Our Pet’s Active Outdoor Lifestyle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeyondSummer #CollectiveBias

I live a very active lifestyle, and so do my pets. I love to get outdoors whenever possible, and if I can include the dogs in  those activities that is all the better! I also incorporate grain free food in my dog’s diet to support their active lifestyles. Here is a look at some of my favorite outdoor activities with my dogs. These are all great ways that you can bond with your pet and live an active lifestyle.

Agility

We have done agility with both of our corgis, Ty and Eve. While it is fun to take formal agility classes, which is something you can do year round, you can also informally do agility exercises in your own yard. Making jumps from PVC piping is easy, and with the purchase of a tunnel or two, you can create your own little backyard obstacle course.

Noseworks

Noseworks is another really fun activity. It can be done year round inside or outside, but we love to take it outside during summer. You can informally do noseworks with your dog by creating a hide and seek game. Hide treats and let your dogs find them. You can hide the treats around the yard, or you can make a fun game by putting treats in muffin tins and placing tennis balls on top of them. Your dog then has to figure out how to get them out. It doesn’t take long for the dog to catch on that a fun game is about to happen when you tell him or her to “find it.” You can also take formal Noseworks classes in which your dog can learn how to find multiple scents both indoors and outdoors.

Walking and Hiking

Our family loves hiking. While the corgis are are not quite built for strenuous hiking, we do take them on regular walks and outdoor adventures at local parks and trails. Walking is a great way to stay physically fit for both you and your dog. It also presents great training opportunities. You can use regular walks to focus on leash manners, and it can be fun to teach your dog to do things such as sitting at intersections.

Running and Lure Coursing

I am a long distance runner and often am out running long miles. I do not run with the corgis because their little legs can’t quite keep up, but if you have a larger dog or a dog with good endurance, he or she just might be the perfect running partner for you! When I had a black lab, I used to run with her quite a bit. Running with your dog requires careful training for the dog just as it does for you. Start out slow, perhaps with more walking than running, and run only short distances to begin with. Then slowly increase your mileage over time.

Lure coursing is another great way to get your dog running. Dogs chase a lure on a string around a field. The corgis love it. We usually let them run the course a couple of times, which totally wears them out!  Look for local lure courses in your area.

Don’t Forget to Feed Quality Food

I feed my dogs grain free food as part of their active lifestyle. I prefer grain free food because it avoids unnecessary fillers such as corn, and my dogs tend to digest it well. For example, Meijer has a selection of Purina® Beyond® grain free dog and cat food, plus treats.The line has some unique formulas such as a formula with chicken, carrot, and pea, and another with beef, potato, and green bean. As an aside, carrots and green beans are some of my favorite human foods to give to my pets and I love seeing them included in dog food. Purina® Beyond® has no corn, wheat, or soy, no poultry byproduct meal, and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. These things are important to me in a food. They also have selections for your cat! The cute little can of salmon in the photo is a cat food selection.

You can find  Purina® Beyond® in the Pet section at Meijer. Look for the special display case!

From June 7- June 23, 2015 Meijer ‘mPerks’ shoppers will be able to take advantage of special savings on Purina Beyond products:

• Save $1 on any bag of Beyond Dog Treats
• Save $2 on any bag Beyond Dry Dog
• Save $2 on any bag Beyond Dry Cat
• Buy 2 Beyond Purees Save $2
• Buy 2 Beyond Wet Dog 13 oz and Save $2
• Buy 4 Beyond wet cat 3 oz and Save $

You can also see the selection of products online here.

How do you keep your pets active?