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Raw dog food company, ProDog Raw, has announced it will host virtual exercise classes for people and their dogs to help pets lose weight ahead of the summer.
The company decided to host the class due to many owners exercising their dogs less during lockdown and self-isolating periods. The class is free to sign up to, and depending on its success, will be the first in a series. Registrations are now open for the first class at the end of April.
The move comes after the pet charity PDSA found that half of British dogs are now overweight, and the majority of vets (78%) report an increase in pet obesity in the last two years.
With dog ownership on the rise and lockdown restrictions impacting activity levels, ProDog Raw said it wanted to help dogs be exercised “from the comfort of their own home, just like their owners have been doing with virtual workout classes”.
The interactive video class will involve a number of exercises that people can easily do with their dogs from their living room or bedroom, which will benefit their dog’s physical fitness and also their mental wellbeing. Exercises in the class may involve steps, tug of war, the shell game and hide the treat and seek drills.
The class will be delivered by an experienced dog trainer who will run through safety protocols, and the registration form also requires the breed, age and weight of each dog taking part to ensure every dog is catered for appropriately.
Heidi Maskelyne, founder of ProDog Raw, said, “At ProDog we live and breathe letting dogs live their best lives, and we know that dogs love three things – food, cuddles and walks. Sadly, lockdown restrictions and self-isolating measures have prevented some owners from providing an active lifestyle for their dogs.
“We want to provide a fun and easy way for owners and dogs to enjoy a few simple exercises within the home to help burn some of that excess energy and keep their brilliant minds firing on all cylinders. It will also be entirely possible to continue with these exercises after lockdown ends and is perfect for those living in apartments.”
