#SuperDogSunday: Active Minds and Bodies

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Doga Workout: Good for Us All!

Here at All Things Dog Blog we've got our own funky way of dealing with #SuperDogSunday. Many would say we're nuts, but the dogs and I enjoy our mental and physical activity in lots of fun ways--often with #doga--yoga with the dogs.

In order to share some of our silliness with you, hubs shots some pics of our adventure through two or three simple poses. Oliver did some great stretching, balancing and twirling, Tanner worked on his self restraint by leaving the treats alone, even when I placed them on the floor in front of his toes, and both boys practiced running in for the Doga session when I called "Come!". Football players do something similar at the opening of the Super Bowl, but they aren't so lucky as to be rewarded with Zuke's treats:

When the dogs and I are well worked out, we'll be ready for the big game and all that sitting. I'll admit I'm not one to jump up and cheer unless the Packers are playing, which sadly, they are not. They did come very close, but not close enough. Meanwhile, the dogs are all dressed out for the game and ready to run in and kick off some fun:

While we watch the game the dogs will likely be snoozing after their doga workout. Especially Oliver, whose balancing twirls can sometimes get a bit tiring. Tanner tires out more easily these days, pushing onward toward age 9 now. I like giving him treats that are good for his joints, since Retrievers are prone to hip displaysia. That's why one of his favorites is Hip Action with Glucosamine and Chondroitin. So far so good for this boy's hips. He continues to swim regularly and we keep his weight on the light side to assure there's no stress on those joints. Hip Hip Hurray for Zuke's Hip Action!

Watch for more doga fun, rewarded by Zuke's treats, coming soon. And don't forget to RSVP to join the party. We hope to see you all on Thursday evening at 8 PM ET, when we'll be handing out more than $750 in Zuke's treats. Be sure to bring your active pet pics to share. We love seeing your pups in action! In addition, you can enter our pre-game #giveaway here.

Here's to #SuperDogSunday,

As a member of the Event Barkers team, I'm offering this Twitter Party information as a part of our work with Zuke's to share information about their products. You'll find these details and more on our partners' websites: DogTipper.com and ToDogWithLove.com. These events are open to US households and entrants age 18 and older.Void where prohibited.

Dr. Julie Talks Exercise for Your Dog

by Dr. Julie Buzby

Exercise is Good for All

It’s been the coldest winter in 100 years in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, my home.  This has curbed much of our family’s normal outdoor activity, including long walks for our dog.  I bought him his first coat, but he’s as eager as we are to get back inside on these bitter days.  Consequently, I’ve noticed a subtle change in his muscle tone and his behavior tending toward neurotic.  I know it’s because he’s not expending enough energy on our walks!

Exercise is essential for the wellbeing of our dogs.  Physical activity helps our pets maintain a healthy body weight and muscle mass, reduces their risk of certain diseases, and is vital to psychologic wellbeing. 

Exercise Enhances Bonding

We’re in the middle of a series of articles on helping your dog live a long, healthy life.  Exercise may be a reasonable substitute for the Fountain Of Youth!  A 2012 study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute found that exercise had a stronger correlation to life expectancy than body weight.  Further, whether a person was of normal body weight, overweight, or obese, increased physical activity added years of life.  Though more physical activity generally corresponded to a longer life expectancy, even modest amount of exercises were proven to pay dividends in health and longevity.

Although this research was done in humans, it should encourage us to stop making excuses and provide opportunities for our pets to move!   An exercise program should be tailored specifically to your dog, taking into account breed, age, physical condition and health status, as well as your own lifestyle. 

Start slow and slowly work up to higher levels of activity as exercise tolerance improves.  Unless your dog has medical restrictions, he should be able to tolerate 20 minute leash walks at least 5 days a week, working up to one hour walks.  Other options for activity include swimming, retrieval play, jogging, and biking.  Beware of “weekend warrior” activity, which commonly leads to unfit dogs overdoing it and suffering injuries.

I’m a huge believer in the old adage “Use it or lose it.”  Be inspired knowing that wherever you and your dog are on the fitness spectrum, you’re likely to extend your lives together through exercise.  A consistent exercise plan will positively impact your dog’s quality and quantity of life!  In fact, as research has shown, it’s good for both ends of the leash!

Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.In her free time she serves on the Advisory Board for The Grey Muzzle Organization. She can be found at Twitter @DrBuzby and on Facebook.com/ToeGrips. You'll also find more of Dr. Julie's posts at our Ask the Vet Archives page.

Here are a few of her articles that may be of interest:

• 10 Tips for Fido's Longest Life
• Leaner Pets Live Longer
• Finicky Eaters
• Our Vet's Best Advice on Nutrition

Dr. Julie's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.

Win $100 for Your Active Dog Video

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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Here's a simple example of how a brief video glimpse of your dog in active fun can win you a $100 Gift Card from Event Barkers to spend on anything you like. That's holiday cash for you and Fido!
In this example video, I used a Vine video (6 seconds long) that loops--repeats continuously. If you mouse over the video you'll see the first comment made. Other comments are not viewable, so you'll want to place your prize entry text in the text box before publishing the video to Vine. Here's the text you should include:
"I #FueltheLove on #BarkFriday with @ZukesPets"
Vine has recently updated their app with an improved share option. You can now choose your destination for sharing, or choose to embed, or simply collect the link. This gives you multiple ways to be sure your video is seen.
Just to be clear, you're free to submit videos using Instagram as well. We'll be happy to watch them, share them and enjoy them! Good luck in the giveaway. And by the way, there are low entries for this prize, so your chances are much improved! You're free to enter multiple videos, as long as they are different.
To be sure you get all the chances to win possible, you can also enter your video in the Giveaway Tools widget here. That will give you a chance to win the social media prize that includes more than $100 in Zuke's Treats and a toy for your dog. Don't miss out!
Still looking for ways to win Zuke's? Be sure you have RSVP'd for the #BarkFriday

#FueltheLove Twitter Party, enter a multitude of giveaways at the #FueltheLove Blog Hop, and also get involved in the PreTweeting to be a part of that drawing, and join in on Friday, November 29 for more great drawings.
The winner of the video contest discused above will be selected by our judges from submissions made through December 1. We'll announce the winner on Monday, December 2 so be sure to stay tuned!
Enjoy, and don't forget to #FueltheLove!




Event Barkers is working with Zuke's to help them gain online exposure and share the news of their new products. These Event Barkers events are hosted by DogTipper.com and AllThingsDogBlog.com.
Note that due to shipping regulations, the prizes in these events are only available to U.S. addresses. Thank you for your understanding.

Join Active Dog Lovers at FitDog Friday!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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Today we're ushering in a new adventure for All Things Dog Blog. We're all about high activity here, both physical and mental. Having recently discovered FitDog Friday over at To Dog with Love, I finally took the time to inquire about participating. 

Our friends, Diane and Rocco, are sharing a fun run that they did last weekend. Diane took some Vine videos of Rocco's enjoyment of the event and you can definitely see that this good for both mom and pup. Activity is healthy!

The theme of this FitDog event is quite obvious. All the blog posts that are linked up each week will be related to activities, whether physical or brain work. If you're looking for new inspiration on how to keep your dog's body and mind at peak performance, this is a great event to check out. Today I'm sharing the code for the Blog Hop so you can see all the other posts that are shared here. It's as simple as clicking one of the thumbnail images below.

Feel free to drop in at any of these blogs to read their stories and say hello. Be sure to let them know that All Things Dog Blog sent you. I'm the new kid on the block! 

Pssst!  You can keep up your FitDog Friday activities with some of the great prizes to be won at Fido's Freebie Friday giveaways. Check out items like poop bags, bag carriers, an awesome camera, training treats and a travel bed. Don't miss it! Happy hopping! 

The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With Love, SlimDoggy and Peggy's Pet Place.  If you're a blogger, we invite you to link up old posts or new ones that help promote a healthy, active lifestyle for your pets. The more FitDogs the better!

Dog Park Kit Giveaway: Get Out and Run for Fun!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko

Are you seeing double? Nope! Tanner was in the last post with a batch of toys to give away, and here he is still posing. He has a rock-solid stay. I think he acutally likes getting his picture taken!


This giveaway is for my active readers to get out and play with their dogs. With cooler weather here, this is the perfect time for us to visit the dog park with Tanner. The summer heat in Florida forces us to make our dog park visits only on early weekend mornings, as the heat is so oppressive.


This prize includes a Toki Poki hat and a flying disc from Izea, which will both go to one winner. With the sun out of your eyes and a disc to throw, you and Fido can have some fun and both get some exercise. Watch for a Weekly Wag on disc dogs coming soon to my Saturday series. Have you signed up to win prizes by commenting on your own experiences with the Weekly Wag? If not, visit the announcement post here. This giveaway will be open through midnight February 9, and the winner will be announced on Friday, February 10, 2012. Good luck!




Full disclaimer: The items in this giveaway are conference swag (free samples). There is no purchase required to enter and US and Canadian entries will be accepted, with the exception of Quebec, where this giveaway is forbidden. I have not been compensated to give theseitems away.

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