HERE we are, already into February, and, hopefully, still sticking to our New Year's resolutions to get fit and stay fit. Many of us have even joined a gym, health club or spa to help us achieve our goal.
 
However, what about our pets? We often feed them too many treats. As a result, they, too, can put on extra weight during the holidays.
 
According to Dr. Anthony Carr, an associate professor of small-animal clinical sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, nearly 40 per cent of dogs and 25 per cent of cats are
overweight. "Increased risk of joint problems, elevated blood pressure, diabetes and heart and liver problems can be very real consequences for overweight pets," Carr says.
 
If you believe your pet is overweight, a proper physical checkup by your own vet is the first step you should take before starting your pet down the path towards an active, physically fit lifestyle.
 
The other half of the fitness component is exercise. Pets need at least 20 to 30 minutes a day of exercise to help burn calories and maintain muscle tone, says Carr. Walking, jogging and playing fetch are all good ways to exercise your dog, and can be done in your local off-leash park without the fear of your
dog running into traffic.  Here are a few other activities which may be of interest:
 
Ski-joring and kick sledding:
 
The Snow Motion Winter Dog Sports Club of Manitoba offers lessons and group outings in ski-joring and kick sledding.
 
Ski-joring is a sport in which a cross-country skier and dog work together, with the dog pulling on a harness and the person skiing behind.
 
Karen Armstrong, race co-ordinator for Snow Motion, says they can teach someone who already is comfortable on skis to train their dog and be out skiing within three to four weeks. "You don't need to be a competitive skier, but you do need to be comfortable on skis," says Armstrong.
 
Kick sledding might be just the activity for the person who is not comfortable on skis. It involves the dog in a harness again, but this time pulling a small sled with a platform at the back on which the person stands and kicks off with one foot. "This provides a little more stability for a person who is not a skier, but it is still a good workout for both parties," says Armstrong.
 
For more information on Snow Motion, Armstrong can be reached at skijorsibes@shaw.ca.