FitDog Friday - Swimming at Alpha Dog Club

With less daylight and colder temperatures, mom and I decided I should try a new fitness activity for the winter months.  We had wanted to check out Alpha Dog Club since they opened a year or two ago, and mom recently got a deal on Groupon to give it a try.  So a few weeks ago, I had my first swim at Alpha -- an Intro Swim, Assessment, & Ramp training.  First I learned to use the ramps to get in and out of the pool.

This is my "What crazy thing do you want me to do now, momma?" look

So this is how it works

I quickly got the hang of things and was able to swim without a leash.  

This ramp is pretty cool

I was doing so well, I got to take off the PFD (puppy flotation device) and swim NAKED.

Mom says I'm kinda' timid when it comes to pools. (In my defense, pools can be scary because they're deep and have steep sides.)  So she wasn't sure how much I'd like swimming at Alpha.  I used to swim in a pool at daycare every week, but the daycare pool closed a long time ago, so it's been a really long time since I've been in a pool.  

I was a little bit hesitant at first, but once I learned to use the ramps and I saw how easy it was to get in and out, I thought it was really FUN!  The nice lady kept throwing a Kong Wubba for me to retrieve and I was all happy and excited to be swimming and retrieving.  It made momma happy to see how much fun I was having while getting great exercise.

When we went back the following week, I was very happy to be there and eager to get started.

I'm ready for you to throw the ball
(note waggy tail)

I'm waiting

I remembered how to use the ramps.

  

And I once again had a great time.

I LIKE this place

We went back again the following week, and we've decided to make visits to Alpha Dog Club a weekly thing.  Swimming is an excellent way to get a full-body workout, and it's also FUN.  Since we do so much hiking, swimming is great for me because it exercises different muscles and helps loosen me up if I'm stiff or sore from hiking.  

If you live in or near Richmond, you should check out Alpha Dog Club.  The pool is heated and is saline (instead of chlorine) so it doesn't irritate my skin.  Once you graduate to unassisted swimming, you can join the pool buddies program for $10 swims, or you can save money by buying a package of swims.  Alpha Dog Club also offers Dog Massage, Treadmill Training, and Pet First Aid Classes.

A wet paw-print on momma's shirt
(I have NO idea how that happened)

Check out the other posts in the FitDog Friday Blog Hop (see links below) for more great ideas about fun ways to get and keep your pup fit.

FitDog Friday! Garth's Top Ten Reasons to Join PetsMove.Org

It's FitDog Friday!

What better day to share with you all the GREAT reasons I belong to PetsMove?

Garth's TOP TEN Reasons 

to Join PetsMove.Org

1. All the cool doggies are doing it

My buddy Gizmo (of Gizmo's Terrier Torrent)
is tough competition
(and no, we didn't feel like having photos taken)

2. You can get an inspiration band

3. You can make new friends & connect with 
others with similar interests on Forums

4. You can get info about dog exercise & nutrition

5. Accountability helps you stick to a program!

6. PetsMove.Org will help you get/stay fit, and fit doggies live longer & have fewer vet bills . . . 

& fit doggies have more FUN

Fit doggies: Ricky, me, and Makayla
Photo by Brian Padow, Canine Adventure

Photo by Brian Padow, Canine Adventure

7. Girl doggies like fit doggies!

8. You can get support in your fitness routine

9. You could BE ON TV

and, most importantly

10. You can WIN PRIZES (and who doesn't like to win prizes?)

So why not join PetsMove.Org today?  It doesn't cost anything, and the benefits are AWESOME.

FitDog Friday - Garth's TOP TEN Reasons to Exercise with Your Dog

1. It will make your dog happy

2. It will make you happy

3. It helps with stress for both doggies & humans 

Stress?  What stress?

4. It makes you and your dog look and feel better 

5. It's a great way to make new friends

Me and Trevor, Cooper, and Austin
on one of the first Human Adventure hikes mom & I led

Walking with Rocco of To Dog With Love
on the greenway at BlogPaws

6. It's FUN

7. When you & your dog are physically fit, you can do even more fun things


Photo by Brian Padow, Canine Adventure
I'm six years old.  I couldn't leap like this if I didn't walk every day, play fetch most days, and go for 2+ hour river romps two or more times a week.  

8. It tires your dog out so he/she is better behaved (it can even help with behavior problems)

Too tired to eat the carpet

Demonstrating my good behavior

9. $$$$$ - Dogs who exercise and maintain proper weight have lower vet bills and need fewer medications

10. Dogs who exercise and maintain proper weight live LONGER, healthier lives

Don't know where to start? See How to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit, Part I and Part II for some tips.

***BIG NEWS***

Our pals at SlimDoggy have a very exciting announcement today that will help you and your doggie stay motivated to exercise every day.  SlimDoggy.com also has all kinds of info on doggie nutrition, weight control, and exercise.  Check it out -- it's a fantastic resource.

It's FitDog Friday!  

FitDog Friday is a blog hop hosted by my friends SlimDoggy, 
Peggy's Pet Place, and To Dog With Love. Check out our hosts and the other bloggers in the hop (see below) for ideas, tips and inspiration for getting and keeping your pups fit and healthy.