From time to time we all need a little help to keep us motivated in our quest to stay fit and healthy, so this month I am dedicating my column to my workout friend who has hiked hundreds and hundreds of miles with me in the local hills. She is a great sounding board, always the unconditional listener. She encouraged me to get out on days when I did not want to go and kept me hiking longer and farther on days I was tempted to stop short. She was a beautiful blonde with soulful brown eyes and her name was Twinkle. You might think with a name like that she was a go-go dancer but no she was our beloved yellow lab from Guide Dogs for the Blind and she passed from our lives recently.
I know from hiking and walking our local streets and trails there are a lot of people out there like me who love their dogs like one of the family and it is a tremendous loss when they pass. As a trained Guide Dog she was the top of her class and pulled into their breeding department where she would contribute to the program by having litters of puppies. And so she came into our lives in May 2001. As a guide she thought I was supposed to be her partner and so she followed me literally from the toilet to the closet, to the sink, to the kitchen, and the computer room, looking at me longingly when I had to leave the house for errands.
And like so many of your pets too, she knew all too well when I started to clothe myself in any type of workout gear…because that could only mean one thing, A HIKE! It is common knowledge that pet owners get out more and thus are fitter because they engage in regular outings. The Royal Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says it is more than that; it has more to do with the quality of the outing than simply the cardiovascular benefits. As a matter of fact, recent RSPCA research in Australia found that more than a third of people would sooner dump their partner than their pet. Now, I am not sure that I would go that far, given he is a national hero and all, but I have to say my first outing without Twinkle, I took Sully and told him he was my second choice!
Interestingly, when veterinarian Dr Marty Becker, correspondent for Good Morning America, got together with physician Dr Robert Kushner they discovered their patient’s obesity problem mirrored one another. The reason for excess fat in people and their pets is the same cause: too much food and not enough exercise. In their research for the new book Fitness Unleashed, they discovered the motivation the people will stick with. It seems humans will take more responsibility for helping the pet they love get healthy and end up helping themselves in the process. Ironic isn’t it?
Study after study reports the positive motivational benefits of having a dog. But it goes farther than that. In his book The Healing Power of Pets, veterinarian Dr Marty Beck reports that heart attack sufferers who own a dog do better in recovery. And tests show that simply petting a dog will flood the body with many beneficial hormones. In addition, they say couples who own pets are more satisfied in their marriage and have closer relationships. Go figure.
We were recently asked to participate in a new book coming out for the holidays called Top Dogs and Their Pets. It is a beautiful coffee table book of celebrities and their pets. At that point we were over scheduled and I was not exactly keen on taking the time to take pictures with our animals. But with Twinkle’s passing now I am so grateful to have it.
So in this glorious autumn season, do yourself and your four-legged friend a big favor and get out there. I wish you both many happy trails.
To find out more and watch the fun video for Top Dogs go to www.topdogspets.com. We are also big supporters of Animal Rescue Foundation or ARF and you can find us on the cover of the 2010 calendar with Twinkle and “The Kitty” go to www.arf.net.
TO YOUR PEAK
LORRIE SULLENBERGER