That's Fit

While we would never advocate obesity, being abnormally rotund proved to be a life-saver recently for one lucky canine companion.

Jiffy, a 120-pound border collie, nearly froze to death in his hometown in Wisconsin but was saved by excess layers of fat, which kept him warm overnight while he braved single-digit temperatures. It was so cold that the poor guy had to have warm water poured over him to unstick him from the sidewalk. Animal shelter officials admitted that not many pets can survive those types of conditions without extra pounds.

This isn't to say you should let you dog get fat -- you could face jail time if you do. Here's a better suggestion: Let the dog inside if it's well below freezing outside. I, for one, sure hope the Wisconsin authorities are looking into why poor Jiffy was left outside.

(via Calorie Lab)

We all know that some dog breeds are more energetic than others -- when's the last time you saw a dalmation that didn't want to run and jump and play? But, according to AOL Health, your pooch might actually give some insights into your personality.

As I clicked through the AOL Health gallery, I found quite a few assessments to be pretty accurate. I've never known anyone who owned an English bull dog who wasn't a bit of a clown, and most of the people I know who own chihuahuas are good at getting themselves into a bit of trouble.

Of course, this doesn't go across the board, but it did make me wonder what this means regarding fitness. I'm sure you've heard this famous phrase before: "If your dog is fat, you need more exercise." Aside from fat dogs, though, does your dog reflect your level of fitness? Check out the gallery to see what category your dog falls into, and let us all know in the comments whether that's accurate.

Overfeeding your child is fairly serious -- some even feel it's a form of abuse. Now animal rights groups are saying the same thing ... about your pets. And the government in the UK agrees -- according to the Daily Mail, new controversial rule under the animal welfare act could have serious consequences for pet owners who don't put their fat animals on a diet.

Overfeeding pets is a 'serious welfare concern' and can lead to suffering, according to the new law. Therefore, people who allow their pets to become dangerously obese can face fines of around $30,000 or even up to a full year in jail. There's no word on whether similar laws could be adopted here in North America, but maybe they should be. After all, if you can't give your pet the necessary amount of exercise, maybe you shouldn't have one.

Too harsh? What do you think?

Most parents are used to hearing a constant, whining plea for a dog from their children -- and most stick to the old standby answer of No, insisting it's too much responsibility. But parents, maybe it's time to change your tune.

New studies out of Australia show that kids raised with a canine companion are 50% less likely to be overweight or obese. Well, duh -- I probably could've told you that. The surprising part is this: According to the findings, it didn't matter if the kids walked the dog or not -- just playing with it was enough to keep the reading on the scale at a healthy number. That's not to say you shouldn't make your kids walk the dog -- it's great exercise and it's a good lesson in responsibility.

Worried about your little one walking alone? Make it a family affair and walk with them. Getting a dog out of the question? Go for a daily walk anyway. The bottom line is this: Just get your kid moving.

Nick, the youngest of the Jonas Brothers, just received the cutest birthday present ever -- a puppy he named Elvis. He was spotted out and about walking his new best friend. Nick works hard to keep his diabetes in control, so I'm sure the future walks and runs with his dog will be a welcome addition to his exercise routine.

Do you have a dog? Dogs can be a great motivator for exercise. Even if you've had a long day at work and the last thing you want to do is exercise, it's hard to say no to those pleading puppy dog eyes. In fact, statistics show that dog owners cover more ground than your typical gym-goer.

If you're thinking of getting a dog, be sure to choose a breed that suits your lifestyle. Most breeds (including my lazy English Bulldog) are thrilled to go for a stroll around the neighborhood. But if you're looking for a dog who will willingly join you for a run or bike ride, be sure to choose a longer-legged, energetic breed.

It's clear what kinds of foods are bad for us. Anything loaded with sugar, trans fats, and sodium for starters. But do you know what kinds of foods are bad for pets? Think human foods, not pet foods.

It's best to stick with pet foods for the nourishment of your beloved pup. But it's tempting to treat your furry friend to a little table food now and then. And that's what many people do. In 2007, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls regarding animal poisoning caused by common human foods and household items. Here are the top culprits.

• Avocados

• Beer

• Chocolate

• Candy

• Caffeine

• Grapes and raisins

• Nuts

• Onions

We have all heard that pets can help teach kids patience, responsibility, and empathy, but according to a recent study, having a dog in the home during childhood, especially during the first year of infancy, seriously decreased a child's likelihood of developing sensitivities to allergens like pollen. Our own Maggie first broke this story a few days ago but it's worth repeating for those thinking about investing in a canine commitment -- and for those who like photos of cute kids and cute dogs. See gallery that follows.

So the science behind this theory is that dogs bring germs inside on their coats and in their mouths, thus exposing kids to them and boosting the child's immune system. Older generations were often exposed to more dirt and germs as children (you know, because kids used to actually play outside instead of sitting indoors playing video games), and therefore developed a greater resistance to many allergens than kids today.

This study in particular has taken blood samples from 3,000 six-year-olds and will test the samples for hints that the child might become allergic to things like pet hair, dust mites, and pollen. The children will be retested at age 10, but the lead researcher has already stated with confidence that, "Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitization to pollens and allergens."

I just washed and refilled my single-use water bottles. Put them in the fridge to chill. Will pull them out one by one as needed. Oops. Shouldn't do that, says this TIME magazine article.

Single-use water bottles -- you know, the ones with names like Dasani or Aquafina -- are made of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. It's a lightweight plastic used in many drink bottles. But it's not intended for re-use. Here's why: PET degrades with use and its wrinkled surface can host germs. And backwash too.

Should you re-use your bottles, then? Not for drinking. Use them for a flower vase. Or recycle. Just don't wash, refill with water, and chill. Like I just did.

I know that people who don't have pets or who aren't big animal lovers can't understand how those of us with furry friends can possibly think of dogs and cats and friends, family members and even children. I suppose these people think it's ridiculous to shell out perfectly good money on specialty treats for pets. To an extent I can see where they're coming from -- fancy clothing for cats and dogs is a bit extreme in my opinion -- but I will happily spend hard-earned cash on fun stuff for my dog.

I know that I'm not the only one. Most major, dog-friendly cities (Vancouver being the first that comes to my mind) have got fancy dog salons and boutiques in pretty much every trendy neighborhood. While I usually stick with funny squeaky toys and the occasional cute new collar, other dog owners out there will open their wallets for specialized grooming products, accessories, clothing, bedding and more.

The majority of Americans have, or have had, a pet as part of their family. Studies have shown that having pets can be really good for your health (lowering heart rate and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol) but pets, like all animals, can also carry disease. If you don't take the right precautions you and your family could end up getting really sick. The very old, the very young, pregnant women, and anybody with a compromised immune system are at the most risk, but anybody could catch any number of nasty things. Here are a few pointers for avoiding pet-related illnesses:

You probably have a favorite brand of bottled water, but what about your dog? When you're out hiking or jogging you may bring water along for your dog in a bottle, but have you ever considered buying water already bottled, specially branded, and marketed just for your four-legged friend?

Fortifido is just that -- bottled water for dogs. Available in flavors like "parsley," "peanut butter," and "spearmint," Fortifido is fortified with vitamins to help promote healthy bones, healthy skin, fresh breath and healthy joints in your dog.

Will you buy it?

Have you ever heard the old adage, "If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise"? Well, that apparently isn't getting through to plenty of pet parents because in addition to new doggie diet drugs entering the market, we now have low-calorie snack options for our furry friends.

Pup-Peroni is now offering 50 calorie snack packs so we can monitor how many snacks our pooches should get. They're portable, so you no longer need to worry about how to stuff all those treats in your pockets without making your jeans smell like meat for days. Just what I needed.

I don't think it's any surprise anymore that pets can be a great thing for the health of older adults, especially seniors living alone. But for those on restricted incomes (and that's quite a few) the cost of owning a pet can simply be too much. But the Humane Society in Colorado Springs, CO is making a difference in the lives of pets and people through a program called The Senior Citizens Pet Companionship Program. The program not only does the obvious of matching up seniors with happy companionship animals as new pets, but it gives them an annual allowance to help offset the costs of caring for them.

One 77 year old woman named Joan lost almost 40 pounds, stabilized her diabetes, and feels happier and less lonely since adopting a little Jack Russell Terrier named Monty through the program. Now doesn't hearing a story like that just give you the warm fuzzies?

Pets have been shown time and time again to benefit people's wellbeing by helping to lower stress, relieve anxiety, and even boost our immunity. In a nutshell, here are some of the great things our furry friends do for our health:

• Dogs and cats are allergy fighters. Studies have shown that children who grow up in households with pets have a reduced risk of developing allergies and asthma.
• Dogs are date magnets. This is not one I would have guessed would be on this list, but it's true that dogs are natural conversation starters and can help people find new friendships and relationships.
• Pets greatly benefit the aged. Whether it's a dog getting an elderly person out for a short walk or a cat curling up on the lap of an Alzheimers patient, studies have shown that animals have a way of improving the quality of life (and sometimes the length of life!) for older adults.
• Pets are good for their owner's mental and spiritual health. People with debilitating diseases and high stress jobs have been shown to suffer less depression and lower blood pressure when they own and love a pet, and petting your cat or dog has been shown to release positive and calming brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
• Pets benefit your heart. Not only do pet owners generally have fewer symptoms and risk factors for heart disease (like cholesterol) but also people who do suffer heart attacks tend to survive longer afterwards if they're pet owners.

So it's been proven scientifically that having a dog is good for your health, and it's not just because they provide that unconditional love and affection that earned them the title "man's best friend." Having a dog also makes it much easier to get outside and get moving, either walking or jogging, or for some people biking (although that always scares me a little). Well now there's a handy gadget that makes it so you don't have to hold the leash the entire time: the Cardio Canine human harness and dog leash system. It's a belt that goes around your waist with a clip to attach your dog's leash, a place for your water bottle, and pocket for keys or whatever.

This looks great, although make sure your dog is trained well enough not to bolt after a rabbit or other dogs -- getting pulled out of stride like that without your arm to soften the jolt you could easily end up laying on your face or twisting an ankle .


Via Fitsugar