Woof It

on January 19, 2012
in All Posts

Meet my personal trainer.  He has very big muscles under all that fur. 

James

Of all the reason I love my dogs – and there are so many – I especially love James today because without him, I would’ve succumbed to the 4 PM sleepies and never gotten off the couch. 

 

Some personal trainers motivate by screaming.  Some by cajoling.  But James – oh, James – he just whips out those puppy eyes and psychically instructs me to give him two miles.  And I just can’t refuse!

 

Any other doggie personal trainers out there?  How far does your pup go?

{ 47 comments }

 

  • Lela January 19, 2012, 9:00 pm

    Despite the below zero temperatures today, I couldn’t deny my pups a walk two days in a row! They only got 1.5 miles, but it got us moving!

  • Amanda January 19, 2012, 9:03 pm

    What an awesome trainer. 🙂 I know exactly what you mean about those puppy dog eyes. I have a puggle and a pointer mix puppy (she’s a rescue so we’re not exactly sure about her breed) and there’s no way I would be venturing outside for long walks in the middle of winter without them. I’d say I walk at least 4 miles every day because of them. Not bad…

  • Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) January 19, 2012, 9:06 pm

    That’s a perfect analogy for a dog. Glad you found your motivation!

  • Amber January 19, 2012, 9:28 pm

    My basset hound is like a mountain goat! He loves all day hikes and definitely motivates me!

  • Army Amy* January 19, 2012, 9:34 pm

    I started running with my dog last year, and it’s so fun! Geronimo can run 4 miles right now.*

  • Sara @ OurDogBuffy January 19, 2012, 9:38 pm

    Look at his eyes! So cute! Buffy could go and go and go and go … but Jasper (our Standard Poodle) would rather sleep on the couch. He likes short walks, but he doesn’t really like to run or walk for long.

    • Joy January 20, 2012, 8:20 am

      I’m jealous of your sleepy standard poodle mine loves his sleepy snuggle time but makes us take him for a good walk daily

  • Keri January 19, 2012, 9:57 pm

    I love it! My new adopted dog was my personal trainer today too. It went like this:
    Dog: “Come on, let’s go play outside!!”
    ME: “No, I’m really lazy right now.”
    Dog: I’ll try non-verbal communication. You take me for a run. Now. Or I’ll eat your favorite shoes.

    Dog wins. I win. Everyone is happier after an afternoon run. 🙂 Cheers to dog trainers!

  • Dana January 19, 2012, 10:14 pm

    nice new kicks 😉

  • Bekah January 19, 2012, 10:16 pm

    My Siberian Husky puppy is so full of energy, I have a hard time resisting a run with her. 🙂 She goes about 4 miles right now, and keeps me bouncing along with her at the same time.

  • Alex @ Raw Recovery January 19, 2012, 10:21 pm

    My little tyke Buddha is my personal trainer back in CO. All you have to do is look busy and he thinks he’s going on a walk (I don’t know how he does it), then he continues to bark until you get the leash out. He pulls so he has a chest harness so he can actually breathe on walks but it takes about 10 minutes to chase him around the coffee table and catch him to get the harness on, but once it’s on he can walk for about a mile until his little legs get tired. Sometimes we go a little farther but when he stops and stands still I know it’s time to pick him up and carry him home…he’s not spoiled or anything 🙂

  • Amanda January 19, 2012, 10:23 pm

    My sister’s dog has run up to 6 miles with me. I love when I visit and get to run with Wheezy!

  • Sneakers2sandals January 19, 2012, 10:25 pm

    Haha oh yes big time personal trainer! What a good analogy. However they just built a dog park near me so I just take him there while I stand and watch 🙂

  • eatingRD January 19, 2012, 11:05 pm

    awww animals are the best aren’t they? Our new basset hound Lucky is pretty spry for a 7 year old. We usually take him for a 1/2 mile stroll around the neighborhood twice a day.

  • Lauren January 19, 2012, 11:11 pm

    Before I had my son I’d run 4 miles with my dogs most days. I often got funny comments that I was cheating because I had 150 lbs of dog pulling me. They did improve my pace 😉 Now it’s just me and the jogging stroller, too hard to run with all 3 of my “babies.”

  • TeenyLittleSuperChef January 19, 2012, 11:25 pm

    Unfortunately, mine is a total personal cuddler and motivates me to sit on the couch and be a lazy butt. Gotta love him though. Somedays I feel like I’m his personal trainer and have to convince him that he’ll feel better going out and getting some exercise. Oh well, you don’t adopt a Chihuahua in hopes of them keeping you fit 🙂

  • Megan @ runridelove January 19, 2012, 11:46 pm

    We have a foxhound and a spring spaniel. They will literally jump on our heads if they don’t get exercise. Serious exercise. Sweep, the springer, is up to 12 miles running behind a mountain bike before he’s really exhausted (mae, the hound is good after 5 or 6 miles haha). But a tired dog is a happy dog!

  • Anne @strawberryjampackedlife January 19, 2012, 11:48 pm

    Our little girl likes her “daily” 3 mile runs. Daily in that they used to be daily, and now it’s just on the weekends. She wouldn’t be opposed to more.

  • Corrie Anne January 20, 2012, 12:02 am

    I have a puppy trainer!! I love him so cuddly much!! I want one more! I’m dying for a Vizsla to marathon train with!

  • Orla January 20, 2012, 6:48 am

    My big dog Charlie will do 5 miles & Dave, the little one will get about 2.5 before he stops. They are the best for keeping me accountable.

  • helen @ change comes from within January 20, 2012, 7:09 am

    Miss Molly is far too naughty to be a running buddy as she would tangle me up in her lead! I should have trained her from day #1 to run with me…hmmm…

    She is a great walking buddy though, she has boundless energy and within five minutes of returning home, she wants to go out again and play some more!

    Have a look at her here if you can chance! She’s adorable, but I am biased…..

    http://runlivelaugh.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/meet-my-dawg/

  • Katherine January 20, 2012, 7:12 am

    My pup is both an awesome runny buddy, hiking dog, and walking machine. On days when my knees are too sore to run (I have had way to many knee surgeries) we take long walks, usually 7 or 8 miles, or go for a hike on a 6 mile loop near my house. She is definitely an awesome puppy-personal trainer.

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed January 20, 2012, 7:39 am

    My pup is a little attention whore, and she’s extra in your face if she didn’t get her walk! There are so many times when it’s super cold or even raining when I think, I wouldn’t be out here right now if I did need to walk her!

  • Joy January 20, 2012, 8:15 am

    On cold rainy days dobby requires 1 mile on nice days it’s 5 miles in the woods

  • Monica January 20, 2012, 8:32 am

    I found out this summer that Abbey (my 2 year old, 22lb Beagle/Terrier mix) has a limit of 2.5 miles. I carried her home the last half mile. My arms got a workout that day!

  • Emily January 20, 2012, 8:42 am

    Ooo… 4 pm sleepies. I am having those right now, except the 8:42 am version. 🙂

  • Molly @ RDexposed January 20, 2012, 8:47 am

    When baby takes over your world, James should move on to being Maggie’s personal trainer. Maggie’s tiny legs won’t know what hit her!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife January 20, 2012, 8:49 am

    CUTE! What an awesome dog!

  • Emily @LivingLongfellow January 20, 2012, 8:53 am

    I WISH we had a dog!! I do think it would keep me running actively, and no excuses for sleeping past 6am,

  • Marci January 20, 2012, 9:11 am

    I just wrote yesterday in my Week 32 prego update that my dog is my exercise for now! Up and down our 3-story house over and over, outside all the time for short walks, playing on the floor, chasing toys, etc. Leaves me breathless!

  • Ellen January 20, 2012, 9:24 am

    So I am 11-12 weeks pregnant and my will to exercise has completely died. As soon as I get home from work I just want to curl up in my bed. Before finding out I was pregnant I ran or went to the gym 3-4 times a week. I promised myself when I am pregnant I would keep up the same routine and I have failed miserably. I keep telling myself I am waiting for my second trimester and the Spring, but any advice on motivation would be fantastic!!! PS: I don’t have a dog 🙁

    • CaitlinHTP January 20, 2012, 9:53 am

      I would do my blank training plan – it has been really helpful for me. http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2011/11/i-need-a-training-plan.html Also, be sure to cut yourself some slack.. My training has DRASTICALLY decreased. I am happy with a walk now! You are at the peak of shittiness I think, too, with the hormones. But you’re almost over the hump!

      CONGRATS

  • Paj January 20, 2012, 10:19 am

    Agreed, dogs are the best trainers ever!

  • LeeAnn January 20, 2012, 11:00 am

    My dog is totally my personal trainer. The longest he has done with me is about 15 miles. Great running buddy!

  • Kara January 20, 2012, 11:06 am

    My hound mutt ran 16.5 with me last weekend and wasn’t even tired. My next dog is going to be a lazier breed. 🙂

  • Mandy January 20, 2012, 11:08 am

    my two beagle puppies are the BEST personal trainers ever! They’re also my best friends, best listeners, best snugglers…bless dogs they are truly amazing!

  • Merrython January 20, 2012, 11:13 am

    My pup Mister Biscuit totally gets me out running on days I’d rather do anything but! It’s so cold where I’m from (-40 with the windchill yesterday – gaahhh) I need all the help I can get!
    The furthest that he’s gone is 13 miles! Not bad for a 20lb bichon-ish. It probably helps that I’m not that fast!

  • Jessie B. January 20, 2012, 12:50 pm

    My 14 month old pup Trixie won’t guilt me into walking or running with her, but if she doesn’t get her workout in, she becomes a 60-pound ball of annoying! I love her, but the walks are as much for my sanity as her health 🙂

  • Amber K January 20, 2012, 1:42 pm

    Awww! I wish I had a puppy to motivate me, or really just to play with 🙂

  • Joanne January 20, 2012, 1:49 pm

    Oh I LOVE this question! I’m so proud of my doggy trainer. He’s a German Shepherd and he can go the distance. Shane is my running buddy and during the colder months of the year, we’ll run up to 11 miles. The summer months are tough on him, even though I bring lots of water, so we max out his distance at between 6 – 7.

  • Lili January 20, 2012, 4:03 pm

    yes! I have 2 adorable and active pups that are down for anything! run, hike, looong walks, roller-bladding or even riding a bycicle — I have no choice but exercise them daily (long walks lately since i cant run at the moment!!).

    They’re definitely a motivation (and obligation) to get out!

  • Susan January 20, 2012, 6:34 pm

    Bahaha, I love this, mostly because my dog’s big inpatient eyes are the best motivator I can think of too. He’s only 12lbs but is strong with tons of energy. Before the winter and snow we were walking 3-4 miles a day, but now it’s more like 2ish. My mom just got puppy, so whenever it’s too cold out I bring my dog over there and they play each other out while I lay on my mom’s couch. Win win 🙂

  • Leiane January 20, 2012, 8:14 pm

    My French Bulldog Bridget requires 0.20 miles EVERY morning, rain or shine :O)

  • Sarah January 20, 2012, 9:05 pm

    I wouldn’t be able to ignore that face either!

  • Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie January 21, 2012, 12:38 am

    My tortoise is, unfortunately, not a very good personal trainer 😉

  • Andrea Daniel January 22, 2012, 10:58 am

    My dog is the best personal trainer. If I’m ever feeling like I want to back out of my walk I just ask him if he is ready to go. His excitement (which includes turning in circles) can’t be ignored. 🙂

  • Jen @ The Well Read Fish January 25, 2012, 8:16 pm

    Love those sneakers. I desperately want some bright sneaks!

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