My Dog is My Best Exercise Buddy

I've noticed I am motivated to get in my walking exercise more because of my dog Yoda. He is a very fit 84 lb German Shepherd/Australian Cattle Dog mix who is very loving and has loads of energy. Even on days when I don't also feel like going to the gym he will get me out of the house twice or more a day. My question to you all is do you have a pet like that and do you feel guilty if you do not get to walk them for any reason? Doesn't have to be a dog. Any animal you can take outside and exercise with would qualify. :D
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Replies

  • BrightEyesx3
    BrightEyesx3 Posts: 335
    My beagle Copper! I love him to death :) When the weather is nice out and we haven't gone for a walk I feel bad because I feel like he would look at me and be like "C'mon mommy its nice out, lets go for a walk!". Because of him I walk 45 minutes to an hour every time. What's cute is that when he's tired and wants to go home he'll look at me and wag his tail.
  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
    You say the word "walk" in my house...They go buck wild. All three of them. My little buddy Charlie always seems to hold me back on my walks. He likes to piss on EVERYTHING. Sammie, my black lab, is nearly impossible to walk. She walks you. Max, my shar-pei, is a great walker, but he get very hot very quickly. I usually end up taking Charlie for my walks. I attempted to take all three for a walk and ended up having bruises on my hands. We saw other dogs. :(
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    I have two Aussies and while I don't actively take them for walks here (I live on a reservation and there are too many "rez dogs" )...I do let them outside with me when I am working in the yard. Zephyr will follow me around when I mow the lawn.
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    My beagle Copper! I love him to death :) When the weather is nice out and we haven't gone for a walk I feel bad because I feel like he would look at me and be like "C'mon mommy its nice out, lets go for a walk!". Because of him I walk 45 minutes to an hour every time. What's cute is that when he's tired and wants to go home he'll look at me and wag his tail.

    Ha ha! My dog makes me walk the same amount of time. However, he wags his tail off and on during the whole walk and look at me occasionally but does not necessarily want to go home yet. :)
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    You say the word "walk" in my house...They go buck wild. All three of them. My little buddy Charlie always seems to hold me back on my walks. He likes to piss on EVERYTHING. Sammie, my black lab, is nearly impossible to walk. She walks you. Max, my shar-pei, is a great walker, but he get very hot very quickly. I usually end up taking Charlie for my walks. I attempted to take all three for a walk and ended up having bruises on my hands. We saw other dogs. :(

    That's a full doggie house you have there. :) You poor girl. I can see why there are no more walks with all three if they see other dogs. However, you get a triple workout if you take them all during the day at separate times.
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    I have two Aussies and while I don't actively take them for walks here (I live on a reservation and there are too many "rez dogs" )...I do let them outside with me when I am working in the yard. Zephyr will follow me around when I mow the lawn.

    Try running around the yard with them. :)
  • BrightEyesx3
    BrightEyesx3 Posts: 335
    My beagle Copper! I love him to death :) When the weather is nice out and we haven't gone for a walk I feel bad because I feel like he would look at me and be like "C'mon mommy its nice out, lets go for a walk!". Because of him I walk 45 minutes to an hour every time. What's cute is that when he's tired and wants to go home he'll look at me and wag his tail.

    Ha ha! My dog makes me walk the same amount of time. However, he wags his tail off and on during the whole walk and look at me occasionally but does not necessarily want to go home yet. :)

    Oh no because he's a beagle that nose is ALWAYS on the ground sniffing or his head is in the air looking around observing and sniffing some more! So when he finally looks up to me I know he wants to go home. He's also the type that if you mention the word "walk" his big beagle ears perk up and he runs straight for the front door and will run back and forth from me and the door sometimes whining for me to move faster so we can go for one. He's my baby!
  • ZumbaLin
    ZumbaLin Posts: 87 Member
    We have 2 dogs - Eli, an Australian Shepherd who weighs about 75lbs and is about 11 or 12 yrs old. He's a gem. And Luke, a 6lb Chihuahua. Both Lovelove love to go on walks! Eli does well for almost a mile and then wants to stop:-) Luke goes until he wants to be carried - he spends too much time trying to avoid his big brother's steps. I love my buddies - they are so so so glad to see you and never argue. Eli does grumble when it's time to get groomed:-) He 'talks' to me then. He's a hoot. And Luke is Luke - he's happy if his 'mama' is with him:-) He lets us know when Eli needs out or when something isn't 'right' in the house, like when our sister-in-law, who was staying with us and has Parkinsons, was falling out of her chair.
    We have a nice big fenced yard and they love to be out there, if we're out with them:-) And walks are nice whenever.
  • BosLady1
    BosLady1 Posts: 83
    My dog, Ceasar, is my work out buddy... but not like yours. He watches mommy work out, and sighs until I am done lol. I guess he doesn't like me moving around looking crazy :laugh: lol!!! He is the only family member who is allowed to be in the room while I work out. I have this weird complex (i guess) where when I'm working out, if I feel like someone is looking at me at alllll I start laughing hysterically and can't stop. Could be because I know my family so well, I can read their expressions even when there are no words spoken lol. Thank goodness that only happens at home. At the gym I am 110% business :happy:

    BTW
    <~~~~This is my furry son =)
  • Dree3
    Dree3 Posts: 54 Member
    For walking, my dog (mini dapple dachshund, Rocket) is great, though when I'm doing HIIT in my home gym he's a little *kitten*. :P The minute the mat comes out and I'm doing any floor exercises, he goes absolutely insane. Jumps all over me, rolls around me, licks my face, everything. It's like he ate some speed. Even if I'm doing some standing exercises, he's there trying to jump at the weights to attack them, for some reason. He's a bad dog but I love him to bits.

    But yeah, usually I shut the door when I workout in the house. :D
  • still_crafty
    still_crafty Posts: 682 Member
    I take my Rhodesian Ridgeback (as seen below) with me when I run for two reasons . . . he's keeps freaks away and he keeps my neighbor's ankle biter dogs away from me. If I don't have him with me those stupid dust mops will chase me halfway down the damn street.

    By the way, his name and is Tucker and he rocks!
  • retriev00
    retriev00 Posts: 227 Member
    I have a golden retriever puppy. There is a pic of him in my photos. We usually walk about 3 hours each day. This kind of supplements my exercise, as well as wrestling with him ( his favorite thing to do )
  • Megdmcda
    Megdmcda Posts: 273 Member
    ha ha does my 3 yr old son count. he tells me everyday its time to go walk/run. or its time to dance. lol
  • geojeepgirl
    geojeepgirl Posts: 243 Member
    I dont have a fenced in yard so I have to take my little guy out two to three times a day. Ive tried jogging outside with him but that just doenst work... he is part terrier and has to sniff and pee on just about every twig he can find. So its a constant go..stop..go..stop. When I try to leave the house without him.. he gives me lost little puppy eyes so now I have to hid it from him and jog on a treadmill at work. Things we do.....
  • ESVABelle
    ESVABelle Posts: 1,264 Member
    Koda - 3yr old Bullmastiff
    Riley - 11mo old Great Dane/English Mastiff
  • madelonism
    madelonism Posts: 292 Member
    goodness I just moved into my uncles house (he left for hawaii) and now i have 2 german shepards! they LOVE me. and i just spent an hour washing the little girl one. man worked up a sweat. im going to walk them all the time one i finally get the big one clean. he really dindt care for these dogs very well. but they are awesome.
  • peeneenut
    peeneenut Posts: 11 Member
    My foster bully is still working on her leash manners so she's not the best at walking/jogging for an actual workout, but the girl loves to play ball!! Once I tried to take my first foster for a walk around the lake & he was such a lazy butt he ended up laying down in the middle of the road & I had to hoist all 60 lbs of him up by his harness & basically carry his butt back to the car.... & to make things even better I had 2 kids in the double jogger & it started pouring on us! Heeheee...good times!! :tongue:
  • JeepBaja
    JeepBaja Posts: 1,824 Member
    My dog pays for my gluttony :)

    He gets anywhere from 4 mile walks to 10 mile hikes daily. Rarely do we miss a day mainly because he needs his daily walk to keep him sane.
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    For walking, my dog (mini dapple dachshund, Rocket) is great, though when I'm doing HIIT in my home gym he's a little *kitten*. :P The minute the mat comes out and I'm doing any floor exercises, he goes absolutely insane. Jumps all over me, rolls around me, licks my face, everything. It's like he ate some speed. Even if I'm doing some standing exercises, he's there trying to jump at the weights to attack them, for some reason. He's a bad dog but I love him to bits.

    But yeah, usually I shut the door when I workout in the house. :D
    uote]

    Yeah what is it with dogs when you are trying to work out on the floor and they do that? LOL. Yoda does not like to even see me attempt a situp or he hovers over my face.
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    My dog, Ceasar, is my work out buddy... but not like yours. He watches mommy work out, and sighs until I am done lol. I guess he doesn't like me moving around looking crazy :laugh: lol!!! He is the only family member who is allowed to be in the room while I work out. I have this weird complex (i guess) where when I'm working out, if I feel like someone is looking at me at alllll I start laughing hysterically and can't stop. Could be because I know my family so well, I can read their expressions even when there are no words spoken lol. Thank goodness that only happens at home. At the gym I am 110% business :happy:

    BTW
    <~~~~This is my furry son =)

    Awww! Pretty boy baby. :)
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    I take my Rhodesian Ridgeback (as seen below) with me when I run for two reasons . . . he's keeps freaks away and he keeps my neighbor's ankle biter dogs away from me. If I don't have him with me those stupid dust mops will chase me halfway down the damn street.

    By the way, his name and is Tucker and he rocks!

    Ridgebacks are great running dogs I hear. I'm not a runner. Arthritis for me means low impact i.e. walking. Yoda looks similar to your dog but obviously not as big I am sure. People and some dogs do give me a wide berth though when we stroll down the street. :)
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    ha ha does my 3 yr old son count. he tells me everyday its time to go walk/run. or its time to dance. lol

    Only if you call him your little monkey like I called my son at that age. LOL. He is 12 now and still keeps me active. He occasionally will walk with me and the dog. That's to wear him out and the dog and keep them both out of trouble. Hahaha!
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    I dont have a fenced in yard so I have to take my little guy out two to three times a day. Ive tried jogging outside with him but that just doenst work... he is part terrier and has to sniff and pee on just about every twig he can find. So its a constant go..stop..go..stop. When I try to leave the house without him.. he gives me lost little puppy eyes so now I have to hid it from him and jog on a treadmill at work. Things we do.....

    I think all dogs do that. Yoda definitely has his favorite trees and bushes. I had a terrier once and she did the same things your dog does.
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    My foster bully is still working on her leash manners so she's not the best at walking/jogging for an actual workout, but the girl loves to play ball!! Once I tried to take my first foster for a walk around the lake & he was such a lazy butt he ended up laying down in the middle of the road & I had to hoist all 60 lbs of him up by his harness & basically carry his butt back to the car.... & to make things even better I had 2 kids in the double jogger & it started pouring on us! Heeheee...good times!! :tongue:

    Oh my! That is an adventure not to be re-lived I am sure. :)
  • Bridge_CG
    Bridge_CG Posts: 429 Member
    AH! I've got Mack and Molly Brown! Mack is a red heeler and Molly is a red heeler/black lab mix! They're so awesome!!! Even if it's a quick walk around the block or a 4 or 5 mile walk... They just want to keep on going!
  • TheresaC928
    TheresaC928 Posts: 849
    My dog pays for my gluttony :)

    He gets anywhere from 4 mile walks to 10 mile hikes daily. Rarely do we miss a day mainly because he needs his daily walk to keep him sane.

    I guess if I added all the times during the day I walk with him I might just come close to 4. You do much better than I with that. Great calorie burning for both of you I bet.
  • sheri02r
    sheri02r Posts: 486 Member
    <
    My morning workout buddy! We also run and go on hikes together! :D
  • xoFlo
    xoFlo Posts: 28 Member
    I hear you! My two dogs are my best hiking/walking/running buddies--they don't whine (like my 11 year old) and help me feel safe, too. Plus my little one makes me laugh by doing something goofy every time.
  • dvisser1
    dvisser1 Posts: 788 Member
    <
    You mean this guy?

    He's a 2 year old black lab mix of unknown breeds (I strongly believe pit bull). Sweet, fun, playful and full of energy. We walk at least 1.5 miles, up to 4 miles, everyday.
  • SweetxCatastrophe
    SweetxCatastrophe Posts: 593 Member
    I have a cat named yoda :)
    My dog exercise buddy is Murphy, a chocolate lab husky mix. He looks just like a choc lab but with the crazy fluffy husky tail. He's only 1 1/2yrs so he always has enough energy for a walk. We live in a fairly rural area and he protects me on my walks from the dangerous things we encounter like bunnies and butterflies lol. I love him to pieces.
    Along with Murphy and Yoda kitty, both rescues, I have another rescue kitty named Liberace Elton Johm George Michael, aka Kitty (he has an affinity for my shoes and sparkly things lol)