Phil Zeltzman - Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound: How You & Your Dog Can Lose Weight, Stay Fit, and Have Fun

How You and Your Dog Can lose Weight, Stay Fit, and have Fun together

PHIL ZELTZMAN, DVM, DACVS AND
REBECCA A. JOHNSON, PHD, RN, FAAN

P URDUE U NIVERSITY P RESS
West Lafayette, Indiana

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Zeltzman, Phil, 1963

Walk a hound, lose a pound : How you and your dog Can Lose Weight, Stay Fit, and Have Fun Together / Phil Zeltzman and Rebecca A. Johnson.

p. cm. -- (New directions in the human-animal bond)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-55753-581-8

1. Dog walking--Health aspects. 2. Walking--Health aspects. 3. Fitness walking. 4. Weight loss. 5. Dogs--Health. I. Johnson, Rebecca A., 1956- II.

Title.

SF427.46.Z45 2011

613.7176--dc22

2010044573

Copyright 2011 Dr. Phil Zeltzman, LLC and Rebecca A. Johnson
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.

For information, contact:

Purdue University Press
Stewart Center, Room 370
504 West State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
www.thepress.purdue.edu

Disclaimer

The contents of this book are for personal, noncommercial, educational, and informational purposes only. Information found in these pages and links is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical or veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company, product, treatment, or procedure. The information contained herein is provided as a public service with the understanding that Drs. Zeltzman and Johnson make no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information. Drs. Zeltzman and Johnson do not herein endorse any commercial providers or their products.

Cover design: Mary Jane Garenda, Publications Management

Printed in the United States of America

To Alexandre and Marina, without whom I never
would have become a vet.
To Valrie, Myron, Claude, Mitch, and Bernard,
without whom I never would have become a surgeon.
Phil Zeltzman

My work in this book is dedicated to the dogs that I
have loved and walked: Max, Jenny, Sunny, Ceilidh,
Chelsey, Ginger, Madison, and MacKenzie.
Rebecca A. Johnson

Hate walking?
Here are other great activities with your dog

A rf, arf, lets go for a walk. Now! If dogs could tell us what they want, we would be sure to hear this. In the wake of a terrible obesity epidemic in dogs and their people, we need to listen to our dogs and get busy walking them. Dogs dont like being born retired. They have a natural inclination to get the exercise they need. If we only follow their lead, we can all be healthier and happier. This exciting new book uses research evidence to take a detailed look at the newly recognized phenomenon of dog walking as a great physical activity. For decades, people have been supersizing their hamburgers and French fries, all the while downsizing their physical activity. They have been giving their dogs too much love in the form of treats and not enough in walks and play. Its time to put a stop to these patterns that are diminishing both the quality and quantity of life for our pets and ourselves.

Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound shows how important it is for us to get up and get moving with a dog. It takes us through the process of preparing a walking program and then getting started with it. This book gives a realistic view of dog walking and provides a creative, fresh approach to it. Dont own a dog? No problem. Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound will tell you how you can enjoy dog walking and at the same time help a dog that needs some exercise. Shelter dogs and neighborhood pets are longing to go for a walk. They can help you get the exercise you need, while you help them become more adoptable and prepared to be a great family member. Know an older or disabled person who cant walk their dog enough? Become their dog walker and get some exercise yourself! Dogs are looking to give you unconditional love and acceptancethings that all of us need but few of us haveand they love to walk. No excuses. There are no better offers that come along that trump dog walking in terms of health benefits and general well-being. What a natural stress reliever!

In an era of economic, work, family, and internal stress, people need to be loved and to love. Walking a dog shows your love for animals, your kindness in helping neighbors and others in your community, and your belief that you are well worth taking care of. So get out there and start walking a dog, today!

D R . M ARTY B ECKER

Americas Veterinarian
Veterinary Contributor to
ABCs Good Morning America
and The Dr. Oz Show
Author, columnist, and
Adjunct Professor at three
U.S. veterinary medical schools

T his book is the culmination of over three years of work formulating ideas, collecting information, drafting, and redrafting. It is meant to help people understand the significant benefits, for both people and animals, that come from regular dog walking and to get started with this enjoyable activity. It is aimed at pet lovers and may also be useful for students and practitioners in health care professions, individuals who plan and implement public health programs, and service organization staff who want to promote healthy lifestyle changes in their communities.

The collaboration between human and veterinary medicine is a natural one. The relationship between people and pets, or the human-animal bond, can be especially important in the work of health care professionals. Pets are important members of many families, and the relationships that people establish with their pets can profoundly affect their well-being, physically, mentally, and socially. As pet owners, we make commitments to our dogs; we love them and want them to be healthy. Part of this can mean that we engage in healthy behaviors that benefit both us and our dogs.

In this book we embrace One Health as a guiding principle. The concept of One Health means that people and animals experience many of the same illnesses and can benefit from many of the same solutions to live longer, healthier lives. People and animals can promote health in each other through their reciprocal bond. This strong bond contributes to the enjoyment and value of the dog-walking program we encourage for dog lovers. In this book, we do not identify the causes of weight problems in dogs and people. These causes are well known and have been described elsewhere. Instead, we discuss creative ways that people and their dogs can become fitter by exercising together and eating a healthy diet.

Dog walking is uniquely able to help promote physical and emotional health on both ends of the leash. Getting exercise while enjoying nature, giving the gift of joy to your dog or another dog in need, and interacting with other dog lovers makes dog walking a uniquely pleasurable physical activity. We believe that it can create a strong foundation for a healthier lifestyle. Scientific research proves our point, as we will show.