If you are looking for a fun way to incorporate fitness on your life, try walking your dog. I recently developed a new attitude to my health and fitness and have taken it up with a vengeance.
I admit it. I have been lax for years about getting in some daily exercise. I have arthritis in my right knee and both hips, and I used it as an excuse to stop walking my dog.
Walking your dog is a great way to keep your motivation going for getting in your daily exercise.
It was hard to get going at first. Every step hurt and I had to sit a LOT on whatever would do as a seat. Rocks, fire hydrants, neighbor’s walls…anything that would take some of the stress off my hips helped.
I could barely make it around the block at first. But little by little, I got stronger and the pain from arthritis eased with each passing day.
One of the ways I kept my motivation up was walking with my dog, Ashleigh – an 11 year old German Shepherd with a touch of arthritis and a healthy dose of “alpha.”
Once she figured out that we were going to be walking again, she got excited. As in ….”OMG can we walk today?
Pleeease say yes. I’m ready when you are. It’s time, it’s time,” kind of excited. 
Unlike a human walking buddy who cancels because an appointment came up, Ashleigh is always there ready to go. She’ll walk anywhere.
- Around the block? √
- Down to the corner and back? √
- Through the woods to the softball field? √√
- Hop in the car for a ride to the local walking trail? √√√
Why walk with dogs?
- They never make excuses not to walk
- Dogs seem to instinctively know that exercise is good for them and walking with them is a bonding experience for you and your pet.
- Dogs get overweight just like humans do, and taking them along on your daily walk keeps both of your weight in check.
- Rain? Who cares? A dog will walk in any weather
- She never criticizes your work out clothes.
- A dog is never late for the walk.
- Dog always have energy on tap. Walking with a dog usually means you will walk faster.
Knowing that I have such a great companion gives me lots of motivation to make sure I don’t miss a day.
I am very fortunate to have a lot of options for my morning walk. We live very close to a local amphitheater that is pretty much deserted during the week. There are lots of trails all around this area and it is within a short walking distance.
One of the best things about it, at least for me, is that I don’t have to leash my dog here. This appeals to me because… how shall I put it? Ashleigh is a pain in the butt on a leash.
Unless she can be walking several steps in front of me, she isn’t happy. I’ve watched just about every episode of the Dog Whisperer and have tried to put everything into practice that Cesar suggests.
She is a lost cause. And at 11 years old, I don’t think even Cesar could teach this old dog new tricks.
The amphitheater leads to a local softball park. Also deserted during the week days.
Again. No leash. I bring it along, of course, as well as a dog clicker. I leash her up for “practice” from time to time. As for the clicker, I am trying my darnedest to get her to walk where I want her to walk (by my side and not ahead of me.)
Ashleigh’s idea of complying with the clicker is to slow down, come back and walk right in front of me. Just a little slower than my gait. Sigh….
One of the nicest parts of the softball field walk is a stream that snakes through it. A beautiful scenic stream, better known as “oh goodie, I get to swim today.”
Out comes the clicker. Note to self. “Next time bring a towel.”
They say that dogs should get a chance to sniff and relieve themselves when you walk. Fortunately, the softball field is well set up for this.
I just bring along dog clean up bags, and dispose of them in the plentiful trash bins. This spot on the walk is a favorite of Ashleigh.
It is a cut through the woods, right next to the soft ball field and has lots of great smells. 
As the weeks have progressed, and my hips got more and more used to the walk, I decided that it was time for my hips to try out my favorite trail at Lake Benson Park. This means several things:
- Ashleigh has to walk on the lead. (“You think I can walk nicely by your side now, but I think I’ll be alpha today instead.” )
- There will be lots of other dogs. (“Oh goodie…other dogs. I can really practice pulling on the lead today.”)
- The park is 15 minutes away by car so it means we can’t just walk there. (“OMG…a ride, a ride, a ride. I can’t wait to get to the park where I can really pull on the lead cause I am so excited today.”)
- You get the idea…but this is why it’s worth a leash pulling, alpha tending, excited dog walk is worth it.
Into the car we go and off to Lake Benson. She looks almost sad here. It is because I made her sit while I tried to take a kazillion pictures before I found a good one. Don’t let her demeanor fool you.
She’s excited to go and eyeing that leash with a “you just wait” thought.
Lake Benson park has the most fabulous walking trail. It ranges from a paved walking trail around a large open area, to a woodland trail and a trail that leads down to the lake.
There are bridges, lots of places to sit, which makes my hips happy, and the most scenic views imaginable. It is, by far, my favorite place to walk, pulling alpha dog on lead or not. 
We spent the next hour walking the trails, sniffing the smells, making doggie friends and enjoying the view. I think I actually wore my dog out today.
When we got to the top of a long wooded hill, I was longingly thinking how good it would feel to sit on the seat looking out over the lake. Little did I know that Ashleigh also loves that spot and she got first dibs on it!
Not a lot of room left for my poor hips, is there?
After we fought over the seat for a while, and I finally got a chance to rest (too), we continued the woodland trail part of the walk that leads to the lake area. There are two seats here. We both got a chance to sit!
We had such a great day. I’m pretty sure Ashleigh remembers the park from when we walked it before.
She seemed to know where the best parts were and took my favorite trails as though we had not missed a few years walking here. Now, if I can just get her to forget how to pull on a lead, we’ll be all set!
And not quite sure how I will ever take another car ride again without my buddy…she seems to really like her new home.
69 responses to “Need Exercise Motivation? Try Walking Your Dog”
The best part of walking my dog for me is the early morning fresh air.
Hi Pat. And it is so much cooler then too! Carol
I love seeing my dog happy and she loves her walks and it makes me happy.
Me too Ali. It does not take much to make a dog happy does it? Carol
The best part is in the morning it’s so quiet and the sunrise is the best!
Hi Addrienne. Yes. Early morning is the best. It’s cooler too! Carol
The companionship
Hi Cathy. So true. They are such friends! Carol
Exercise is one of the main reasons we got Jesse two years ago. And despite back surgery when I just couldn’t walk him, we walk about 2 miles every morning. I love it!
They really do make great walking companions don’t they Heather? Carol
I think the best part is just seeing my dog happy and enjoying the sunshine!
Me too Morgan. My dog just loves to walk with me. Carol
My favorite part of walking with my dog is seeing him exploring and visiting neighbors. (He has quite the treats and pets route figured out. Lol!)
I bet he does. Dogs don’t forget a thing! Carol
This’ll go to a friend with a dog.
Best of luck with your entry Jim. Carol
The best part of walking my dog is watching him react to squirrels and birds.
Run and chase. Yippee!! Carol
My favourite part is that we are both getting exercise!
Me too Holly. Carol
I just love to see them happy and enjoying the outdoors.
Hi Catherine. There is nothing quite like watching a dog have fun is there? Carol
I enjoy watching her having fun exploring-sniffing and all the surprising and funny things she does.
Hi Connie. It is amazing what they find with their great sense of smell. Carol
She gets so happy when its time to go for a walk and that makes me feel good .We both have fun and She is always ready to go no matter what ,she’s my girl.
Lynn
Hi Lynne. My Ashleigh is the same! Carol
I love seeing how happy walks make my dog and how much they enjoy seeing people and discovering new things on our walks.
Hi Ashley. It is amazing how we get so used to our surroundings but our dogs find them just fascinating, isn’t it! Carol
I favorite thing about walking my dog is how stress relieving it is for both of us.
I so agree Ruy. I can start walking filled with stress and it is gone by the time the walk is done. Carol
I like knowing that both my dog and I are getting exercise. We also both enjoy the fresh air.
Me too Hannah. I love being outside and so does Ashleigh. Carol
Taking pictures with the deer in the neighborhood, my dog has the fawn colors of a deer and looks just like one.
It must be nice to have deer that you can see nearby! Carol
the best part is to see how excited he is to go out for a walk
Hi Wendy My Ashleigh goes nuts when it is walk time. Carol
The best part for me is just getting some fresh air.
Me too Robyn. It’s been raining cats and dogs here. Hope it ends soon. Carol
I love the way my dog enjoys getting outside,and the walks are very peaceful
I love the outside too Karen. I can’t say mine are peaceful but they sure are fun!
I love getting the fresh air and watching how much my dog enjoys sniffing everything as we walk.
Me too Wanda. They seem to enjoy it anew each day too!
I love killing two birds with one stone. I get the blood pumping and my dog gets out. We both benefit from walking.
I feel the same. It is great the way we keep each other healthy too!
I think it’s great that Ashleigh still gets to go on walks with you! You can tell she enjoys all the sensations of the experience!
Her favorite time of the day!
I love how excited my girl always is to explore everything we encounter!
Excited is an understatement with Ashleigh!
Thank you….I really enjoyed your post. It’s so nice to hear someone else say that their dog is a pain in the butt to walk on a leash. I’m lucky that my arms are still attached to my body. LOL You’re much luckier than me, though, to have so many wonderful trails that you can use.
Oops….I forgot to answer the question. My favorite part of walking my dog is seeing how happy it makes her.
Hi Wen. Yes I am so fortunate. Even my local walk around the block is quite scenic.
I just love being outside and getting exercise when walking the dog
Me too. It is so much fun sharing nature with my dog.
We like the peacefulness of the woods.
I like that too Joni. Just me, my dog and nature.
My favorite part is the excitement they show when I say the word WALK
I have to NOT say that! Ashleigh goes NUTS.
Even though we take the same routes, it’s always new to him. Love watching him explore!
Ashleigh is the same. As long as it’s walking time, she doesn’t care where we go.
I love watching him enjoy seeing other dogs
He sounds social! Mine is somewhat shy with other dogs.
I like the exercise we both get together! Otherwise, I might never get out and walk!
Same here Crystal. She keeps me motivated.
Not walking alone, its nice to know my trusty buddy will always want to go with me. Its a bonus she does well on a leash.
I wish mine were better on a leash!
I like it when our dogs just show they are so happy, trotting along on our walks.
It is the highlight of their day!
I think the best part is burning some of the energy my dog has. He is soooo hyper. It really helps with his chewing on things he shouldnt when I leave him unsupervised.
Yes, it really does. Good point!