They're on to us!

Dogs beware. We have kept our practice of walking on hind legs secret for years from humans. Unfortunately, Steph posted a picture of a hound doing just that. Just the other day I was strolling through the living room when Tim came out of the kitchen. I got a surprise and just stared at him for a few seconds. He had a camera in his hands and took a shot. Luckily, he didn't frame it too well. If you are caught in the act, it is very important not to let on why we are doing this. Under no circumstance are you to say. They must not know.

Life is great when you can choose between four and two legs.

Movement

We had a bit of everything on our walk this morning. We started in cloud, then rain, followed by sunshine. We walked and we jogged/trotted. We chased the ball on the rugby field. It is such a great feeling to be moving. Moving slowly and steadily, I can get a nice rhythm going. I can feel the blood pumping around my body, the ground underpaw, my muscles extend and contract. It feels that there is no end and no beginning once I am in my pace. Chasing the ball, I can feel the wind in my fur, the scenery blurred, the adrenaline flowing, my muscles at full stretch and exertion, the air flowing in and out. I speed up and the world slows down. My eyes are on the ball alone. My stride and movements get in time with the ball. I time it perfectly so I grab it on the bounce. I feel exhilaration as I slow down naturally and gradually, instead of putting on the brakes as I do when I miss the ball. I hear Tim in the distance yell, "Rrrrrrruuubyyyy."

Life is great when you are in full stride.

The Power of the Walk

"Don't go thinking and thinking and thinking so much 'til you are losing your mind......You're twisted so tight now you can hardly talk. Get out in the daylight and go for a walk."
Thinkin' Steve Forbert

Thanks to a change in Tim's work schedule, I go for two walks most days, in the morning with Tim and the afternoon with Mandy. Dogs need to go for a walk everyday. We need to see and smell the world. We need stimulation. We need to feel the blood flowing through our body. It is a great bonding time with our pack. If we don't go for a walk, we get stressed and go a bit crazy. Then we can be labeled "bad dogs."

It seems to me that walking is equally therapeutic and necessary for humans. As Steve Forbert is saying in his song, it is a chance to forget your troubles and be in the moment. The repetitive action of walking is a type of meditation. It is such a simple, satisfying and lasting joy. You feel the blood flow down into your paws (or feet) and everything starts to flow better.

One of the benefits of a person having a dog is that it forces him/her (hopefully) to go for a walk. Even if you don't have a dog, I say go for a walk. Some people are a bit cut off from nature. Even if you are in an urban jungle, walking as an activity is nature itself and you're bound to get some glimpses of trees and grass.

I could go on and on. There are many benefits of walking I haven't touched on so maybe you, hounds and humans, can tell me the benefits of your walks.

Life is great when you are going for a walk.

The Old Dog and the Old Man

Yesterday we met a really nice old dog with a really nice old man. They were a similar age, 11 in dog years and early seventies in human years. They both looked really fit and healthy. The man said that he didn't want the dog when he got him and still did not want him for a few years as he never had pets. His wife and kids insisted that they keep him. Then he began to really love his dog. He takes him out for two walks a day, getting up at 5 am to avoid the heat. He loves his walks for the mental, physical and spiritual benefits. (Nearly all dogs know about these benefits but a lot of people do not.) Last year this man had a triple bypass and made a full recovery. Apparently, a triple bypass is a serious thing indeed and Tim and Mandy were very surprised as he looked very healthy and much younger than his years. If he hadn't been in such good condition, he would have surely died. 

While the people chatted, I played with the hound, a Belgian Shepherd. Most older dogs find my playful, puppy energy a bit much to take but he was happy to play with me as I bounded around. They were an inspiring pair. I guess the message is; keep walking and keep your zest for life!

The picture is an artistic shot of me running with a toy showing my playful, puppy energy. Tim asked me to stress that it wasn't that he couldn't get all of me in the shot, it is artistic.