I never thought of being a fur mom. It was only last year that I received my first dog, Chia, as a gift. I admit, I was not mentally and emotionally prepared at that time. But the very first day I got her and she slept beside me, everything changed. I fell in love with her right away.
Chia is celebrating her first birthday today, and she has significantly contributed to my overall well-being. I was very used to my usual routines before having her. Life surely was easier, but I didn’t realize how much more it could be better with Chia in our lives.
Incorporating Chia’s routines (walks, toilet time, eating, playtime, sleep) into my schedule helped me become more flexible in approaching life. She made my life fuller and happier. My stress levels dropped significantly, and my quality of life has jumped to another level—it has gone beyond my fixed healthy routines.
Here are some fitness and wellness trends you can try with your dogs that I have been applying with Chia to create a well-balanced life.
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Health monitoring: GPS and health tracking collars
Aside from your care and the recommended vet visits to ensure your dog’s optimal health, maximizing the use of technology can significantly enhance your dog’s overall quality of life. There are a lot of fitness trackers you can attach to your dog’s collar to choose from. With the inclusion of a GPS tracker, you can also track your dog in real-time. Some can also monitor your dog’s barking patterns, stress levels, and moods.
Earlier this year, I got Chia a Tractive fitness tracker, which also doubles as a GPS tracker (perfect for escape artists like her). However, I needed to pay P12,000 in advance for a two-year subscription to GPS tracking and data access (although some trackers don’t require a subscription).
Chia’s tracker provides me with information about her daily wellness score, which is an aggregate of her activity level, sleep, heart rate, calorie burn, and respiratory rate. Having a tracker ensures that she consistently gets the right amount of movement (playtime and outdoor walk) and night and day sleep. You can also see the overall rank of your dog in terms of activity level compared to other dogs.
Exercise: Going beyond walking
You can play with your dog several times a day (or whenever you’re at home), even for just five minutes, by doing fetch, chase, or tug of war. Just make sure to offer a safe home environment by avoiding toys with sharp edges, blocking unsafe areas, and keeping hazardous items (such as chocolate, garlic, medications, and electrical cords) out of reach.
Getting some playtime is also a good way to help pet owners pause and take their minds off work or routine activities. Do keep in mind to give your dog portion-controlled, healthy treats to help manage their health and weight. In Chia’s case, I give her real food treats, such as cooked vegetables (kangkong, carrot, pumpkin), small amounts of her chia pancake (made with chia seeds and banana), and natural peanut butter.
Taking four to five short outdoor walks of 5 to 10 minutes each for your dog’s urination and defecation can easily add up to 20 to 50 minutes of movement and bonding each day. You can also get your much-needed vitamin D from the sun in the morning.
Involve your dog in your weekend physical activities, such as outdoor walks, mini hikes, or a visit to your local park. Since we got Chia, our Sundays have changed a bit. I don’t run together with my husband anymore because while I run, he walks with Chia, and we take turns.
Join dog events such as fun runs, group exercise classes, pet festivals, and competitions. Aside from giving your dog a good workout, occasionally exposing them to these events can help sharpen their mental and socialization skills. So far, Chia has joined two one-kilometer dog races in the past five months, and these running events were truly amazing due to the lively, engaging, and fun environment—you could also see dogs wearing their best costumes, and all the pet owners were proud and excited for their dogs. And here’s the best part: There are so many freebies.
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Recovery: Fixing the home environment and creating a sleep routine
When your dog sleeps well, you get enough rest too. Spending time and effort to give your dog their much-needed sleep should always be a priority. It is essential to your quality of life, energy management, and overall well-being. Dogs need an average of 14 hours of sleep (combined night and day sleep), but this also depends on your dog’s age (more for puppies), breed, and activity level.
Involve your dog in your consistent sleep routine. You can both go to bed 30 to 60 minutes before the target sleep time and devote that time to a relaxing moment together. I go to bed with Chia and my husband at 8:30 or 9:00 p.m., and she’s usually asleep 30 minutes after our relaxing bedtime routine. She sleeps soundly and wakes up at 4:45 a.m. with us.
During the daytime, dogs also need to sleep or nap to maintain a balanced energy level throughout the day. Allot a comfortable nap space for your dog. Ensure that the amount of naps doesn’t interfere with the night sleep (average of 8 to 10 hours for adult dogs). Chia completes her cycles of naps while I work at home (online) during the day, and together with me when I get the chance to nap in the afternoon.
Email the author at [email protected] or follow/message her on Instagram @mitchfelipemendoza
