It’s no secret that sharing your life with a companion animal can make you feel better. But what you may not realize is that your animal friend can make you fitter, too!
Dogs, cats, horses and even birds and fish can be good for your health and fitness levels. That’s because all of our animal companions require exercise and clean environments to be healthy and happy themselves, so taking care of your pet helps your health, too!
Most experts agree that optimal exercise for domestic non-working dogs is a 30 minute exercise or play session at least four times a week. For cats, fifteen minutes once a day can help keep them happy and healthy. Horses need daily turnout or a good half hour to hour of work each day. Of course, daily exercise is best for your pet, and for you, so if you can fit in more playtime, go for it!
So, how many calories can you burn keeping your animals happy? Take a look – all calorie estimates are based on a 150 pound person spending 10 minutes on each activity:
Running with your dog
|
100 |
| Cantering your horse |
93 |
| Riding your horse at a posting trot |
74 |
| Walking the dog (15 minute/mile) |
52 |
| Sweeping/raking the barn |
45 |
| Frisbee with your dog (or cat) |
41 |
| Cleaning up after your birds, fish
or exotics |
27 |
| Riding your horse at the walk |
27 |
| Playing with dangle toys for your cat |
15 |
If you give your animals the care and exercise they need to stay healthy, it’s a likely bet that you’ll stay healthy, too! For more information on how to burn calories exercising, visit www.EquiSearch.com or www.NutriStrategy.com
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