| If you are one of those people that find it hard to | | | | can, wagging her tail, and looking at him in that happy |
| motivate yourself to exercise like you should, enlist | | | | "we are going for a walk now aren't we" way. |
| the help of your furry four legged friend, your dog. | | | | Even on the nights he has looked at her and said |
| Dogs love to go for walks. Even if you are not | | | | "Montana, I don't feel like going for a walk tonight," |
| feeling motivated and up to a daily walk, your dog is | | | | the dog just tilts her head as if to say "But we have |
| still more than happy to follow you around with those | | | | to go." Now that the dog is used to the routine of |
| puppy dog eyes waiting for you to give in and go. | | | | walking, my husband never lasts more than 10 |
| At our dog's last vet visit, we were told our dog | | | | minutes after saying he doesn't want to walk. He |
| needed to lose a few pounds and were asked about | | | | gives in and goes because he can tell how much |
| how much exercise she got. Although we live in the | | | | Montana wants to go because like any dog worth its |
| country on several acres of land where our dog has | | | | furry coat, she doesn't give in. She just keeps waiting |
| the freedom to romp and play at will; our vet pointed | | | | and being excited about that walk and stays right |
| out it's not the same as giving her daily exercise like | | | | next to my husband as a reminder that he needs to |
| a walk or run would. And, he only half-jokingly | | | | take her. Now, even if it's raining (or snowing) they |
| pointed out as he patted my husband's found | | | | go for a walk. |
| stomach, it a daily walk with the dog wouldn't do my | | | | They have only missed a few nights and that was |
| husband any harm either. | | | | because it was storming with lightning. On those |
| So a few month's ago the daily walks with our dog | | | | nights my husband rewarded the dog by playing a |
| and my husband started. I go along on the walks but | | | | game where he chased the dog (yes, he chased her |
| I don't actually hold the leash because our dog | | | | around the house much to her delight), and played a |
| doesn't really walk, she pulls on the leash like an | | | | long game of tug of war with her to tire her out and |
| Alaskan sled dog because she wants to go faster | | | | make her not miss her walk too much. |
| and smell more things. I have a hard time controlling | | | | Has all that walking helped? It sure has. When our |
| the dog when she's in the mood to pull on the leash | | | | dog got her shots last week she had lost two |
| like that, which is most of the time and she's not a | | | | pounds. My husband has lost nearly 10 pounds over |
| huge dog, she weighs less than 50 pounds but she's | | | | the last three months by going on the daily walks. He |
| strong enough to nearly pull my husband off his feet | | | | hasn't made any modifications to his diet or added |
| if he's not paying attention when she sees a rabbit or | | | | any other exercise. Just the walking itself has |
| squirrel that she thinks needs to be chased. | | | | resulted in the weight loss for him. |
| At first the walks were only a mile in duration. Now | | | | I'm not advocating that you get a dog just to help |
| my husband and dog, her name is Montana, walk | | | | you exercise every day. But if already have a dog, |
| three to four miles a day, walking for about 45 | | | | get up off that couch and take him or her for a walk |
| minutes to 1 hour. There are days my husband does | | | | every day. It will be good for both of you. And, if |
| not feel like going for a walk. But, Montana knows | | | | you have been wanting to get a dog anyway and |
| the routine at our house. After my husband walks in | | | | are ready for the commitment of caring for a dog |
| the door at night and has eaten she knows it is time | | | | and giving it the exercise it needs, then visit your |
| for a walk. That's when Montana starts to act like | | | | local pound and talk to them about adopting a dog |
| she glued to my husband. She follows him around the | | | | who needs a loving home. |
| house, dancing around him, licking his hand when she | | | | |