How to Exercise With Your Pet

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Has your cat put on a few extra pounds? Has your dog grown lazy? Heck, are you fat and lazy? Get off the couch and involve everyone in your fitness routine. Here are four exercises you can do with your pets. Burn some calories! (We even count ’em for you.) Now drop and give us 20. You, too, furball.

How to Exercise With Your Pet

#1. WALL SITS WITH YOUR CAT
Squat with your back firmly against a wall. Take care that your knees do not extend past your toes. Hold this position for one minute while whisking around a string with a piece of tuna tied to it for kitty. Repeat three times.
You: Works hamstrings, quadriceps.
Pet: Great cardio workout.
Calories: Your cat will burn 30 calories chasing the string for five minutes, and will be very agitated if you don’t hand over the tuna at the end.

#2. ROTATOR CUFF BALL THROW WITH YOUR DOG
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Contract your abs so it feels like you are drawing your bellybutton toward your spine. Hold a tennis ball close to your belly button, bending your elbow to 90 degrees. Moving your right shoulder away from your body, throw the ball sideways. Your dog should fetch and retrieve. Repeat 10 times on each side.
You: Rotator cuff. Pet: Cardio mania!
Calories: Your dog will burn about 170.

#3. TRICEP BALL THROW WITH YOUR DOG
Take the same stance and contract your abs as in Exercise 2. Holding the tennis ball in both hands, bring your arms overhead so your triceps are facing forward, and your hands behind head. Hold that position for a second, then bring your arms over your head and forward, throwing the ball. Your dog should fetch. Repeat 15 times.
You: Triceps, shoulders. Pet: Cardio.
Calories: Score another 110 for the dog.

#4. SQUATS WITH YOUR CAT – WE DARE YOU TO TRY IT
Hold your cat close to your chest. Take the same stance and contract your abs as in Exercises 2 & 3. Imagine a public toilet behind you that you really don’t want to sit on. Thrust your hips back, bend your knees and lower your butt like you might use that toilet. Don’t let your knees go over your toes as you squat down. Repeat 10 times.
You: Works hamstrings, quadriceps.
Pet: Greatly tests your cat’s patience.

Reprinted with permission from Dig & Scratch.

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Tags dog health dog too fat exercise Pet Health