New Year, New Friend, New You!
January 12, 2023
I listened to a podcast many months ago featuring the author of Walking With Peety, Eric O’Grey.
In 2010, Eric was a middle aged man with a plethora of health issues. Eric’s doctor actually prescribed getting a dog. So Eric went to his local shelter and asked for a middle aged, overweight dog. He wanted a dog that he could relate to. He adopted his friend, Peety. He began walking Peety daily. Both Eric and Peety lost weight, had more energy, and transformed their health. The story is heartwarming and inspiring.
The AKC (American Kennel Club) published an article “10 Science Based Benefits of Having a Dog.”
Some of the benefits are fairly obvious, such as “Dogs help us feel less alone.” One benefit mentioned in the article that has been important to certain family members in this household is “Dogs make you more attractive.” When our son Jordan was finishing his degree at Miami University of Ohio, he took one of our dogs back to Oxford to live with him for his final semester. When he came home in the spring he boasted of the several dates that Bailey (the dog) had brokered for him. When he walked Bailey, at least once a day (for motives other than fitness), girls would approach him and say, “What a cute dog!” (That line still works.) And, predictably, Jordan would meet a girl for dinner, coffee, etc.
My 60 pound Aussiedoodle Pixel was the perfect running buddy. While training for a marathon, I would get up at 4:30 in the morning and run on the community bike trail. Running at 4:30 in the morning can be risky. I often had to run in the dark with a headlamp, and Pixel on a leash. She was a loving, friendly, smiling, pooch. However, the dark brought a different energy. On more than one occasion, we’d encounter another walker or runner. When she saw them, she would growl. More like a quiet rumbling. She would rumble-growl until the “threat” had passed. I felt safe. My best training runs were early mornings with my friend Pixel.
Pixel has not only accompanied me on training runs. She hiked the Smoky Mountains (carrying her own food in her own backpack), kayaked the Little Miami and Twin Creek, and participated in 5 and 10k races where she stood on the podium with my son. She was an athlete, and we became athletes because she loved to run, begged us to run, and made us feel safe running at all hours.
I love New Year’s resolutions. I love fresh starts. This new year I have fitness goals that include my dogs. I’m recovering from a broken leg (horse accident) so my goals include walking, jogging, and eventually running again. My dogs are my walking companions and have already pushed me further in this recovery than I could have gone without their enthusiasm. I will run marathons again. My two Australian Shepherds, Luna and River, and Aussiedoodle Emma will be my “running in the dark” friends. My Golden Retrievers, Sherman, Willow and Pearl will be my daytime running buddies. My dogs have eliminated all excuses for not exercising. I will strive to be healthier, exercise more, be happier, and ultimately live longer with a dog always at my side; willing to climb a mountain, paddle a river, and match me stride for stride, mile after mile.
#Aussiedoodle Breeder in Ohio, #doodlepatchfarm, #Goldendoodle #GoldenRetreaver, #Goldendoodles #puppies
