They’re on our phones, on our wrists and sometimes they’re even on our credit card statements. But are fitness apps really worth it? Probably not, if you’ve already got a dog. Our canine companions can do everything these apps do, and they don’t require a charging cable or a subscription.

If you’re considering paying cash for a fitness app or gadget, you might want to sink that money into dog treats instead.

Here are eight ways dogs are the best fitness apps around.

1. You cannot forget them

Unlike a fitness app, you can’t forget your dog at home. Photography ©Fly_dragonfly | Getty Images.

We humans spend all this money on fancy wristbands that prompt us to move our bodies, but do we actually remember to put them on when we wake up in the morning? No, they sit there all day tracking the nightstand’s fitness. Our dogs, on the other hand, are unforgettable. Between the nudging, the barking and the early a.m. odors, they’re reminding us to move before we’ve even moved our heads from the pillow.

2. They have everlasting batteries

Dogs have endless amounts of energy! Photography ©-zlaki- | Getty Images.

Unlike a high-tech fitness band or smartphone full of apps, our performance-enhancing pups’ batteries don’t need to be plugged into a USB port each night. Puppy love is a renewable resource.

3. They make you forget to count

Dogs remind you to look around and take it all in. Photography ©Solovyova | Getty Images.

Look down at your wrist and your app will remind you you’ve walked 2,000 steps around your neighborhood. Look down at your dog and you’ll be reminded that walks should be measured in smells smelled, butts sniffed and memories made — not in steps taken.

4. They can’t be dismissed

When an app on my phone alerts me that “today is a great day for a workout” I dismiss the notification. When my dog tells me “now is a good time for a walk,” I don’t dare dismiss his notification. Doing so could result in a pile of poop that isn’t nearly as cute as the emoji on my phone.

5. They’re always available for a workout

Dogs are the best workout buddies! Photography ©Nataba | Getty Images.

Workout classes are expensive and time-consuming, but working out alone can be boring and lonely. Expensive fitness apps are happy to take your money to stream a real live coach into your living room, but your dog is free, already in the living room and doesn’t require Wi-Fi! The dog is a deal and three-dimensional!

6. They don’t let you bail

You can quit a fitness app at any point in your workout, but you can’t shut off your dog’s desire for a workout without, well, working out with him. Try to quit on a dog who was expecting an evening run or a morning jog and you might find him working on his fitness by making your couch unfit for company.

7. They’re waterproof

(Some) dogs like swimming. Photography ©RainervonBrandis | Getty Images.

Unlike most of the wristband fitness trackers, our dogs aren’t just water-resistant — they’re waterproof. Morning jog in the rain? No problem. A few laps in the pool? As long as the filter can handle his fur.

8. They make us want to be better people, not just people with better bodies

The connection we have with our dogs is more important than staying connected to fitness tracking software, because they make us want to get moving for their sake, even when we’re feeling dog tired.

Remember, a squat to pick up a poop is still a squat. Engage your core while you engage that poop bag. 

Thumbnail: ©Tatomm | Getty Images

About the author

Heather Marcoux is a freelance writer and two-time dog mom to GhostBuster and Marshmallow. Despite their movie-inspired names, Heather’s dogs aren’t in any web series — but they are on the web as the @ghostpets on Instagram. You can find Heather on Twitter.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!

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Just like us humans, as our four-legged friends grow older, they may experience health issues ranging from arthritis to cancer. But what many pet owners aren’t prepared for are the behavioral changes that often arise in their elderly dogs. A component of canine cognitive dysfunction or dog dementia, sundowning (or sundowner’s syndrome) is one such condition that impacts many dogs as they age. And sundowning in dogs presents itself much like Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

“Just like with humans, sundowning in dogs is believed to be caused by age-related issues such as the breakdown of the central nervous system, oxidative stress and brain cell death,” explains Dr. Stephen Katz, a veterinarian practicing more than 30 years and founder of the Bronx Veterinary Center in New York. “Unfortunately, it’s often all just a part of the aging process for both dogs and people.”

Symptoms of Sundowning in Dogs

Is your dog getting lost in the yard? Could it be sundowning? Photography ©CatLane | Getty Images.

According to Dr. Adrienne Pincetl, associate veterinarian at University Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostic Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, recent studies have shown that both dogs and cats experience physiologic changes to their brains and central nervous systems as they age, which may account for behavioral changes and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction.

“These symptoms can include wandering, getting lost in the house or yard, or getting stuck places, such as behind furniture. They may also exhibit pacing, restlessness or other repetitive behavior … and there can also be a regression in learned behaviors, including house training, so more accidents may be observed,” she adds. “Anecdotally, many people report that there’s an increase in this type of behavior in the evening and night-time hours, similar to the ‘sundowner’s syndrome’ observed in humans.”

Dr. Katz adds that sundowning in dogs may also exhibit as barking for seemingly no reason, becoming clingy to owners or demonstrating anxiety-related behaviors like panting. “Quite often, there’s also an increase in irritability, and some dogs may even become aggressive,” he warns.

Is It Sundowning or Something Else?

However, another common side effect of getting older — loss of vision and/or hearing — can also cause similar symptoms. “It can be difficult to determine whether an animal is scared and confused at night because of cognitive dysfunction, or because their limited vision is impacted by the lack of light … or they may just be acting differently because they are arthritic and uncomfortable,” Dr. Pincetl adds.

Managing Sundowning in Dogs

According to Dr. Katz, while there’s no known cure for the symptoms of sundowning in dogs, there are strategies to help your dog manage these changes in behavior, including medications like Selegiline to help increase dopamine levels in the brain, a change in diet to improve digestive health and limit accidents, or anything that might help improve your dog’s cognitive performance, such as puzzle toys or even certain brands of dog food. “It has been shown that dogs that get regular mental stimulation as they age, like new toys or learning new tricks, maintain a better ability to learn — and may even experience a delay in mental decline,” Dr. Pincetl agrees.

Scott R. Sheaffer, a certified canine behavior consultant and owner of USA Dog Behavior, LLC in Texas, notes that one of the best things you can do for your dog during this stage of life is reduce the number of triggers that might cause anxiety to keep your pet as comfortable and relaxed as possible. “For starters, you’ll want to provide plenty of structure in your dog’s day and keep his daily routine predictable for him … so he should be fed or walked or go to bed in the same order and around the same time every single day,” he advises.

What Not to Do About Sundowning in Dogs

One thing you shouldn’t do when it comes to sundowning in dogs, however, is attempt to discipline or punish your dog for undesirable behaviors like suddenly having accidents in the house.

“Canine cognitive dysfunction is under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed in a lot of dogs … and while we’ve made great strides in understanding how Alzheimer’s affects humans, we’re just now starting to understand how dogs are impacted by similar issues as they age,” Scott notes. “As a result, sometimes people think their dog needs to start a new obedience training regimen in order to improve his behavior — but the only thing that’s going to do is make your dog even more anxious.”

Some Final Thoughts on Sundowning in Dogs

When it comes to sundowning in dogs, experts agree the best thing to do for your dog in his later years is to continue to provide him with a healthy diet and ample exercise, a predictable routine and mental stimulation, and medication when appropriate to keep him as comfortable as possible — particularly in the evening hours. “Although it’s not possible to completely reverse the clinical signs associated with this condition, it is possible to maintain a good quality of life — for both the animal and the owner — as your pet experiences his “golden years,’” Dr. Pincetl concludes.

Thumbnail: Photography ©Akchamczuk | Thinkstock.

About the author

Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer. A marathoner, triathlete, and Taekwondo black belt, she specializes in health and wellness — for people and canines — and has written for magazines and websites including Whole Dog Journal, Health, The Spruce Pets, Weight Watchers and Animal Sheltering. She is the proud pet parent of a rescued Cocker Spaniel/Shih Tzu mix named Miles, who has become her favorite running partner. Visit her online at jenniferlesser.com.

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