. Might I add that different dogs shed different amounts of hair. We have two dogs who spend far more time inside with me than "big fierce pig dogs" ought! One has a lot of greyhound in him and hardly sheds; the other has a lot of cattle dog and retreiver and I could make a fur coat out of what she leaves behind each day. Poodles are wonderful - they leave little tufts of "wool" about that you can actually pick up rather than loose hair.

When my mother passed away 5 years ago, I adopted her Chow. Now my furry running partner is getting older and cant go very far, so there are 2 outings. My morning run and her leisurly stroll. Growing up, I always had at least 2 dogs and a cat, so the responsibility is no biggie. She has a great personality but she does shed ALOT.

Fabulous ideas, everyone! Something that no one pointed out is to get the RIGHT breed for you. If you jog, dont get a Pug. If you camp - might not want a herding breed (vocal, chase, etc). If you are allergic - get a poodle. (dont believe that those doodles are hypoallergenic). If you like dogs that are quiet and mellow - dont get a terrier of any sort. MOST good rescue groups will help you through this process because they know the dogs breeds and personalities. Happy Hunting Dog Lovers!

I adopted my Lab/Rottie mix from the shelter 8 1/2 years ago and when I got her, she LOVED to run with me (and she had the energy to burn, so I took her). She even has her own portable doggy water bottle. But now that she's older, she doesn't like to run so much anymore. She does still love to walk though. We are considering adopting another pup that will run with me. I've heard that Vizslas and Weimeraners and Huskies make good running buddies...so we'll see.

Oh, and one thing...any of those ads you see in the paper for a "puggle" or a "bichopoo" or whatever the heck else selling for $300+, don't buy them. They are just overpriced mutts. You are better off adopting a mix from the shelter...that way you aren't supporting irresponsible breeders and/or puppy mills. Just my 2 cents. I can't stand the people that intentionally breed mutts and charge tons of money for pups that aren't AKC registered.

What a great article. I actually had a Standard Poodle given to me (not a good idea, but, you deal) with the idea that they are hypoallergenic. Well, if you are only allergic to fur, yes, that is true. If, however, like most people you are allergic to dander, it is not. Dander is caused from saliva and even though Poodles don't have dander like other dogs, they do have saliva. I have yet to meet a dog that didn't like to lick, or "cold nose" a person, not to mention picking up slobbery toys. I did find that a daily antihistamine worked quite well to keep the welts down, unless I was shaving him or trimming nails, then it was just a bit too much.

My parents have 5 shelties that my dad used to walk every single day, twice a day. Then they fenced their yard in so he could let the dogs out to run on their own instead of walking them. The result? My dad gained 20 lbs in the next 3 months. He was wondering what was causing it and then he realized it was the lack of walking. Now, he walks the dogs in the morning regardless of the fact that the yard is fenced in.

Exercise
Discipline
Affection

In that order.

- Cesar Millan

I have 2 Great Danes who love walks -- all I have to do is way 'walk' and they are at the door practically breaking it down to go... of course I get my cardio and strength training walking them...they are have a combined weight of 300 pounds ;)

While I totally get that having a dog should make you more active, given they need regular walking, etc. However where I go for a walk each morning, the dogs are running round wildly, but the humans ain't doing a lot of activity. Instead they're doing a whole lot of talking, gossiping, while watching their dogs running around, but not much actual walking . . .

And then they get back in their cars and drive home satisfied they've had their daily exercise.

I don't have a dog, but they do seem to get people out and moving. I'm amazed it's only 55 minutes more exercise a week.

After many years of being a cat only person, my wife introduced me to the pleasures of sharing life with a dog as a companion. Since then we have be-friended a variety of dogs both large and small, from a Labrador through to our current little pocket rocket "Lilly" who is a Pomeranian.

I have found the extra energy and the unconditional friendship from dogs to be extremely helpful in motivating me to regain my fitness and to exercise regulary. I totally encourage anyone who wants to get fit, and loves animals, to adopt a canine friend and enjoy life to the fullest.

I love my dogs. They're squishy and furry and sweet. I can hug them anytime I want and they always appreciate it.

I have a little bichon that we found as a stray and took home from the shelter. She's extremely smart, hardly ever barks and has the most lively personality. I have asthma and she has never bothered me, when virtually every other dog has, except for sometimes when her hair gets really long and kind of filthy. She always wants to go outside and run evvverryywhere, so don't think just a big dog will give you good exercise. Also, i definitely recommend adopting, it seems the experience of being on the streets makes the dog more intelligent.

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norabarnacle said:
norabarnacle[...]

OK, this just made me laugh out loud. Because, you see, I'm training my Golden Retriever to walk on the treadmill. Not because I want him to exercise without me, but just because I *can*. I'm in the camp that says "the more you teach your dog to do, the better companion they are". He also removes my socks for me, closes the door behind us, helps my son pick up his toys and put them away, in addition to the normal sit, stay, down, heel, etc., that every polite dog should do.

Sorry about that ^ up there - I still haven't gotten the hang of this "quote" thing.

I agree with author.Our Tommy helps us two times daily by taking us for walking.He is our family member and we, husband and wife love him as our second son.Our both children love him more than even us.WE PRAY to GOD to give us and our Tommy long life.

hi
"Dog ownership appears to have "a positive influence on health,"" I Agree . I found book at Online shopping E-Teramarket "Getting in TTouch with Your Dog: How to Influence Behaviour, Health and Performance: How to Understand and Influence Behaviour, Personality and Health" It is fantastic

Mari said:
hi
"Dog ownership appears to have "a positive influence on health,"" I Agree . I found book at Online [...]

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please if you are the not the person concern do sent it back to me

i love doys and are my favourate,they are very sensitive and good behave when you get to known them better,i say so because most of my clients are ever happy with the pets i sell to them.so any person having problem to understand his dogs could kingly asked any question by sending a mail to jesuspricess@yahoo.com

Dogs really do add a great deal of joy to people's lives. They are great companions and though they are a lot of work are great to have around! Mary