- Even the most pampered pets need a bit of assistance from time to time
- But help is at hand in the form of Fitbark, the canine equivalent of the Fitbit
- Britain faces epidemic of canine obesity, with 45 per cent of dogs overweight
Nancy Newman For The Mail On Sunday
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Even the most pampered pets need a bit of assistance from time to time, particularly when it comes to sticking to New Year health regimes.
But don’t fear – help is at hand in the form of Fitbark, the canine equivalent of the Fitbit, the voguish wristwatch-style health monitor used by millions trying to lose weight after the excesses of the festive season.
After all, Britain faces an epidemic of canine obesity, with an estimated 45 per cent of dogs said to be overweight.
Britain faces an epidemic of canine obesity, with an estimated 45 per cent of dogs said to be overweight. Pictured: Nancy with Cava Tzu pups Nana and Wendy
The question is, would a Fitbark work wonders for my two Cava Tzu pups (they are a cross between Cavalier King Charles spaniel and Shih Tzu breeds) on our daily workout in the park?
The device, a small bone-shaped gadget that clips on to the collar, is easy enough to use, although first I have to download an app on my phone and fill out my dogs’ vital statistics.
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Then, as my dogs are let off the leash, I am bombarded with an array of doggie data on my phone.
According to the blurb, I can track the number of calories my ‘girls’ burn, the number of miles they cover chasing sticks, or even how well they are sleeping.
Nana’s FitBark app page
But I soon find out that Fitbark has some uncomfortable truths for human minders, too – including me.
For while our 6am routine seems arduous, Fitbark and my mobile phone pronounce that one 20-minute walk a day is simply not enough to keep even small dogs like Nana and Wendy fit and healthy.
More telling still, the device keeps track of my dogs’ activity when I’m not with them. I learn that both Nana and Wendy burn 300 calories more on days spent with a local dog-sitter than they do with me.
In other words, I am revealed to be an embarrassingly boring owner to my precious pups.
They have a secret or two of their own, mind you. So while Nana sits on the heavier side of her expected weight range, it turns out she burns through calories quickly.
Meanwhile, Fitbark shows that slender-framed Wendy, who likes to think of herself as pack leader, is most certainly the lazier of the two.
She refuses, for example, to chase a ball unless she knows she will get there first and win!
The blunt truth is that she moves far less than she should.
The device, a small bone-shaped gadget that clips on to the collar, is easy enough to use
According to the blurb, I can track the number of calories my ‘girls’ burn, the number of miles they cover chasing sticks, or even how well they are sleeping
In response, I’ve upped my own game, swapping my morning bus ride to the train station for a 20-minute walk. And I now boast an activity monitor for myself.
With a click of a few buttons, I can instantly compare my exercise statistics to those of my pets who, to my continuing disappointment, easily match my daily step count even though they spend most of the day asleep.
As for my Cava Tzus, they now have more time to chase after squirrels on our morning walk and wreak havoc in the bushes… while I sit on a bench, of course, and monitor their performance.
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