Spring time is just around the corner and many parts of the country are experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures.  So weather you have 30, 60 or 90 days to prepare for the summer, it's coming soon.  Now is the time to start making a plan for regular exercise that can benefit both you and your canine companions.

When starting a new training program, consulting your doctor is usually the first step. Your pet pals should be treated the same way, so get them checked out at the vet. Dogs will have varied exercise needs based on age, breed and fitness level. Once you've both been checked out for possible limitations, you can move forward.

Exercising with your dogs will require preplanning. If you can set aside time each week for your exercise routine, you're more likely to stick to the plan and make it happen.  How much time are you willing to commit to this?  15 to 20 minutes?  3 times per week?  Can you push a weekend sessions to 30 minutes or longer?  Seriously think about what fits your schedule, and I'm sure that will fit your pets.  Be realistic, ramp up as the weeks go on, and mark the times in your calendar.  This is a commitment to your health, and your pet's health.  When you think about all the things you burn time on during a week, you owe it to yourself and your pet to find a hour or two to work on your health each week.

What activities do you like to do?  Running, jogging, walking, hiking, swimming, paddle boarding, obstacle courses or what?  Think about what you like to do, and then think about how to intermingle that activity with your pet.  Can you run/jog/walk with your pet off leash?  Then plan to bring some toys or balls for your pet to fetch.  Hitting the beach? Bring some floating toys to them to retrieve.

Get everything that you need and pack it into a bag so its ready to go.  If you're not prepared, you're more likely to get distracted, or have something else pop up that sidetracks you.  This bag can have an extra leash, towels, water bottle bowl, and an extra roll of poop bags never hurts.

If you haven't been active in awhile, don't get discouraged.  Getting out there is the first step, but you have to take that step first!

We wish you luck and success on this journey and feel free to send or post pics of you and your pet having fun.

Credit name: Well Pet Coach