I confess that we have fallen out of our regular routine….if we ever had one. Really, this happens every winter.
During the summer we hike once a week average and walk several times a week. The rest of the year it is chilly and rainy in the City, and there is too much snow in the mountains, to walk o hike for any significant duration.
Earlier this year, in an attempt to motivate me during the dreary season, I posed a couple of challenges to our readers that involved walking with your dog regularly. I finished the challenges with Chester and Gretel but it didn’t change our habits long-term like I had hoped.
It’s spring in Seattle now which means that we get more showers than constant drizzle and more sunny days, or moments, than the weather man predicts. There is still too much snow in the mountains but we better get in shape because the full-blown hiking season will soon be upon us.
We’re ready for another fitness challenge to motivate us.
During the month of June we are participating in K9 Kamp, hosted my Kol’s Notes and Peggy’s Pet Place. You can visit their blogs for all of the details but the meat of the challenge (sorry pups…there is no actual meat involved) is to get active with your dog 30 minutes extra, 3 or 4 times per week.
Seeing as how we haven’t been doing much at all, we will meet the challenge by walking around our neighborhood or Local Park 3 to 4 times a week for 30 minutes. This will be the “extra” added to the low-elevation, snow-free hikes and Adventureweiner Club walks that are already planned.
K9 Kamp runs for four weeks, three or four times a year, with each Kamp session offering 3 1/2 weeks to complete a specific dog-and-pet parent fitness challenge. This first K9 Kamp runs from Friday May 31-Tuesday June 25. There is a core group of dog bloggers participating in this challenge but anyone with a dog is encouraged to participate with us.
I am working on some small challenges myself to put forth between the K9 Kamps to keep the motivation and progress toward better fitness going. Stay tuned for those. Also stay tuned to hear how our K9Kamp experience is going.
If you join the challenge, please post an update on your blog before June 20th about how it is going for you. If you don’t have your own blog you can let us know how it is going by leaving a comment on our K9 Kamp Challenge update post.
dina says
May 31, 2013 at 2:58 AMGood luck!
Kristine says
May 31, 2013 at 4:38 AMOkay, those little jackets are adorable! No reason you can’t all look stylish while exercising. Hopefully that will make it more fun for all three of you!
Peggy Frezon says
May 31, 2013 at 7:02 AMOkay K9Kamper time for inspection! Line up….who’s that in those little coats with camo and hearts? Looking good! Now let’s get Kamping!!! Thanks for joining us, I can’t wait to see what you’re up to!
Jessica Rhae says
May 31, 2013 at 12:09 PMAs you can see, we have come prepared 🙂
SlimDoggy says
May 31, 2013 at 7:34 AMGreat outfits…got to have the right gear for the right exercise. Nothing like K9Kamp to get you motivated. Glad to have you on the Hop!
Woof Woof Mama says
May 31, 2013 at 8:17 AMSuper CUTE outfits! We’re looking forward to seeing you at Kamp!
Jodi says
May 31, 2013 at 8:51 AMYou need a destructo dog to keep you motivated. If Delilah does not get a daily walk she goes into destructo mode. LOL It’s highly motivating! Do Chester and Gretel mind walking in the rain? Sampson and Delilah do not, so even if it’s rainy, we’re walking.
Seriously glad to be in this challenge with you! Happy Trails.
Jessica Rhae says
May 31, 2013 at 9:04 AMOh, yes…as a breed Dachshunds hate the rain! They are so low to the ground that mud and water constantly kicks up on to their belly. Unlike some Dachshund owners, I have taught Chester and Gretel to walk in it anyway. Chester will to a certain extent but hates it. Gretel is a little taller and doesn’t mind so much. Bottom line is that I could force them to go out in the rain but half the time the walk is not very pleasant for any of us (they get tired of being wet and I get tired of dragging them around).
Nigel says
May 31, 2013 at 1:35 PMJessica, the wiener you know a little about, Gigi, is 11+ now and when we take her out for a walk in Green Lake park she just wants to stop and smell the roses (haha, definitedly NOT roses) instead of walking at a steady pace. She used to love running all the way round the lake with me, but she seems lazy now, or maybe her age is catching up with her, just like mine is catching up with me! Any advice for getting her motivated? –Nigel Cushing
Jessica Rhae says
May 31, 2013 at 2:15 PMHi Nigel. I see Chester slowing own too as he grows older. He never seems to not want to hike but when it comes to walks around the neighborhood he is slower. I haven’t had to deal with this issue a lot myself. As you probably know, I am a dog (Dachshund) walker and I DO have a little client who likes to lollygag a lot. I find that “cheering them on” helps – “c’mon…good girl…yay…here we go”. I don’t deny that it looks silly to some people though 🙂 I have also tried encouragement with treats with some success. I encourage them along with voice and little tugs on the leash and then stop every few hundred feet to praise them and give them a treat. After the third or 4th time on a walk, all it takes is the encouragement. I guess one of the biggest things is just showing them that you mean business and that this is not the time to sniff every. little. thing. I keep up a brisk pace, give a little tug on the leash and say “come on” or “leave it” so they get the idea. At least that is the theory. As you know, this technique doesn’t always work because when a Dachshund wants to stop they will just dig in!
emma says
May 31, 2013 at 10:37 AMAhem…you two look like you are ready for a fashion show…this is K9 Kamp 🙂 So cute! looking forward to Kamping with you the next few weeks. Oddly we get our more in the winter than the summer because none of us, including mom like the heat but we are out early so it is not too bad. Happy walking!
Jessica Rhae says
May 31, 2013 at 12:07 PMThere is no reason you can’t work out AND look good 🙂
emma says
May 31, 2013 at 12:18 PMMom says I am a live Swiffer…she won’t even let me wear a bandana outdoors because I get everything dirty 🙂 My sister on the other hand stays shiny clean…she goes around the puddle, I go through the middle and occasionally lied down for a bit!
Faith @ The Twilight Bark says
May 31, 2013 at 11:41 AMFor our first day of kamp, we took a page out of your book & went for a hike! Bowser really seemed to enjoy it!
Jessica Rhae says
May 31, 2013 at 12:08 PMWas this Bowser’s first hike? We are going hiking tomorrow with some friends from our Adventureweiner Club. I am not sure we can count it for the challenge though because it was already planned…and therefore not “extra” 🙂
Faith @ The Twilight Bark says
May 31, 2013 at 1:14 PMIt sure was! He had a blast! Now, if only we could find some more hiking trails in South Florida…
Kolchak, Felix & Jodi says
May 31, 2013 at 7:00 PMRain jackets in a West Coast Spring are essential walking gear (plus your pups look woofing adorable!) We can’t wait to hear about your fitness and hiking (and we’re excited about your mini challenges!)
Sue at Talking Dogs says
June 1, 2013 at 6:16 AMWow! Those cute outfits! You definitely need to get out more just to show them off!
GizmoGeodog says
June 1, 2013 at 8:53 AMSummer is the hardest time for us to be active cause it’s just too darn hot, but I’ve come up with a few ideas to try to get some extra activity into our weeks…I ws really happy Giz and I were invited to Kamp and am eager to read what ideas the other Kampers come up with
Talent Hounds says
June 5, 2015 at 8:13 AMLove their jackets! Good luck with K9 Kamp.