Coco is my muse.
Coco is my confidante.
Coco is my co-worker.
Coco is my constant companion.

Coco is my dog.

For nearly a dozen years she’s been by my side, and we’re getting closer every day. Coco the fitness pug may be familiar to long-time readers - I first wrote about her in 2014, she’s now a bit slower and sleeping around 19 hours a day, up from 18. Lucky dog.

She now woofs. Coco was mainly mute until nearly two years old. She probably learnt to bark from the neighbours. Ed the postman is always heralded with a disproportionate amount of woofing echoing up and down the tenement stair. He’s been our postman as long as we’ve had Coco (longer, in fact).

‘Coco the fitness pug’ came about when I was encouraged to expand my PT microbusiness. Business mentors recommended growing Griffen Fitness by employing staff. I wasn’t so sure, so I employed a dog.

Not Crufts

30 March 2014 Coco’s official adoption date, from a lovely Kennel club breeder who raised the litter in their home, with mum and dad pug present. She had a good start to life. Coco went straight into fitness training, tearing about our flat and exploring the allotment.

Over her early years she learnt the ropes as a studio dog (lying in bed all day for treats, enjoying pats and hugs from clients). We took her agility training out at Pathhead, where she was the smallest. Highly motivated by food, she loves the tunnel. We have a collapsible tunnel at home for indoor exercise on rainy days.

But what about her breathing?

Some people told me that getting a brachiaphilic (squishy face) dog was irresponsible. However, I want to prove that it doesn’t matter your body shape, you can still be fit and healthy. And as Coco is nearing her 12th birthday, she still goes out walking for up to three miles in a day (her choice, she takes us on adventures and we follow – often down to Kirkgate for dropped Greggs). Fast up, up Calton Hill also a favourite. After a big walking day, she usually has a rest day. Sometimes a little back massage for her, as she’s snoozing on the sofa. Coco loves ambient music and will often start snoring as soon as chilled tunes come on. Reggae is also a favourite, but not really weird dub, or god forbid, banging techno. No no no. She will walk out of the room.

“She’s kicking me”

As she has got older Coco has learnt how to get noticed. She woofs when required and often kicks people for attention (that’s her scratching your shin with her front paw). If you’re that wee, you really do need an effective method for extracting treats from unwitting strangers.

This tiny dog has honestly changed my life. Dogs generally like routine, so I now have regular mealtimes. 7.30am breakfast, 12.30pm lunch and 7.30pm dinner. Yes, Coco gets food at every mealtime. Just a small bit.

She sometimes goes to the dog physio. A bad landing after a flying leap off the bed (to greet postman Ed), meant that she had a dodgy front leg for a while. To help strengthen her joints, we use a stability disc (balance cushion) in the studio.

A Doggy Prodigy

Proudest moments: either when she was a Therapet at a local NHS home, or last year, when Coco appeared in the movie and the poster for ‘The Golden Spurtle’. In the film, I list some of her favourite foods that are: carrot, broccoli, kale… and dog porridge.

It’s inevitable that Coco is getting slower and walking less, so you may spot her whizzing around Leith Walk in her new dog trolley (pram). Not because she’s a baby, but because she can still go on adventures that way. In summer, we’ll get the Cocomobile (cargo bike) out.

The Life of Dog

What I’ve discovered about dogs is that the more you give, the more you get back. Leave a dog by itself all day and you’ll spend the evening being stress-licked as it’s so happy to see you. Coco gave me a narrow escape from pursuing politics. In 2015 I shadowed a local councillor at City Chambers, but meetings were too long and I missed my dog too much. So Coco steered me in the right direction. To our studio and snuggling on the sofa with a good book. Surely the best use of time.

Time and money saved on not going on exotic holidays has been spent in local pet shops, on aimless wanders to local cafes and on slower living. Coco has helped me in immeasurable ways, dogs really are the best people.

Coco the fitness pug is sometimes on Instagram @cocofitnesspug or www.griffenfitness.com