Workouts with wags and kisses benefit all

By Beth Leermakers

“Get more exercise” tops many people’s list of New Year’s resolutions. The best way to keep this resolution is to find a physical activity you enjoy enough to stick with beyond March 1. If going to the gym doesn’t appeal to you — or even if it does — here are several fun ways to include animals in your physical activity.  

Walk/Hike/Run with a Dog (Your Own or a Shelter Dog) 

Walking or running with a dog is probably the easiest way to get a workout. Need help controlling your dog? A no-pull harness gives you extra stopping power — handy when your energetic pup spots a squirrel or cat. I use the Sense-ation No-pull Dog Harness or the PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness. 

Use the free WoofTrax app and earn a donation (at no cost to you) for your favorite animal charity every time you walk or run (with or without a dog). Visit wooftrax.com to learn more. 

Hit the trails around White Rock Lake or — for a more serene outing — head to Grapevine Lake (in Southlake). My lab and I love hiking (and she loves swimming) at Grapevine Lake. It’s a short walk to the lake from the E Bob Jones Trailhead. Go past Bob Jones Park (3901 N. White Chapel Blvd.) and turn right onto Bob Jones Road (just past the equestrian parking area). Keep going (past the Nature Preserve) until you reach the parking area. 

Don’t have a dog? Walk or run with a shelter dog and give a homeless dog much-needed exercise and enrichment. 

Dallas Animal Services (1818 North Westmoreland Rd., Dallas 75212):

Join the D90 Runners and walk or run with eligible shelter dogs on the weekends. Walking is just as helpful as running. Visit bedallas90.org/home/volunteer-opportunities/ for more information and to become a DAS volunteer. 

Doggy Daycation. Borrow a DAS dog for a few hours and walk/run on the Katy Trail, White Rock Lake trails, or even through your neighborhood. For details, visit bedallas90.org/volunteer. 

Garland, Richardson, Rowlett and Sachse shelters:  Walk a shelter dog or participate in the Borrow A Buddy program (at the Garland Animal Shelter). Visit frastx.org/volunteer/ for information and to complete the volunteer application. 

Yoga with Animals

Goat yoga classes. According to Goat Yoga Dallas, goat yoga classes combine the benefits of yoga with the unique and fun interaction of goats for an unforgettable experience. Call 214-586-0702 or email info@goatyogadallas.com for more information. Visit eventbrite.com/o/goat-yoga-dallas-14208859623 to buy tickets for upcoming classes throughout the DFW area.  

Puppy yoga. Several DFW organizations offer 75-minute sessions (45 minutes of yoga plus 30 minutes of play time with puppies). Classes aren’t cheap — and this probably won’t be your most focused yoga practice ever — but it may be worth a splurge to get your puppy fix! 

Puppies and Yoga Dallas ($69 per 75-minute session): puppies-yoga.com.

Downward Dog Puppy Yoga (4407 N. Beltwood Rd., Suite 104, Dallas 75244; $65 for a 75-minute session, held on weekends): downwarddogpuppyyoga.com/products/puppy-yoga-class or email info@downwarddogpuppyyoga.com. 

Ride and Care for Horses

Contrary to popular opinion, the horse really isn’t doing all the work. Riding horses is a terrific full-body workout that engages and strengthens your core muscles. According to Texas A&M University research, riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories. More strenuous activities such as cutting or reining burn almost seven calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period. Working in the barn (such as grooming, mucking stalls, emptying water buckets and slinging hay bales) adds strength training. 

Don’t own a horse? That’s OK. You can sign up for riding lessons or volunteer with horses. Volunteer at Equest, a therapeutic riding program in south Dallas. Volunteer opportunities include:

Helping to keep the barn and arenas clean and functional. Activities include mucking stalls, cleaning water buckets, feeding and haying the therapy horses, sweeping the barn aisles, cleaning out the wash stalls, and turning out and bringing in the horses from the paddocks. 

Assisting with therapeutic riding classes. Leaders handle the horse, and side walkers support the riders physically, reinforce instructions and provide encouragement. 

Visit equest.org/volunteer/#opportunities for information and to sign up for volunteer training (held on January 24 and January 31). 

Happy New Year!