I have started getting into better shape because of my dog. I adopted an airedale terrier puppy, and she has tons of energy. I started by tossing a ball with her in the yard or letting her run around inside the fenced area. This wasn’t enough exercise for her. Then I started taking her for long walks to tire her out before bed. My puppy spent the whole time tugging at the leash and pulling me along. All day, she was a bit whiny, needy and overrun with energy. I then bought a special running collar and rope and went on some short jogs with the dog. It helped a little with her excess energy but it wasn’t sufficient. I then trained in order to be able to run with my dog. I hoped she would sleep better at night and allow me to sleep. We now go for a run every single day. When she sees me lace up my running shoes, she decides it is time to stretch. We both stretch our muscles before getting on our gear and heading out on a run. I can run at a 7 minute mile pace for six miles. If we choose a longer run, I slow down the pace so the dog doesn’t get overheated. For a shorter run, I add a weighted vest to the dog. She wags her tail the whole time. After dinner, by about 8 PM, my dog has usually passed out on the floor. She is a good motivator for me to workout. If I even dare to reach for my running shoes, she gets so excited. I also can’t take a day off or the dog starts whining and agitating. She’s an excellent personal trainer.