Last year I started running for the first time in my life. And I have three, yes three dogs (aka furry children). So I would walk them and then run, or run then walk them. Which ends up taking up a huge hunk of my day. And actually it's just my one little humming bird that NEEDS her daily walk. Her name is Ruby and she is like a humming bird. She never stops. Even when she sits for you, she is so full of love that her little tail keeps going a mile a second.
Last year I started running WITH her. First a mile, then two, soon 6 miles! This little energizer bunny just keeps going. Then one day last year I came home to see she was dragging one leg and actually walking on her knuckes (Which is very disturbing to see by the way). So I frantically ran her to the emergency vet where they did not give me much hope as to her recovering. They used words like wheelchair and neurologist. For a dog?? I was so shocked. I work in healthcare and can understand this on a human level but my little dog? She was going to be a "special needs" dog and her running days were over. She had to be on strick kennel rest for 2 full weeks (which was soooo hard since she is such a go-getter). And then slowly but surely her little foot came back and she walks normally again.
Her leg has been fine for almost a year so I thought I would give it a shot again. If she pulled at all on the leash I was going to forfeit the whole idea....but she must have known this because she ran like a champ. She stayed even with me the whole time, actually not even running. She kind of quickly walks which made me feel incredibly slow.
Her leg has been fine for almost a year so I thought I would give it a shot again. If she pulled at all on the leash I was going to forfeit the whole idea....but she must have known this because she ran like a champ. She stayed even with me the whole time, actually not even running. She kind of quickly walks which made me feel incredibly slow.
She did 4 1/2 miles with me first time out! And really no panting, no real exertion, not really even running. And her form was like 90lb golden retriever! She acted like she was born to run and that she was just taking me along. And as people passed they all gave me and her a little smile, I mean it's not every day you see a 9lb terrier/poodle running trails in Portland.
So she is going to keep coming until I see even then slightest twitch of a problem.
She loves it, and she actually smiled the whole way home....and I have a new running buddy.
How precious! She is the PERFECT running partner! And I bet she would wait on you if she had to and not mind at all :)
ReplyDeleteLou Cinda
How about that? I've always called her "the flying dog" because of her ability to jump up in the air so dang high. Guess she's a runner not a jumper now. Great.
ReplyDeleteRuby IS a little sweetie, glad you have a pal to run with!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Other Tracey
I have just started following your blog. Found it through your mother's blog, which I have followed for a long time.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes in your new single life. You will be just fine! I love your mom's quote "You aren't driving the bus".
I have also been in the passenger seat. I was married for 32 years and have been divorced for 17. I THOUGHT I was driving the bus. LOL
You quoted Ellen Langer: In the perspective of every person lies a lens through which we may better understand ourselves." - Ellen J. Langer
Ellen is my friend. She has a wonderful outlook on life. Did you know there is a movie in the planning stages about Ellen and one of her studies?
Thank you for sharing your life through your blog.
That is so sweet! How old is Ruby? Was it hard to teach her to walk (then run) on a leash? I have a 5-month-old Havanese puppy and I am trying to teach him to walk on a leash and it is NOT FUN. He either tugs forward or sits down. I am hoping this is just a puppy thing and it gets better, because I really need a walking buddy.
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