Dog Lovers! Is Your Dog an Exercise Motivator?

IamMCM

Having totally slacked off with exercise over the past couple of years, having to walk my dog is probably the only thing that's kept me doing a bit of regular exercise and not ending up with even more extra pounds than I already gained. He's a little guy, but he loves to walk, so I'm committing to a nice, long walk with him two to three nights a week. That way, I'll feel guilty if I try to blow it off and he gives me those sad doggy eyes, like "Why are we heading back home already?"

I'm sure there are plenty of other dog lovers here (although I have to give equal disclosure that I love cats and have four of those, too). Do any of you use your dog as an exercise motivator? My eventual hope is to start doing C25K and to taking him on runs with me. Not sure how much he can handle, but it would be a good incentive even if I add a short run or two to my routine.

thegreatcanook

I lost my first 40 by walking my dog! Feel free to add me!

IamMCM

Wow, 40 pounds, that's great! Dogs are wonderful coaches.

ShibaEars

She does encourage me to get out for a walk most days (unless weather is really hot/cold). I feel guilty if I don't take her out, I know she gets bored sitting at home all day. I want her to be around as long as possible, and regular exercise will help keep her healthy. I even took her out last night despite having a sore foot. I don't think she was impressed that it was a shorter walk than normal, but it was better than nothing.

I tried taking her jogging a few years ago (using a format similar to C25K) but she wasn't having it and would lag behind and try to just walk. I don't think she got what I was doing lol. I've thought about starting again to see how she does now that she's a bit older.

JeriAnne84

Yes, but I can't run with him. I've tried and he will run for a bit, then get excited like "OMG WE'RE RUNNING!!" and then run in front of me and trip me.

runfatmanrun

Sort of. I would run anyway but making sure he runs has motivated me to run an extra day or two.

sheedy17

my dog is too lazy, and his legs are too short for long walks, I literally have to wake him up in the morning and carry him out of the bed

annaskiski

My "puppy" is 15 now (shepherd/lab mix) so he doesn't run much anymore. But every morning he eagerly waits for his morning walk. (snort..."you up yet?"....snort...."you up yet?")

I'm usually pretty sleepy still, but I could never disappoint him, and always enjoy the walk once I've woken up a little.

He definitely motivates me to go when I would have otherwise slept in.....

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hbrittingham

All of mine get excited after we finish dinner because if it's not to hot, we take a hike around the neighborhood. I also jog with one of my goldens and he absolutely loves it. It's his time alone with me, which we both enjoy.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Lol. I have pugs. They sleep 18 hours per day.

But, when I was diagnosed with "something autoimmune" in college, my doc told me to get a puppy. Because puppies make sure you get out of bed to walk them.

kellyskitties

Yep, my young ones are downright pushy. We go out walking or walk/jogging most nights. I skipped 2 nights in a row (was doing some other stuff last night instead) and they began whining and barking at me. My boxer was romping in circles and whining. We didn't go but I did stop to play a minute. Tonight. Tonight I def taking them back out. I felt like a heel for letting them down last night.

They walk/jog pretty good - but one night they ran and I didn't - taking me sidewalk surfing. That wasn't pretty. nope. Still have an elbow healing form that night.

iLoveMyPitbull1225

Walking my dog got me started losing weight and now walking/hiking/running together has become a part of our mutual fitness routine. Sometimes taking a walk together to unwind after a long day is just relaxing and we both benefit. I wouldn't necessarily call it a motivator though.

kellyskitties

Yes, but I can't run with him. I've tried and he will run for a bit, then get excited like "OMG WE'RE RUNNING!!" and then run in front of me and trip me.

This cracked me UP. I literally imagined mine doing that - makes perfect sense! hahaha. I'll be snickering all day now.

muaythaijunkie

I have an Alaskan malamute and she is always fully of energy. She does to "Doggy Day Care" so she gets most of her energy out that way, but on the weekends it’s a good hour in the morning and night. I also do about 4k run with her when it’s not too hot and she can handle it. I love running with her as she always loves to run ahead, so it pushes me to my limits.

DantheMan2517

"...he will run for a bit, then get excited like "OMG WE'RE RUNNING!!" and then run in front of me and trip me."

My boys are Dachshund brothers. They LOVE to get out there and sprint. They can go longer, but too much might not be good for their short legs. I do run with them for as long as they can go. Gotta keep 'em straight or else they WILL run into your path and wreak havoc.

danicaliforn1a

For me, I notice that my dog is a reflection of myself. When I have been at my heaviest, so was my dog. She relies on me for excercise. During hectic weeks having her is my reason to head out for walks when I would rather sit on the couch.This summer has been very motivating with nice weather. Both of us are back in reasonable shape with a lot less weight to lose. She's a weiner dog, so she has little legs. However, if you have a more athletic dog, I would think running/biking with them would be great.

TXRanchGirl

Love my puppers! have border collies. I used to..and would like to again..run them in agility trials..run was a good word..as I was fat and outta shape! now that Ive gotten fit and increased my wind, Im hoping to do some more with them later this year.

I take them for runs and walks away from home..and they are usually outside with me on our ranch.

Both will get up with my early in the morning and sit in my living room while I work out..weve had to have some groundrules put into place though..my boy dog used to think Plyometrics ment PLAY! LOL

Sugarbeat

Mine is a total couch potato motivator. At least the bigger one, the smaller one prefers to do his own thing.

knittnponder

We just recently got a Chug (chihuahua/pug) puppy. He's only about four months old and full of energy so a daily walk is required. I usually do the gym, biking, dvd's in the garage or swimming in addition to the walk but there are days when I don't want to do a thing and knowing he will be a little pill makes me go. The other day he was being a real little turd while on our walk so even though we were almost done I sprinted up the hill behind our house to sap his energy. It worked and I discovered I can actually run up a hill at a pretty good rate of speed. We've now added that to the last leg of our daily walk and will probably increase it as we both gain strength. Gotta keep the little booger challenged so he doesn't come home and eat all my shoes and harass the cats!

He's my profile picture and his name is Gimli,after the dwarf in Lord of the Rings. He's very dangerous over short distances.

kwatson28

I have two dogs! A corgi and an Australian Shepherd Boxer Lab mix. Luna and Kiah both drag me around. I love walking them but Kiah will pull me so it's hard to walk both at one time. If my fiancé isn't around to help, I walk one at a time around the block. They love walks but Florida heat gets to you!

ew_david

If there is anyone lazier than me, it's my dog. I used to take him running with me and he'd lie down on the sidewalk.

brower47

I usually walk everyday and my dog goes along with me because he LOVES to go for walks. It's his true joy in life. The only time he acts excited about anything is when he gets to go. Lately I've had to sneak out of the house because my longer runs are too much for my 7 year old GSP. I have to make sure all my clothes/shoes/sun block are in my bedroom and I dress very quietly before sneaking out my window. He's fine on walks but if we go for too long, he'll be stiff and develop a limp for the rest of the day. So he goes with me on walks but my runs are now out.

So he motivates me to walk but he's a bit de-motivational for my runs because if I don't sneak out, he will sulk, literally sulk by sleeping in rooms I'm not in as opposed to always being at my side, around the house for hours after I return if he sees me leave without him.

Note: He's always off lease on walks and runs because I live in the boonies and have permission from all the neighbors within a 10 mile radius to have him loose. He has no interest in livestock or cats and we don't run on roads (all trail running). So my 2 mile walk is roughly 10-12 miles of running for him and a run of any length is just too much for his joints.

PikaKnight

My dog is a more low energy dog but she enjoys walks. I try to get in a good 25-50min walk every day. Sometimes it's broken up into shorter walks because it is really hot where I'm at, and she's a black dog.

But yes, she's a motivator because it's one thing to mess around with my health but I won't mess with my dog's. I get my lazy butt up no matter what to make sure she gets her exercise :bigsmile:

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

If there is anyone lazier than me, it's my dog. I used to take him running with me and he'd lie down on the sidewalk.

Mine does that on walks. :laugh: He'll go about 1/2 mile and then he'll just lie down and refuse to move.

BlueBombers

Not at all. I have an English Bulldog and his idea of exercise is walking over to his bed to have a nap.

missbethea

If there is anyone lazier than me, it's my dog. I used to take him running with me and he'd lie down on the sidewalk.

Mine does that on walks. :laugh: He'll go about 1/2 mile and then he'll just lie down and refuse to move.

I have a pug and she does the same thing. Hates going for walks.

Our doberman, on the other hand. really loves it.

We have a lake near my house and I like to walk to the lake and back with one of the dogs (it's exactly one mile to do that). The doberman likes it better, but my pug needs to lose some weight so sometimes she goes whether she wants to or not. (but we have a long rest at the lake if I take the pug, so she can get some water and rest her tired little legs.)

marchellaz

Nope. My weenie dogs like to sleep. They make me want to take a nap. I have tried to take them but they can't keep up and it is too hot.

LanceKarcher

Ran with her for years, did not even need a leash would stay right by my side. She developed hip arthritis, could no longer handle running and I gained weight and joined MFP.

_lyndseybrooke_

Not really. I walk her from time to time (usually my husband does it before I get home from work), but that's about it and I don't do it for what little calorie burn it gives me. I don't run, period, and the little bit of cardio I do is done in my spare bedroom while she's downstairs. She shouldn't really be running anyway since she has hip dysplasia.

Most of my exercise is lifting, and I think it would be pretty unsafe to have my dog in the room with me.

sculli123

No really. I used to run with my husky when she was my only dog back in the day. But now I also have a big german shepherd so walking both of them is a chore. And i definitely can't run with both of them because the GSD is too lazy. When I walk them I'm getting some exercise of course but sometimes it gets in the way of other exercise like running.