By Erica Gentner
In truth, one should never walk alone. Whether you are walking with a friend or singing along with music, it is always best to have some kind of company. Even dogs are a good form of company. They are always excited about a new adventure, and they lick you affectionately, trying to tell you to keep going and keep up the good work. However, there are a few downsides to taking your puppy on your daily walk. Here, I expose the good and the bad of taking dogs on your workout, and you can decide what's best for you.
The Upside of Dog Company
I always wondered where a dog gets its energy. They are always playing, running, jumping, biting etc. It looks so tiresome. This is one good reason to bring your dog on your walk. Their seemingly endless energy will sometimes pull you up that huge hill that you are faced with, or make you feel like running just to see if they can keep up. They make you feel like you can make it.
Another reason I found was the feeling of protection you get with their company. If you are walking on back roads (Like I often do), then you can sometimes get paranoid about predators lurking in the woods, human or animal. Having a dog with me alleviates that nervous feeling. Not that I think little puppies are gonna defeat huge animals in the name of your protection, but just the way they stand to attention and growl whenever they hear the slightest noise, makes me feel braver somehow.
It is also a good idea to bring along your dog because they need exercise too. Just playing and jumping all day is not quite enough to keep them in shape. If you have seen some dogs out there you know that they are in desperate need of a walk or two. It also tires them out really well, so if you go later in the evening, your dog is one walk away from bedtime.
Things to Watch Out For
With so many wonderful reasons to walk your dog, why not take them on every walk? Well, for one thing, they SNIFF EVERYTHING! You have to stop every minute or so to smell another animal, alive or dead, inspect piles of feces, eat the grass, and don't forget they will most likely go to the bathroom themselves. When you go by yourself, it is a nonstop, great workout. Nobody ever got fit by stopping every minute. It is a much better workout if it is continuous.
Dogs also have a tendency to trip you up. They go left and you go right, they walk around you in circles until you almost trip over the leash, and they stop when you wanna go. I am not saying they are doing this on purpose and I love spending time with my dog, but they don't understand the concept of exercise. To them, going for a walk is still playtime, and their senses are so acute that the slightest smell or sound makes them go running in the opposite direction.
With all the energy that they are using to sniff, pull and push, they will eventually get tired. If this happens before you are ready to head back, the dog can turn into a real pain. They stop wanting to walk and they want to lie down and rest. So now the roles are reversed. You have to pull them up the hills, and push them to go; otherwise you will never get back home. Of course, you could also see this as a positive attribute. You are now pulling extra weight on your workout, which in the long run helps you tone your muscles.
Man's Best Friend
When all is said and done, if you love your dog you will take them for a walk. However, if you really struggle with the cons, then I would recommend switching it up. Take your dog for a walk every other day, and on the off days take music. This way you both get some exercise, but it isn't a total loss on your end.
Erica Gentner has finally overcome her weight problem, and is sharing her story with others in hopes that they will also become inspired to lose weight. To read about other tips and tricks on weight loss, and to read more about Erica's story, visit her blog at: http://forfasthealthyweightloss.blogspot.com
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