Solo trips aren't half bad, even if they double distances

 

My two dogs are well-versed in teamwork. 

Their favorite activity in all the world is to hitch up to a pair of leashes, which are tied together by the top loops and attached by a carabiner to my own belt, and step outside for a few miles on the trails. Sure, they love eating and sleeping and barking and all that. But running together tops it all.

The Border Collie always takes the inside position, so she can herd the Labrador Retriever to the left. That keeps both dogs on the shoulder of the road (or the edge of the trail), out of oncoming traffic.

 “Team up,” I say, and they both fall into position.

  Not long ago, however, I pulled a muscle in my back. That means hitching 100+ collective pounds of high-energy canines is off the table for a while.

 Sometimes it pays to improvise.

 That means hitching up one dog at a time, holding the leash in one hand, and playing tag-team for the trails. Each dog gets one trip. I get two. 

But we all get out --  even if each dog feels a little left out while the other takes her turn.

 

Image/s:  Personal photos – all rights reserved.

 

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Active dogs make super fitness trainers

Motivation is magical, when it comes to exercise. Maybe it also makes us miserable at times, but those are usually the moments when we need the extra nudge.

Let me back up and explain that. I’ve never been much of an athlete, but I just ran a full marathon. And I credit my two high-energy dogs with a lot of the training oomph I received. There were many days when I didn’t feel like stepping outside to rack up mile after mile, but my Border Collie and my Lab mix didn’t let me get away with blowing off training.

These are my fitness trainers. Just try telling them we're not running today.

Having a dog means finding time for outdoor exercise, even when we don’t really want to.

Owning a running dog (or two) makes that all the more true.

I’m the stubbornly determined runner lady, who trots all over the county with two excited dogs leashed to my belt. They jog along together, matching each other step for step and urging me onwards. These two are good for anywhere from three to eight miles (depending on the weather and how far we went yesterday).

I leash the dogs and tell them, “Team up.” And they take their places.

My dogs know their positions. We run against traffic, if we’re on roadway shoulders. The Border Collie is always next to me (on the inside), so she can herd the Lab mix off the pavement when vehicles approach. (Yes, she is that smart.)

They also pick up my “I’m-going-running” cues. I can’t even slip into sneakers without them bouncing and panting all around me. It nearly breaks my heart to dash off to the gym and leave them behind on those non-outdoor training days. That’s how much they love to run.

Maybe some of that ready-to-roll enthusiasm will rub off on me. In the meantime, I’ll be wearing this performance wicking headband from Bondi Band. That’s our story.

Love this headband? Get 10% off at BondiBand with my RUNDERDOG code.

Image/s:

Fitness training dogs – personal copyrighted photo.

All rights reserved.

Product promo photos / fair use

Feel free to follow on Twitter. Please visit my Amazon author page as well. And I am happy to share my RUNDERDOG ambassador code for 10% off on Bondi Band Athletic Headbands, Accessories, and Fashions. (Simply enter the code at online checkout.).