Biggest Pet Loser?

Is your furry friend a candidate for ‘Biggest Pet Loser?’ Have Fido and Queenie had too many treats? Only in the land of Silicone and Honey do we find workouts for pooches that rival those of their human counterparts. Check out these workouts by celebrity fitness trainer Gunnar Peterson for both man and beast. There is also Boot Camp for Dogs and Thank Dog Boot Camp, two popular types of workouts here on the West coast now available for your dog too. And I don’t know how I missed Doga (rhymes with yoga) a yoga workout with your pet and the FDA approved weight-loss drug for dogs called Slentrol.

Folks are usually pretty enthusiastic when they first get a pet, imagining the walks they’ll take! The Frisbees they’ll toss! That lasts for about a month, or until it rains and then two walks a day turns into one and soon visits to the dog park happen only on months that don’t include an ‘r’. Here in LA it’s not unusual for dogs to be on mood altering drugs like Prozac when all they really need is some mental and physical stimulation. What I noticed is that pet trends seem to follow human trends. Does a dog really need a boot camp workout or some bonding time with their human? Do dogs really need weight loss drugs or should pet parents cut out the treats and table scraps because they feel guilty that Fido has been in all day?

All of this to say that we all need balance in our lives. Fancy workouts and quick fix drugs don’t take the place of the old adage, everything in moderation. Right? We need the game of Scrabble and the bike ride, the Suduko puzzle and the jog in the park. Aunt B is just calling it like she sees it. Now put the computer away for a while and go take the dog for a walk!

- Aunt B