Tag Archives: trail dogs

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 43:23 Move Consistently Throughout the Year

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Labrador Lesson for 10/28/23:

Move Consistently Throughout the Year.

The Labradors LOVE to get outside to move in the Fall (and Winter), but they know it’s important to keep moving throughout the year…even during the Summer, when they’d prefer to play inside an air-conditioned house. Moving consistently throughout the year provides physical and mental health benefits…and allows you to be prepared to move more during your favorite seasons. We all have our preferences for ideal movement weather, but with preparation and adaptation, we can enjoy moving outside year-round.

Move more. Move often. Take a tip from the Labs: move consistently throughout the year.

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 42:23 Take Your Time

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Labrador Lesson for 10-21-23:

Take Your Time.

Welcome to the first official Saturday edition of Labrador Lessons. As Labradors, we understand that humans are sometimes in a rush to cram too many activities into a single day…Unfortunately, that rush may prevent you from getting the most out of each activity on your schedule. During the Summer, our humans often rush us through our morning walk to Beat The Heat. Now that cooler temperatures have arrived, we’re reminding them…and you…to take the time to enjoy your movement session. Take a tip from us: make the time to focus on the positive aspects of your movement activity AND your environment.

Whether you have 2 legs or 4, remember to take your time. Move more. Move often. Make time to enjoy your movement and your time outside.

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 41:23 Remember to Have Fun

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Labrador Lesson for 10-13-23:

Remember to have fun.

As Labradors, we don’t read the news, but we see just enough television and social media to know that there is no shortage of negativity in the world. Take a tip from us: focus on the positive and remember to have fun. Our fun times include walking with our humans (on leash, for their safety); chewing sticks; and watching deer 🦌 and turkeys 🦃. We also love frolicking in the snow, but even when there’s no snow, we remember to have fun when we get outside.

Whether you have 2 legs or 4, remember to have fun…in your movement practice, and in the rest of your life. Focus on the positive and create fun times whenever possible.

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 39:23 Enhance Your Dog’s Quality of Life

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Labrador Lesson for 9/29/23:

Enhance your dog’s quality of life.

We all want our dogs to live long, healthy, happy lives. Here are 3 simple tips for enhancing your dog’s quality of life: 1. Keep your dog at a healthy weight. This calls for a combination of portion control and movement. Consult your vet or a dog trainer if you need guidance in formulating a plan. 2. Keep your dog active, ideally on soft surfaces with a healthy dose of hills to utilize more muscle mass. 3. Be present with your dog, who may not make good/safe decisions when left unsupervised.

Move more. Move often. Move with your dog. Get outside and enjoy hoodie season.

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 38:23 Make The Outdoors More Pleasant for All

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Labrador Lesson for 9/24/23:

Make the Outdoors Pleasant for All.

The Labs have 3 recommendations for dog owners to help everyone (with or without a dog) enjoy spending time outside this Fall. 1. Pick up after your dog. No one wants to see 💩 on the trail (or field, or playground…). 2. Obey the leash laws. Keeping your dog on a leash in public places allows others, who may be afraid of dogs, to enjoy being outside. Leashing your dog also helps keep your dog safe. Left to their own devices, dogs may make bad decisions…like running in front of a car, chasing a wild animal, or eating something dangerous. 3. Even if your dog is on-leash and friendly, not everyone wants to meet him/her, so for the comfort of all involved, keep your dog close when you’re around people you don’t know.

Move more. Move often. Move with your dog. Take a tip from the Labs: do your part to make the outdoors pleasant for all. And keep your dogs close to keep them safe.

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 37:23 Make Movement a Priority

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Labrador Lesson for 9/16/23:

Make Movement a Priority.

Major life changes, even positive life changes, create stress and disrupt our regularly scheduled activities. The Labs suggest that when life gets busy and/or stressful, you find a way to make time to move…especially if that movement includes walking your dog(s). Regular movement may help manage stress. Movement also provides mental and physical health benefits.

Move more. Move often. Take a tip from the Labs: when life gets busy/stressful, make time to move and play!

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 35:23 Why the Labs Are Excited About Fall

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Labrador Lesson for 9/1/23:

Why the Labs are excited about Fall.

The Labs have noticed that humans sometimes get sad about the end of Summer. So they wanted to share 3 things they are looking forward to once Summer is over. 1. Cooler temperatures make walking in a fur coat much more comfortable. 2. Fall foliage. They love to crunch through fallen leaves 🍁 and munch on the occasional acorn or wild apple 🍏. 3. Once the temperatures get cold and the grasses die down, they can spend more time hiking in the woods with less concern about ticks.

Move more. Move often. Don’t be sad that Summer is ending. Get excited that Fall is coming!

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 25:23 Paw Protection Reminder

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Labrador Lesson for 6/16/23:

Paw Protection Reminder.

As Labradors, we like to get outside to move year-round, but when the heat of Summer arrives, we need to take steps to protect our paws. While we can do a great “hot girl walk,” we want to avoid a hot paw walk!Our humans adapt our route to seek shade and soft surfaces. If we need to walk in the sun, we avoid the mid-day heat, and our humans test the surface temperature with their hands before we put our paws at risk. If the surface temperature gets too warm, we’ll cut our walk short or find a cooler, soft-surface route. The goal is to keep moving year-round…without risking an injury.

Move more. Move often. Adapt your movement routine as necessary to keep your 4-legged friends safe and healthy through the Summer.

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 21:23 Leash Your Humans

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Labrador Lesson for 5/19/23:

Leash Your Humans.

As Labradors, we love to take walks with our humans. We know how to follow the rules of the trail and how to share outdoor space with others. When we encounter other trail users, we give them plenty of room to pass. And we ALWAYS obey the leash laws. Not everyone wants to have a close encounter with an off-leash human (or dog), so we always keep our human on a leash. If your humans play well with others, you can take them to a designated off-leash area…our human does not play well with others, so we keep him leashed.

Whether you have 2 legs or 4, get outside and get moving…and when you do, please follow the leash laws, so that ALL trail/park users can enjoy the outdoors!

 

Movement is a Lifestyle Features 13:20 Gracie and Maggie

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Moving2Live is a podcast about movement and exercise for professionals and aficionados.  We also have Movement is a Lifestyle Features. Each week, we publish a brief highlight of a 2- or 4-legged mover…someone who understands that movement is a lifestyle…not just an activity.  The questions are lightly edited to allow for easy readability.  Click MIAL Features for more info if you want to be featured/know someone who should be featured.

This Week: Moving2Live’s Gracie the Cat and Maggie the Black Lab

Where do you consider “Home”? Finleyville, PA…it’s South of Pittsburgh

What are your three favorite movement activities? Gracie the Cat (G): Chasing the white and black cat around the house; jumping up to windowsills and bookshelves; pacing while waiting for my staff to serve breakfast and dinner

Maggie the Black Lab (M): Hiking in the woods with my staff (I’m a trail dog); running downhill; wrestling with Puddin the Yellow Lab

Describe the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Where did you go? What movement activities did you include? M: I’ve got this one. Our lives are pretty much a vacation, and I’ve heard the cats don’t like to ride in cars. I did have a road trip with the staff a while ago…we drove to Ohio. On the way, I visited a pet store. People told me I was a good dog. While we were in Ohio, we met Puddin the Yellow Lab and brought her home with us. On the drive home, we stopped at rest stops and a park to stretch our legs. It was great!

What is your favorite pre- or post-workout snack? G: Until recently, I only had an interest in chicken flavored cat food…then I discovered pumpkin…wow…best snack ever!

M: I agree with Gracie about the pumpkin. I’m also a big fan of berries, plain yogurt, and carrots.

What is your favorite thing to eat? Note: it does not need to be healthy. G: Chicken or turkey…I’m not sure why the staff doesn’t make it for me more often…they seem determined to give me chicken-flavored cat food, which is fine, but…real turkey breast is better

M: That’s a tough call…frozen fruit…probably strawberries, but mango is also delicious

Do you have a movement activity on your “bucket list”? If not, what’s a movement activity/event you’re looking forward to in the next year? G: I’d like to jump from the floor to the top shelf in the office in one leap…so far, I’ve had to stop at the desk on the way up

M: I don’t have a bucket list item, but I’d like to do another hiking challenge where we get a medal at the end.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to getting people to move more? G: I’ve got this one. People seem to think movement needs to be scheduled, organized, and/or complicated. They need to learn that all you need to do is get off the bed and move…you don’t even need to leave the house.

What do you feel is the most adventurous movement activity you’ve ever done? G: I have explored every shelf in the house…even the ones close to the ceiling.

M: Long single-track hikes in Mingo Creek Park…sometimes we even have to jump over or crawl under fallen trees that are blocking our path.

What is your favorite recovery or self-care practice? G: I believe I speak for both of us when I say: NAPS. It’s important to get enough rest. Bonus points for varying your napping location throughout the day to maximize the ability to nap in a sun spot.

What is your favorite spot within an hour of where you are currently living? (Bonus points if it is a “hidden gem”) G: A folded up comforter in the windowsill of the utility room. It’s usually quiet, and it gets the morning sun.

M: The blacktop outside the Observatory at Mingo Creek Park. When we summit Mt. Mingo, the staff gets on the ground and hangs out with me while I scratch my back on the blacktop.

Contact information for Gracie and Maggie:
Gracie and Maggie do not maintain their own social media accounts, but you can follow them through Moving2Live at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mov2liv/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movingtoliv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_mov2liv