GB heroes are on a mission to keep dogs active for life

YuMOVE and Team GB heroes Laura Muir, Lauren Steadman and Jemma Reekie are on a mission to keep dogs active for life.

We’re delighted to announce the launch of YuMOVE Wagletics - a campaign that will promote doggy health and exercise - and have recruited current Team GB athletic heroes British 1500 metre record-holder and 2 x European champion Laura Muir , 3 x Paralympian and Rio 2016 silver medallist Lauren Steadman and 2 x European U23 champion Jemma Reekie to lead the charge alongside their dogs Chiwawa cross Dollie and German Shepherd Meric Belle.

In the absence of the Games, our Team GB ambassadors are emBARKing on a different kind of challenge: keeping the nation’s dogs happy, healthy and active for life. These remarkable women regularly prepare for the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions by training alongside their dogs. In what would have been the final week of the Olympic Games, our GB heroes are swapping gold medals for wagging tails.

We’re launching the campaign in response to the soaring number of new dog-owners throughout the UK who have bought, adopted or rehomed a dog during the pandemic. According to a recent report by charity the Dogs Trust, google searches for ‘buy a puppy’ increased by 166% during the pandemic and leading pet rescue charities like Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have reported record numbers of dogs being rehomed during this period.

The Wagletics campaign will run across our Facebook and Instagram channels from 7th - 28th August. Lauren Steadman (@laurensteadmann), Laura Muir (@lmuiruns) and Jemma Rekkie (@jemmareekie) will also be posting content to their own Instagram channels. Each week, the nation will have the opportunity to learn a new exercise for their dogs and will be shown how to master it by our GB heroes.

Exercises will be adapted for dogs of all ages. Routines will focus on mobility, strength, coordination and discipline and will include a doggy agility course, ultimate frisbee, hide & seek and obedience challenges. All of these playful and easy-to-do routines can be performed at home with minimal or no props.

The campaign supports our mission to keep pets active for life. YuMOVE helps to soothe stiff joints, support joint structure, and promote mobility, helping to keep pets moving for longer. All exercises for the Wagletics campaign have been created  by Laura Muir, who not content with flying the flag for Team GB, is also a fully-qualified vet.

Laura Muir comments: “As an elite athlete at the top of my game I understand better than most how to keep fit in order to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.  But as a Vet I also know how important it is for dogs to be mentally and physically fit. So I hope dog owners will be inspired to mix up their daily exercise routines to support their dogs in living a long, healthy and active life.”

Lauren Steadman comments: “I regularly train with my German Shepherd Meric Belle. The bond that we share is unbreakable and I know that their love and companionship has played a big part in both my training and allowing me to enjoy my downtime. I’m delighted to play a part in the Wagletics campaign and can’t wait to share some of my exercise tips and tricks with you.”

Jemma Reekie comments: “As a dog-owner, I know how much people cherish their pets and want to do the best they can for them. So with the Wagletics campaign we’re going to remind dog owners just how much fun different exercises can be for them and their dogs and the benefit of these exercises to their long term health and mobility.”

Follow YuMOVE on social media and search #YuMOVEWagletics to participate and keep your dog active for life. Amazing prizes, including one-on-one coaching sessions from our athletes, product bundles and doggy toys are up for grabs for all those that take part in the campaign.

Introducing your Team GB athletic heroes

Laura Muir: With 5 indoor and outdoor European gold medals to her name, Laura Muir has cemented herself at the top of the ranks within British sporting royalty. Since bursting onto the scene in 2017 with two gold medals at the European Championships in Belgrade, Laura has raised the bar in one of athletics’ blue-ribbon events picking up accolades across the world including being twice crowned the Diamond League Champion, the World’s number 1 ranked 1500m runner and setting a new British Record, smashing that set previously by Dame Kelly Holmes’ along the way.

Having balanced the pressures of running track at the highest level with studying veterinary medicine at the University of Glasgow for 7 years, she graduated as Doctor Laura Muir in summer of 2018. Studying veterinary medicine was a lifelong ambition for Laura born out of her love of animals, but her practicing career as a vet will be taking a back seat for the time being while she continues to focus her efforts on creating a legacy in the sporting arena.

Having set new European records in both the 1000m and 3000m, Laura will be a favourite to be amongst the medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Lauren Steadman: Lauren is the current European Champion – a title she has won 7 times as well as taking the World Championship 3 times. Lauren was born missing her lower right arm, however this has challenged Lauren to be the best she can be, and she relishes the chance to overcome barriers. She has competed at two Paralympic Games as a swimmer. She has since specialised in Paratriathlon & represented Team GB in the sports inaugural entry to the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, where she took home a silver medal. She has her sights set on Tokyo 2021 where she will be aiming for the gold! You may have also seen Lauren on Channel 4's Celebrity SAS and Strictly Come Dancing.

Jemma Reekie: Jemma Reekie (born 6 March 1998) is a Scottish middle-distance runner. She won two gold medals at the 2019 European U23 Championships in Gävle, in addition to one won at the 2017 European U20 Championships in Grosseto. In 2020 she set new British records for the indoor 800M and mile.

Top tips when doing these activities

• Always keep hydrated – When exercising, it's important to ensure that your dog has access to plenty of water, if you're out and about with your dog, ensure you always have a bottle of water or a bowl for them
• Always keep cool - on hot days, exercise your dog during the cooler parts of the day, in the early morning and late evening. Watch out for signs that your dog is overheating, including heavy panting and loss of energy. If you recognise these signs when exercising, stop, find a shady spot, and give your dog water.
• Always warm-up – for safety, these exercises are best completed after warming up. Taking your dog for a 15+ minute walk immediately before agility, with the opportunity to run free or play with a retrieve toy or tuggy can help to reduce any risk of injury. It is preferable for the dog to be able to gallop and stretch all their muscles prior to commencing agility work.
• Consider when you exercise - For safety, we advise never to exercise your dog on a full stomach.
• If you have any concerns always speak to your vet - If your dog has any pre-existing health conditions or underlying injuries, always seek veterinary advice before completing any exercise with your dog