My default recommendation is to get yourself a dog - that's much better for your health, fitness and your happiness than becoming addicted to yet another electronic gadget
What a horrible piece of advice. A dog needs more than daily walks--it needs love, attention, to be fed, watered, groomed, de-fleaed, given room to run, vet check-ups, and let's not forget that those walks include scooping up dog poop (don't have to do that with the watch). The dog should also be trained. Few dogs come well trained and it takes time and effort and patience to make sure they don't pull, growl, bark all night, get into fights with other dogs, etc.
A dog, in short, is far more of an investment than a gadget.
I'm now imagining people buying dogs, keeping them locked up all day except when taken out for walks because the dog was just gotten to motivate the owner to take those daily walks/runs, not because the owner wanted to give that dog a good life. And when the owner realizes that unlike a gadget the dog demands upwards of ten years of time, money, attention? That's a dog who will end up abandoned or in the pound.
If all someone is after is a motivator to exercise, than better they should be addicted to another gadget. As healthy as you think a dog is, it's irresponsible to advise people to get one for that reason alone. A gadget can't be harmed by a neglectful, selfish person who wants it only for one purpose. A dog can be.
