We got a dog last December. I held out on the idea because we already had cats and they get temperamental with change. Plus, I know all the promises that children might make would never pan out. I was right.
However, I have grown to fully enjoy the dog ownership life. She is a great dog. Very playful. Very responsive and submissive to commands. She’s the perfect size to walk and run.
I have been walking her pretty regularly in either the evenings or mornings. Lately the mornings are proving more enjoyable with the time change and the great weather. Tori loves it. She shadows me in the morning while I drink some coffee, check email, etc. When she sees me grab for my shoes, her eyes brighten, her step is more pronounced. She knows the game is on.
So I grab the leash, my ipod, my fitbit and we head out. I listen to podcasts (Adam Carolla or Bill Simmons) and the walk goes by quickly. Tori is on the lookout for birds and other dogs. She is a super social mutt. The Emily Post of dog etiquette, Ceasar Milan, would be complimentary of her behavior. Tori will do all the appropriate head gestures and butt sniffs when greeting other dogs. Of course this is not playtime and we move on quickly but not without her looking back with a faint “catcha next time new dog friend”.
I’ve lost almost 10 lbs since January. I attribute most of it to not watching as much TV since my son broke our 65″ plasma, a little to the FitBit which monitors and motivates by tracking steps, but part of it to walking the dog. She needs the exercise too. I know this all sounds super “First World Problems”. Third World citizens have dictators and wars to help them lose pounds, but we need electronics and pets to get us to drop some pounds.
Either way, its working and it’s 30 minutes of valued time in the morning.
