It has been several years since I have felt well enough to do any real exercise.
Before surgery I was just so much weaker and so much more nauseous.
I have always been able to get Dex out to exercise. If that meant that I sat on a chair or a bench and threw the ball for him, a tiny little walk, or investing in lots of toys and brain games for him to be entertained in the house, he has always been very well taken care of.
Today is the FIRST day in probably 3 years that I was able to take him for an actual walk around the block by myself. We did not go too far, because I am still not strong enough to do so, but there is a really nice green space behind our house. So I take him with his 20ft leash and just let him explore and go back and forth while I stay on the path. I did manage to push the pace (and am pretty exhausted now because of it), but I am SUPER proud that we were able to do that.
My smart pup still remembers all of his training - like stopping, sitting, and waiting for me to say "Ok Cross" when we come to the road", or knowing when he can't stop to sniff everything if I tell him we are "Just Walking" - and he was amazing. We even passed a house with four little shih-tzu pups barking nonstop at him and he perked up but stayed quiet and stayed beside me.
Safe to say - it is a happy day.
I have been trying to make a schedule of activity to follow since I am feeling a touch stronger and also since I am not puking if I walk for more than 30 seconds at a time. So I am trying to be 'active' a few times a week - whether it is doing yoga, stepping on the glider, walking on the treadmill, using my stationary pedal, just doing a few crunches, or taking Dex for a walk. Each activity only lasts about 10 minutes at this point... but I am hopeful that I can build that up a bit. :)
(Plus I got to wear a new toque RJ brought home for me, a new jacket I bought last year, and the fresh air was DELIGHTFUL).