You don’t have to do HIIT just because you’re “making” your dog do it!
There’s a way to take it quite easy while you get your dog to do high intensity interval training.
There are multiple ways to get your dog to do HIIT.
Do not assume that the dog gets adequate aerobic exercise simply during a game of chase and fetch a ball or some other yard game or when your pet “runs around” at an off-leash park.
The above-mentioned “exercise” is self-regulated by your pet. Thus, at the first sign of fatigue, guess what happens: Fido takes a rest. This is not high intensity interval training.
As you probably already know, the principle behind HIIT is to push through the fatigue but carry out the work interval very briefly.
You stop not due to fatigue but because it’s impossible to go on another second.
A dog ceases romping around when it begins feeling uncomfortable. For all we know, the animal’s limit is still many seconds away, maybe even a few minutes.
The owner then must take charge to induce high intensity interval training in the dog.
How to Get Your Dog to Do HIIT while YOU Take it Easy!
I went to a local school track, put on my inline skates, took the leash off the dog and off we went.
Freepik.com, photoangel
If you cannot run as fast as your pet (I had a German shepherd), you’ll need skates or a bike.
I skated fast, leash in hand, which made my dog run fast at my side. I’d drive hard along the track’s straightaway, then slowly cruise around its curvature for the remainder for the so-called rest interval. Then I’d eagerly race down the next straightaway.
Now you may be thinking, “Hey, wait a minute, you said you get to take it easy!” Well, I guess that depends on your fitness level, especially when it comes to inline skating.
If you’re out of shape, you WILL struggle. But if you’re already fit and learn to handle inline skating, then trust me: It will be a breeze – a very fun breeze. I never felt like I was exercising when I was charging along on those skates.
The rest interval of the track’s bend may seem a bit short, but the dog wasn’t sprinting full capacity either, because I was unable to skate that fast.
Technically, the dog wasn’t doing full-out HIIT, but more like just “interval training.”
But if you have a small dog (one you can skate as fast as), you’re more likely to be able to induce a genuine HIIT session.
I mentioned use of a bike, but I don’t recommend this because it will take away more control on your part.
Your pet also might run in front of the wheels. But a bike may work for a small dog.
