Tag Archives: smart dogs

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 13:24 Explore New Places to Move

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

Explore New Places to Move.

The Labradors know the first key to making movement part of your lifestyle is finding movement activities you enjoy. For the Labs, that means hiking and trail running, especially on hilly, soft-surface trails. The second key is being consistent with your movement practice; move on a regular basis. Once you’ve established a consistent, enjoyable movement practice, you can incorporate the final suggestion from the Labs: explore new places to move to keep your routine from becoming boring. In this video, the Labs enjoyed the High Rocks climb to an abandoned fire tower in Savage River State Forest.

Move more. Move often. Be consistent. Explore new places to move.

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 12:24 Leash Your Humans

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

Leash Your Humans.

When the Labs get outside to walk with their human staff, they make sure to keep the human on a leash. Their top 3 reasons for keeping Ben on a leash? 1. To keep Ben from getting distracted and wandering off. 2. Some people/dogs don’t appreciate an unleashed human running up to greet them. 3. To keep Ben safe (no darting off into traffic).

The #1 goal when you move outside is to get home safely. Move more. Move often. If you’re a dog moving outside, leash your human so that you all get home safely.

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 11:24 If You Eat Crap, You May Feel Like Crap

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

If you eat crap 💩 you may feel like crap.

The Labs enjoy quality dog food and healthy snacks…they also have a tendency to eat whatever temptations they find on the ground, including, but not limited to, rabbit poop, deer 💩, sticks, acorns, and stink bugs…when they consume too many of these found objects, their digestive systems don’t function well…that was the case for Maggie last week after she foraged a few too many acorns on our hike. While Maggie has recovered, she wanted to share this lesson with our human followers because they’ve heard humans occasionally eat food (or consume beverages) that we know won’t agree with our systems, then whine when we don’t feel our best.

Whether you have 2 legs or 4, consider what you put in your mouth, and how those foods or beverages are likely to impact your body. No judgment here…sometimes you REALLY want the ice cream…even if you’re lactose intolerant…just know that what you consume has a direct impact on how you feel.

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 10:24 Don’t Let “Life” Get in the Way of Movement

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

Don’t let “life” get in the way of movement.

Big changes are happening at FitLabPGH…we’re hiking in new places (this is Savage River State Forest in Garrett County, MD)…we’re setting up a new HQ…and a new name (stay tuned for FitLabDCL)…busy, busy 😹. The Labs are here to remind us, and you, that when life gets busy, it’s important to make time to move. Movement helps keep the Labs calm…and helps the humans manage stress.

Move more. Move often. Remember some movement is better than no movement…and ALL movement is better with Labradors.

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 9:24 Don’t Over-Complicate Your Movement Routines

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

Don’t over-complicate your routines.

Whether you’re working to incorporate your 2024 goals or resolutions into your lifestyle or looking forward to updating your routine to move more as we approach Spring, we (the Labradors) have a suggestion: Keep It Simple. We practice what we preach, our daily routine is: Eat, Sleep, Move…Repeat. We know you humans have more responsibilities than we do…we’re not working dogs…but if you want to stick to a health and wellness routine, it needs to be simple enough that you won’t get overwhelmed and give up. So figure out what you NEED to do, then add what you WANT to do, and make it sufficiently simple that you can do it consistently.

Whether you have 2 legs or 4, don’t over-complicate your health and wellness routine. Create a simple routine that you can maintain, consistently, throughout the year.

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 8:24 Make Time to Play

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

Make Time to Play.

As Labradors, we make time to play every day…whether we’re wrestling in the living room, having zoomies in the backyard, or hiking with our humans, we enjoy our movement and play time.

We understand that humans sometimes get caught up in “crushing” their movement or workout goals, but we encourage you to take a tip from us…make time to play. Whether you have 2 legs or 4, it’s easier to make movement part of your lifestyle if movement feels less like work and more like play!

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 7:24 Don’t Wait for Perfect Weather to Get Moving

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

Don’t wait for perfect weather to get moving.

“Perfect” weather for the Labradors is below freezing with plenty of snow. If we waited for those “perfect” conditions, we’d get about 4 walks a year. So the Labs, and their staff, adapt to conditions and keep moving year-round.

Move more. Move often. Have fun with your movement. Remember to take breaks for chin scratches, belly rubs, and the occasional pup cup.

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 6:24 Resolutions Check-In

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

2024 Resolutions Check-In.

The Labradors don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. If something in their routine needs to be changed, their humans make the change right away. But if you made New Year’s resolutions this year, now is a good time to check in. We’re just over a month into 2024. Are your resolutions realistic given your life (responsibilities, schedule, etc…)? Are your resolutions designed to improve YOUR quality of life or were they shaped by pressure from your peers or social media? If your resolutions aren’t working for you, change them!

Move more. Move often. Move for yourself. Move with your dogs. Have a happy, healthy, movement-filled 2024.

 

FitLabPGH’s Movement Tips & Lab Lessons Week 5 of 2024

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FitLabPGH promotes #movementisalifestyle with weekly movement tips a week & a Lab Lesson aka learn from the Labradors.

This week the Labradors remind us to #sharethetrail

Our movement tip: Cold Weather Cycling Tips #getmoving #winterfun#wintersafety

 

FitLabPGH Lab Lessons 5:24 Share the Trail

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Labrador Lesson from FitLabPGH:

Share the Trail.

We haven’t moved to another hemisphere; this is a never-before-released Labrador Lesson from October 2023. The message from the Labs: don’t interfere with other trail users. Whether we’re walking, running, or shooting videos, we stay aware of our surroundings, so that our actions don’t interfere with the ability of other trail users to enjoy the trail. We give plenty of space when passing others (or being passed by runners or cyclists), and when we’re stopped, we step completely off the trail. Little actions can make a big difference in making the trails an enjoyable place to move.

Move more. Move often. Share the trail by not interfering with the activities of other trail users.