My dog recently turned five. Yogi is a Hungarian Vizsla and I’m feeding him IAMS for Vitality as it helps make Yogi fitter and provides all the nutrients he needs to live a healthy life. I’d also like to tell you how Yogi makes us fit and happy.

It wasn’t always plain sailing; we have to have a lot of patience with Yogi. If you aren’t familiar with this breed, let’s just say they can be quite a handful. The Vizsla dog breed is a long-established breed, dating back centuries. My Wife took an online test which narrowed down our dog breed recommendations depending on certain questions. Must be great with kids and low shedding were high on our priority list.

The Hungarian Vizsla came out on top and as soon as I saw photos, I instantly fell in love. Despite Yogi being what you call the runt of the litter, he actually grew to become quite large for his breed. He really does have the patience of a saint and despite the breed having high energy levels, he can sometimes be a little bit lazy, ha ha!

Companionship

I think this word sums Yogi quite well. I work from home so I spend lots of time with him.

He follows me all over the place and when I’m trying to do photography for my social channels, he can’t help but get in on the photos, ha ha!

Yogi is pretty human like. He likes to sit and watch the TV with me. I always talk to him and wait for a reply. When the kids are ill or he can feel tension in the air, he’s always by your side to offer a cuddle. Vizslas are nicknamed ‘velcro dogs’ as they love to just lean against you and touch.

Athletic

One thing that every dog needs is walking. We were always an active family but Yogi definitely makes sure we get regular exercise and fresh air every single day.

Image captured by Deano Moore Photography.

Exercise is so important for pets to maintain a healthy body weight and build strong muscles. It also stimulates the mind and increases their overall happiness. Yogi will pace the room when he’s bored and he’s been known to drop a tennis ball at your feet from time to time. Not only are the health benefits vast (for you and your dog) but exercise can be fun, offering us lots of opportunities.

We’ve visited dog friendly places all over the country and we love to visit places for the first time.

Walking

80% of owners enjoy regular walks with their dog (1). I’d say that’s pretty accurate. Most of the best tips in life are the obvious ones. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that playing and walking with your dog is one of the best ways to keep yourself and your dog active. You can burn up to 170 calories in half an hour. Just like kids, dogs move much more than you do when you go out for a walk. They’re always running ahead and then running back. Our kids sometimes do twice as many steps in a day compared to us even though we’ve done the same things. I often wonder how many steps Yogi would do in a day!

Image captured by Deano Moore Photography.

Nutrition

Someone once told me, what you eat today will have you walking and talking tomorrow. I know dogs can’t exactly talk but you really do get out what you put in. For both humans and animals, small changes can lead to big differences.

Image captured by Deano Moore Photography.

I personally like to keep my body guessing with training routines over different days and different times.

Pet behaviourist Naomi Opalinska recommends making mealtimes fun. If you have a dog, encourage their natural instinct to scavenge and contribute to a boost in their wellbeing by hiding food around the house or garden. The kids love to hide food for Yogi and he loves finding it. He’s actually pretty good at sniffing it out! IAMS for Vitality is an ideal option for both cats and dogs as it’s formula offers complete and balanced recipes tailored to fit all life stages and breed sizes.

So I put some treats in a brand new IAMS branded bowl and this happened…

Excuse the mess! Yogi wouldn’t move. So I poured them into his normal bowl and he did this…

My dog is so funny. He loved the treats though!

The IAMS for Vitality range has been developed with vets and features all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients needed to support the 7 signs of healthy vitality. Supporting teeth and immune system, whilst encouraging healthy skin and coat, digestion, urinary tract, and a healthy heart.

Yogi is quite a muscular dog and the IAMS for Vitality range is perfect for us because it supports strong muscles through their high quality animal protein (85% for dog (2) / 91% for cat) and essential minerals. It ensures a strong immune system for happy, healthy pets through an antioxidant blend with Vitamin E. For more information about the range and how you can help your pet feel full of vitality please visit: www.iams.co.uk/forvitality.

Image captured by Deano Moore Photography.

The photo above is an old one but still one of my favourites. If running isn’t something you naturally enjoy, why not take up a new hobby that has your pooch by your side? Rollerblading is quite popular in our household and is a great way to walk your dog with a twist. Cycling is also a great option, especially if your dog requires a lot of exercise like Yogi.

Owning a dog is one of those things that you do in life and then you wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Man’s best friend is a popular quote and since introducing Yogi into our family, he’s certainly become that.

*This was a collaborative post with IAMS. All words and opinions are my own.

References

1. 3Gem Survey with 1,500 UK male and female pet owners

2. Out of total protein