Meet Loki, my training partner.

We have had dogs for the past 25 years. While each has had its own personality, there has been one unifying characteristic of all of our pets. I am the least important family member.

That was until Loki.

I dread exercise for exercise sake and must turn it in to a social event or I will decide it is necessary to re-alphabetize my spice drawer and that I will have to give up my fitness time to do so. Therefore, I have made it a habit to cultivate walking partners - such as Sweta, who kept me moving everyday after the kids were dropped off at school for more than a decade. In our many, many miles, I enjoyed learning about all of her family members and the fabulous meals Sweta prepared everyday, often delivering them to those who were ill or just busy or (like me) simply loved her cooking and begged for a share.

Not even Sweta, however, can match the influence exerted by my newest training partner Loki.

I wake each morning to find him patiently staring at me. He closely observes until I am up and moving around. Once I have selected shoes from the closet, he immediately determines whether those shoes indicate that he is off on a new adventure or mean he will be left at home. If I choose the wrong shoes, he sulks - hanging his head an glancing up at me with a pitiful mean.

If I choose the correct shoes, he will attach himself to my heel as I go about brushing my teeth, taking my medications, and grabbing a bowl of granola and yogurt. Todd will attempt to convince him to pay a visit to the backyard with the promise of throwing a tennis ball or will offer him food or a treat. Loki diligently ignores all of these transparent efforts of Todd to gain his favor, leaving my side only after I grab my keys - at which point he sprints to the door to await our departure.

My constant quest to maintain my status as Loki's most favored human is no small part of my success at establishing and maintaining a regular exercise routine - and the unequivocal truth is that I would not trust in my ability to consistently get up on mornings I could chose to stay in bed and walk out the front door instead of grabbing a blanket and a book if it were not for Loki's expectations.

Yes. I am healthier because I seek the approval of my dog.

Loki: my number one walking partner.