5 Ways to Get Fit This Year With Your Dog

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5 Ways to Get Fit This Year With Your Dog

When it comes to getting fit this year, there’s no better workout partner than your dog. They’re always happy to go for a run or a walk, and they’re always eager to please. In fact, with the right motivation, your dog can help you get in great shape this year.

Here are five ways to get fit this year with your dog.

1. Go for a Walk

Going for a walk with your dog is a great way to get fit & bond with your dog. In fact, walking and jogging are the most common forms of exercise for humans and their pets. Some dogs love going for multiple walks a day and will be happy to join you for every walk. Others are content with joining you for a short jaunt around the block.

Live in an area that doesn’t have a place to walk your dog? Fort Collins and the surrounding areas are filled with trails and parks that are dog friendly such as the Reservoir Ridge Trail or Arapaho Bend.

When you go for a walk with your dog keep the following in mind:

  • Your dogs age
  • You & your dogs physical fitness
  • Weather
  • Proper gear to walk your dog safely

Walking is one of the easiest and most effective ways to exercise with your dog, and can be incorporated into almost any routine. In general, a daily walk of 30 minutes can help you burn between 300 and 600 calories. Pets burn approximately 70 calories per hour while walking, and can burn as much as 15 calories per minute while jogging. If you are just starting out, begin with a simple walk or jog around the block. As you get stronger, increase the distance and the pace.

Want to make sure your dog gets enough walks during the day? Wet Noses Pet Sitting offers dog walking services! While it won’t get you in shape it’ll help your pup keep their walk routine and their fitness in check!

2. Hiking with your Dog

If you live in Colorado then you’re no stranger to hiking. Hiking is a great activity for both you and your dog, and can be done in any season. Hiking can also be done at a slower pace, meaning you can take in new places, and enjoy the scenery with your pet. If you don’t have a hiking trail near your home, you can search for a park or trail near your home that your pet has never been to such as Horsetooth Falls Loop Trail or the Fort Collins Poudre River Trail. Make sure to pack plenty of water and a collapsible bowl for your pooch, along with a leash to keep them from wandering off. You can even bring along some dog-friendly treats to entice your furry friend to enjoy the fresh air with you.

3. Agility Training

Have a dog that never seems to run out of energy? Agility training is a great way to keep your dog mentally and physically active, and can be enjoyed by dogs of all ages. Agility training focuses on your dog’s ability to quickly respond to commands, and play a new sport that combines obstacle courses, jumps, tunnels, and other obstacles. You can start with basic obedience training and work your way up to more challenging courses.

There are many agility classes that are available for dogs with owners such as the ones at Summit Dog Training and Sunset Agility.

4. Play with your Dog

Playing with your dog indoors or outdoors is another way to help get fit. Some activities, like tug-of-war can be done indoors or outdoors while activities like frisbee should only be done outside.

For dogs, a frisbee is a safe, fun alternative to ball playing, and can be played on land or water. For a short, 5-minute exercise, toss the frisbee and ask your dog to fetch it back, then play catch.

5. Go Swimming

If your dog is a fan of the water then swimming might be the perfect activity to get fit this year with your dog. You can even bring that frisbee from the previous tip!

At the end of the season, some pools will have doggy swim days. This is right before they drain the pool for winter. While this doesn’t help you get fit, your dog will still have fun. Unfortunately, as of 2023 the Fort Collins City Park Pool will no longer be holding their Pooch Plunge.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for ways to get fit this year with your dog we hope the above tips help you and your dog stay active. What is your favorite way to get fit with your dog? Let us know in the comments.

5 Things to Do in Fort Collins this Fourth of July Header

5 Things To Do In Fort Collins This Fourth of July

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5 Things to Do in Fort Collins this Fourth of July Header

Fourth of July is coming up. It’s best to get your pet sitter booked early. Here are some activities happening in and around Fort Collins, Colorado this Fourth of July.

Remember – in Fort Collins ALL fireworks, including sparklers and snakes are illegal to sell, possess, or use in within the city. This is great news for scared pups and freaked out cats.

Fort Collins Independence Day Celebration

  • When: Saturday, July 2, 2022
  • Where: City Park
  • Activities: Stars & Stripes Golf Tournament, Firecracker 5K, Trolley Rides, and Fireworks starting @ 9:35P.M. at Sheldon Lake at City Park

Pets are not recommended along the parade route but you may bring them for other activities such as the Food Truck Rally.

Fourth of July Picnic

A picnic is a great way to get outdoors with friends, family, and your pets. Fort Collins has a wide variety of natural areas to enjoy an outdoor picnic with over 50 areas to choose from. A few of these places are:

The City of Fort Collins has a list of perfect picnic spots they recommend. If you haven’t tried these out you should!

Go for a Hike

Colorado is known for its mountains and trails. Many of which are pet-friendly. If you want some time away from the hussle and bussle of traditional Fourth of July activities then this might be for you. Some fantastic hiking trails are:

  • Horsetooth Reservoir
  • Lory State Park
  • Maxwell Natural Area Foothills Trail
  • Pineridge Natural Area
  • Cache La Poudre River

All of the above allow dogs. Remember to follow all Fort Collins leash laws. Plus, it’s a great idea in general to keep your dog on a leash when hiking. You can come across wildlife and other dogs. Both of these can pose a danger to an off-leash dog. If you’re unsure about leash laws on a trail, make sure to call ahead.

Go Shopping Downtown

Many businesses downtown will be running special hours for the holiday as well as offering sales. Be sure to check them out! Your wallet might thank you!

While not all businesses are running sales, you can view a full directory of the shops in Downtown Fort Collins here. Downtown is proud to be highly accessible with a mix of transportation options. This includes pedestrian-friendly bike paths, modern bus transit, and old-fashion street cars.

Check Facebook for Events

Many smaller events won’t be published anywhere else. Check Facebook for any smaller happenings this Independence Day. These events are often free and run by individuals or local businesses.

There you have it. 5 Things to do in Fort Collins This Fourth of July! We hope you have a safe and fun July 4th!

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What To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing in Fort Collins

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Loosing a pet can be extremely scary, especially if you do not know where to start looking. There is a lot of information out there on how to find a missing pet, but I wanted to write something specific to Fort Collins, so you can just go down the checklist and get it done.

1. The Basics

For the first few minutes after a pet goes missing, you want to start with the basics.

  • Do a patrol of the area to see if you find any evidence of Fluffy
  • Talk to the neighbors, especially anyone working outside, to see if they noticed Fluffy going by
  • If Fluffy is a dog, swing by her favorite places to walk or any place for playdates to see if she went there
  • Read up on How to Catch a Loose Dog for some tips if you do see her running free

2. Who to Contact First

You have done the basic search and turned up nothing. This is typically 15-30 minutes after you have realized Fluffy is missing. Now it is time to reach out for help.

  • Larimer Humane Society – call to speak to animal control over the phone and give them a heads up that you just lost your pet. To submit a lost report you have to go into the shelter.
    • (970) 226-3647
    • 3501 E 71st Street, Loveland, CO 80538
  • If Fluffy has a microchip, contact the company to let them know she is missing and how to reach you, just in case your information is not up to date.
  • Contact any veterinarians, groomers, and pet supply stores in your immediate area (around a mile from where she went missing), in case someone picks her up and brings her in.

3. Social Media Time!

The internet is your best friend when it comes to finding a pet. Your friends and complete strangers are going to be happy to help you search the interwebs for any news of Fluffy.

  • Post on all of your personal social media networks. Include a recent picture, where and when she went missing and any directions you want people to follow, such as how to contact you, not to chase Fluffy, Fluffy is afraid of men, etc. Specifically ask people to share the post. If you know any people in the animal world, such as your normal dog walker or groomer, ask them to share since they have such a large reach.
  • Post on these pages. There are many pages specifically dedicated to helping reunite missing pets with their people. Post on as many as you can, but start with Facebook. That is where we have had the most luck in recent years.
    • Lost and Found Pets of Northern Colorado – a Facebook group that is very active and easy to post in.
    • Nextdoor – This is a newish system for people to coordinate with their neighborhoods on various subjects. When you post it can be seen by those directly in your area.
    • Post on Fort Collins Craigslist in the Community -> Pets section as well as Community -> Lost+Found. There is no charge to do so.
    • PetFBI – You have to fill out their online form, which gives you a flyer you can use and their website has a ton of helpful tips. Once you fill out the form, they will post it in their Facebook group.
    • PawBoost – You can pay for upgraded service, but they list your pet for free on Facebook and in their database.
    • LostMyDoggie – They post on Facebook but they also alert local shelters and rescues.
    • LostMyKitty – Same as LostMyDoggie, but for cats!
    • PetKey – A smaller page, but everything helps!
    • Northern Colorado Pet Lovers – A group ran by Wet Noses Pet Sitting. It’s a small group but another set of eyes always helps!
  • Head out and continue looking for Fluffy. Make sure you are able to answer the phone if someone calls! Ask your neighbors to check their garages, sheds, and yards to make sure she is not hiding there.

4. What is the Next Step?

If you are approaching evening, there are a few steps you can take, especially if Fluffy is shy and still might be in the area.

  1. Double-check with any neighbors coming home to make sure they did not see her earlier in the day.
  2. Consider leaving your door open so Fluffy can come in at night if she was lost from your home.
  3. If Fluffy is a cat, place her litter box outside where she can smell it.

5. The Next Day

You have done all of the fast, easy options and Fluffy has not been found. Now is time to dig in and spread the word that Fluffy is missing.

  • File a lost pet report with Larimer Humane Society, if you have not already done so. Consider also reaching out to the Humane Society of Weld County, the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, the Longmont Humane Society, or the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. Animals can travel surprisingly long ways and folks sometimes pick them up and take them to their local shelter, which may not be Larimer County.
  • Post a lost pet ad in the Coloradoan and small local papers. It may seem outdated, but they are still read regularly.
  • Contact local breed rescues that relate to Fluffy. For instance, if she is a Golden Retriever, contact the local Golden rescue. There are too many for me to list here, and they change regularly, so search online for one. You can also contact All Breed Rescue Network at (888) 440-6467. They keep a running list of breed rescues in the Colorado area. Sometimes breed rescues will be able to offer more suggestions or help specific to your breed.
  • Print off flyers from one of the sources you used yesterday. Post flyers in veterinary hospitals, groomers, trainers, pet supply stores, the dog park, and anywhere animal-related. Many local businesses also have community boards. Start with businesses near you and increase the distance the longer Fluffy is missing. Posting flyers on mailboxes and phone poles is illegal, although many people do it.
  • Continue to update posts online. People will be wondering if you found Fluffy and you want to keep them searching. Ask for help again and for people to keep sharing your posts.
  • Talk to people in the neighborhood where Fluffy went missing. Offer a reward for any information leading to finding her.
  • If you hear of people spotting her, go to that area and search. Shy animals can be very hard to catch, especially during active times of the day when there are a lot of people around. If you believe she might be in the area, go out during quiet times in the evening or morning when she is more likely to appear. You can also look at renting a humane trap if you are sure she is there but cannot catch her.

6. DO NOT Give Up Hope

The longer you search the more discouraged you become. Keep looking! Here are a few searches I have helped with over the years for people I know:

  • A small, very shy dog went missing. We tracked her to a neighborhood where kids had spotted her (we paid them to keep an eye out for her). After a few days, we were not able to find her until a kid came forward. A woman in the neighborhood had picked her up and had given her to a family member in Colorado Springs. Once confronted we were able to get her back.
  • A dog ran out of his front door. The neighbors a few houses down saw him, but not not the people at the end of the block. He vanished! They continued searching and found him late that night being walked by a nice couple who lived down the street. They had been leaving earlier when they saw him run by, so they put him in the garage and then left for a few hours. They had just returned home.
  • A woman’s dog had been missing for months. She sent out flyers to shelters across the country and he showed up here, in Fort Collins. Turned out a trucker had picked her up and driven her across 3 states before dropping her off at the local shelter!

We regularly hear stories of animals being reunited years after going missing due to their microchips. Keep that information up-to-date and continue your search!

7. Once you Find Your Pet

Congratulations! I am so excited for you and you must feel so relieved!

  • Take the moment and enjoy it. Do not scold Fluffy, she is just happy to see you!
  • Plan a trip to the vet if your pet was gone for a while or appears to be injured.
  • Go back and take down those flyers, lost pet reports and postings online so that everyone knows you found your fur kid.
  • Return the favor and share information about missing pets for other people!

How to Find a Missing Pet_Lamier County Infographic

If you have a resource that is not listed, Please Let Us Know so we can get it added!

What are the Leash Laws in Fort Collins?

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What are the Leash Laws in Fort Collins?_Header

Do you ever notice dog’s off leash at parks, on trails, or in neighborhoods? Then you start to wonder if they really need to be on a leash? What about the safety of smaller dogs and cats? Why have your dog on a leash if they don’t really need it? Especially if they have excellent voice command skills. And that’s why it is important to be familiar with our county’s leash laws.

Basically, the laws state that all animals need to be in a fenced in area or leashed. But what’s more is that this seems to be an area of great debate in Fort Collins; being as we have tons of trails and natural wildlife area to explore. Some pet owners don’t agree with always having to restrain their pets, especially if they love to spend time outdoors. But parents, home owner associations, dog owners vs. cat owners, all have different opinions.

What’s all the fuss about:

  • Owners like their pets to be able to expend energy and explore the wilderness
  • People are worried about wildlife and their own pets (big dogs vs. little dogs, dogs, vs. cats)
  • Destruction of property
  • Safety

No matter how you feel, if your pet is found off leash and deemed “a stray” the following is stated at the Larimer Humane Society:

Even the most responsible pet owners can be accidentally separated from their pets. Each year, Larimer Humane Society receives close to 5,000 stray animals. Licensed pets that wander away from home can be returned to their owner without ever coming to the shelter. Lost pets not in compliance with the local pet license ordinance will be brought to Larimer Humane Society.

If you encounter a stray animal and feel comfortable bringing it into the shelter, please do so. If the animal you encounter is wearing its license tag, you can call Larimer Humane Society and obtain the owner’s contact information to notify the owner that you have their animal.
Impound and boarding fees will apply to pets brought into the shelter. For more information regarding animals at large as it pertains to the Fort Collins municipal code, please visit code section 4-93.

Impound & Boarding Fees
The impound fee for pets wearing their license tag is $40.

The impound fee for licensed pets not wearing their tag and unlicensed pets is $60.
In addition to the impound fee, an additional $15 boarding fee will apply per calendar day.
Stray animals are held for five days, not including the day the animal was impounded. After the five-day waiting period, stray animals become the property of Larimer Humane Society and are evaluated for potential placement in our adoptions program.

Clearly there are a lot of points of view on this matter, but the law stands. So, keep your pets restrained or confined (humanely, that is) because it’s the law. And that’s why even if you don’t agree with it, you could face fines, which no one wants.

Benefits of Off Leash Dog Parks
Disadvantages of Off Leash Dog Parks