A recent survey conducted by the Kennel Club has revealed that one third of dog owners admit that they themselves are overweight and one in five are not giving their dogs the exercise they need.
The research was commissioned as part of the Keep Fit with Fido 2010 campaign which will be launched at the sixth Kennel Club International Agility Festival, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, taking place on the 13-15 August at Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire.
Other findings from the research include:
20 percent of dog owners do not give their four legged friends the daily recommended walk
A quarter think that their dogs get the exercise that they need by running around in the garden.
Just under a quarter of dog owners admit that their dog is overweight.
Over a third of dog owners say that they themselves are overweight.
There highest number of overweight dog owners are Sheffield (51%), Norwich (50%) and Plymouth (47%). The trimmest are in Cambridge (20%)
The portliest number of pooches are in Glasgow (46%) Worcester (44%) and Wrexham (38%), which are also amongst the areas where the most amount of dog owners admitted to not giving their dogs a daily walk.
The Keep Fit with Fido 2010 campaign is designed to encourage dog owners to get involved with sports such as agility, in a bid to combat the burgeoning obesity epidemic in our pets. There are downloadable guides that aim to give people new ideas about how they can exercise and have fun with their dogs.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “This research shows that too many dogs are not getting the exercise that they need, which can reduce both the length and quality of their life.
“If going for a long walk doesn’t motivate you then the summer months are the perfect time to try new sports that are great fun and good for the health of both dog and owner. Agility is the world’s fastest growing dog sport and it is easy to see why. It is affordable, suitable for any age group or breed of dog and is a fantastic way to get fit and stay healthy.”
Dog owners are being encouraged to try their hand at agility. The sport is:
· Suitable for all ages - whether you are 7 or 70 anybody can enjoy the sport
· Suitable for any breed – so long as they are over 12 months old for practice and 18 months to compete
· Easy to get into - more the 310 Kennel Club licensed agility clubs all across the UK
· Affordable - only £2 to £6, on average, for a one hour group lesson.
· A good motivator – your dog acts as your own personal trainer, egging you on when your motivation is lagging
Lorna Winter, Senior Brand Manager for Pro Plan, a range of high quality, super premium dry dog foods, says: “While diet plays a pivotal role when it comes to having a happy, healthy dog, daily exercise is also an essential part of the equation. Agility is a fun way to get ensure that both dogs and owners are getting the exercise that they need.”
The Kennel Club International Agility Festival will see 2,500 dogs from 25 different countries running, jumping and weaving their way through the various classes and hoping to qualify for dfs Crufts.
Visitors on the day can try their hand at the sport in the have a go agility ring and can even enter their dog into the Companion Dog Show, which takes place on Saturday 14th August.
Pro Plan will be hosting a stand at the event, where visitors can sign up for their own Pro Plan Plan – a personalised plan of nutrition, exercise and expert advice for their dog. Other attractions include doggie paddling pools, goodie bags, ‘spin the wheel’ to win prizes and advice from a vet nurse and agility expert. Dog owners can also visit www.proplan-plan.co.uk to receiveall the benefits of the Pro Plan Plan, including free expert advice on anything from nutrition and health to training and behaviour via their panel of independent experts.
Kelmarsh Hall is located in the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire countryside and is easily accessible from all parts of the country, being only a short distance from the M1/M6 and A14. For more information visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/agilityfestival
Post a comment