They say you can get by with a little help from your friends. If your goal is to get fit this new year, why not let your most loyal, loving, and, frankly, adorable friend to motivate you? British olympic gymnast, Louis Smith, has a workout video that incorporates play time with your dog with a high-tempo workout routine.
"Petsercise" is the first ever instructional workout video for humans and dogs. You don't need to get out of your house or purchase expensive exercise equipment to follow this routine. All you need is an appropriate amount of space to move (i.e. your living room with furniture pushed to the edges), toys and treats, and a highly energetic dog.
Smith explained that the motivation to do this kind of exercise stems from the fact that dog obesity is now a real thing. Steve Jay, a representative for insurace company, More Than, which helped produce this video explained that the problem of overweight and out-of-shape pets is completely the human owner's fault.
"Just like us, every dog should have the opportunity to live a happy and healthy life," he told The Daily Mail UK. "However, where we can all choose to adopt healthier lifestyles, dogs can't make such an act of self-improvement alone."
According to The Association of Pet Obesity Prevention, 52.7 percent or 43.8 million dogs in the US are considered to be overweigt or obese in 2014. Only 45.1 percent of dogs are in their ideal shape.
Cats in the US are also experiencing similar weight problems. An estimated 57.9 percent of house felines are either obese or overweight. Meanwhile, 38.5 percent of cats are in a healthy shape.
"Petsercise" is developed with the help of personal trainers and vets, reported Cambridge News UK. There are six exercises designed for both humans and pets to burn those uneeded calories: Figure of Eights, Squat Throws, Bicycle Crunches, Sprints, Standing Lunges, and Pro Cobra. In each exercise, you keep your dog active and entertained by throwing a ball in between lunges, following a toy or a treat while running across your living room, etc.
