Workout Wednesday! Book Review: Fitness Unleashed - A Dog and Owner's Guide to Losing Weight and Gaining Health Together

With obesity now considered epidemic in both U.S. people and pets, it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a weight-loss program for dogs and their owners to do together. In this case, Marty Becker, D.V.M., and Robert Kushner, M.D., teamed up with Hill's Science Diet to create Fitness Unleashed! I was skeptical at first, primarily because the project is funded by a dog food company - which would seem on the surface to be something of a conflict of interest. However, apart from a couple of plugs for Hill's dog food, the book focuses on providing dog guardians with practical advice on how to motivate their dogs - and themselves - to lose weight and gain fitness.

The book is divided into two parts, with the first focusing on an overview of obesity and the canine/human connection while the second provides a detailed "Plan of Action." There are a number of quizzes for both pup and owner (a couple of which I'll post on future Workout Wednesdays) to determine individual strengths and weaknesses and what type of fitness regiment would be most effective. The canine nutrition side of things is a bit neglected, giving the somewhat questionable advice of simply using a commercial food for overweight dogs, with no discussion of homemade or alternative diets. Additionally, there are a few spots in the book where the layout makes it difficult to determine where one section begins and another ends, but all in all it is a pretty easy read.

So... With all of this in mind, would I recommend this book (or this program)? Unequivocally, yes. All of the advice given is practical and geared toward a lifetime of fitness, rather than a quick weight-loss fix. If you're looking to drop fifty pounds next week, this is not the book for you (or your pup!) However, if you're looking for some great ideas on how you and your dog can become more active and energized over time, I think this is a great place to start. You may want to supplement the canine nutrition advice with books like Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats or The Whole Pet Diet, by Andi Brown. Otherwise, though, I say place an order for Fitness Unleashed! through your local independent bookseller or order online through Amazon today. I'm actually following the program myself as of this past Monday, so I'll be checking back periodically to let readers know just how effective Fitness Unleashed is - for both pups and their people.