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"My Golden Gym"
by Marcia Passos Duffy
I once had an epiphany while exercising at my local gym. I was on a treadmill
sweating along with about 30 other people, glued to the latest CNN horrors on
the big-screen, when I glanced outside at the absolutely gorgeous spring day.
That was the precise moment when I decided to get a dog.
Okay, it wasn’t the “precise” moment… because I had been toying with the idea
for almost a year. But up until that moment last year on the treadmill, I felt there
was really no good reason to get a dog other than to complicate my already
busy life and to add another mouth to feed along with our 2 children, 4 guinea
pigs, 3 cats, 3 fish, and a then-leased horse for our daughter.
But the more I looked outside that day, the more I wanted to be out there,
walking, maybe even jogging, alongside a furry devoted friend. Yes, the dog
would have a purpose – it would be my walking dog! An exercise dog. A
reason to get out of that stuffy gym and into the great outdoors! After all, what
was the point of living in a scenic part of the country if I rarely got outside to
enjoy it? And I never walked in the woods alone – my New York mentality and
paranoia would not allow it -- my heart raced with every squirrel or bird that
snapped a twig or rustled a leaf. My dog would be my protector – at least a
deterrent -- against any would-be assassin/rapist/kidnapper lurking in the
woods.
Suddenly, the reason to get a dog made perfect sense.
In his insightful book, “The New Work of Dogs” Jon Katz makes the case for the
new role of dogs. Once herders, guard and hunting dogs, now our canine
friends have a new work: tending to life, love and family. Dogs need a job, and
they will adapt to whatever circumstances their human companions give them.
What I wanted from my dog was simple: security while walking in the woods
and a reason to walk everyday.
A survey done a few years ago in Australia showed that dog owners walked an
average of 18 minutes more per week than non-dog owners. Studies abound
extolling the psychological benefits of dog. Plus...dogs are not afraid of the
dark, are excellent listeners, they’re never critical and never gossip, they follow
you everywhere, and no matter what – your dog will always love you.
So we got a Golden Retriever puppy. Much like when I became a new mother, I
vastly underestimated how much work goes into raising a small being. By the
2nd week of night-crying (me and the puppy) I was beginning to rethink the
merits of having a dog. I was going outside more times than I wanted to be
outside. (Uh, like, 8-10 times a day). Long walks were out of the question as
Sadie would plop down for a nap at the most inconvenient times (halfway
through our walks). But as she grew, so did her seriousness about her “job” to
take me into the woods and keep me fit. We were soon up to 3 miles a day by
the winter. She also was housebroken and down to 3-4 “business walks” a day.
I enjoyed our walks, and by the looks of her smile (yes, dogs do smile!) she was
loving every minute of it too.
There is nothing like a dog to keep you in touch with nature. I don’t think I
would voluntarily go outside in sub-freezing weather. Or take a walk around
the block at night before bedtime. But I do with Sadie. And I’m grateful for
that. I'm also grateful for the stars that I see most nights. For the phases of the
moon, which I now notice. For the changing seasons that I witness first hand
with each familiar tree around the bend. Grateful for the ever-changing Ashuelot
River near our home, with its pattern of freezing and thawing. For the birds,
who rarely sing in the dead of winter and return with happy songs in April. It is
an interesting world, one which I have in the past avoided due to the
inconvenience of being outside in the rain, sleet, cold or snow.
Now , Sadie is officially my walking dog. And thanks to a Puppy Kindergarten
class she can also sit, stay, come and heel on command. She is also unbelievably
devoted not only to me – but to everyone in the family, even the cats and the
guinea pig. She lets me know when the mail has arrived. She keeps my feet
warm when I’m at writing at the computer. She looks at me with those warm
loving eyes like…she thinks I’m just wonderful! She has become more than my
walking dog -- she's my, well, co-worker here at my home office. I can’t imagine
life without her.
The two of us, walk -- a lot. I feel good, healthy. And I no longer go to the
gym. No need for that anymore -- now that I have my “golden” gym.
About the author:
Marcia Passos Duffy is the publisher & editor of The Heart of New England.
Subscribe to her weekly newsletter by sending a blank email to
heartofnewengland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
by Marcia Passos Duffy
I once had an epiphany while exercising at my local gym. I was on a treadmill
sweating along with about 30 other people, glued to the latest CNN horrors on
the big-screen, when I glanced outside at the absolutely gorgeous spring day.
That was the precise moment when I decided to get a dog.
Okay, it wasn’t the “precise” moment… because I had been toying with the idea
for almost a year. But up until that moment last year on the treadmill, I felt there
was really no good reason to get a dog other than to complicate my already
busy life and to add another mouth to feed along with our 2 children, 4 guinea
pigs, 3 cats, 3 fish, and a then-leased horse for our daughter.
But the more I looked outside that day, the more I wanted to be out there,
walking, maybe even jogging, alongside a furry devoted friend. Yes, the dog
would have a purpose – it would be my walking dog! An exercise dog. A
reason to get out of that stuffy gym and into the great outdoors! After all, what
was the point of living in a scenic part of the country if I rarely got outside to
enjoy it? And I never walked in the woods alone – my New York mentality and
paranoia would not allow it -- my heart raced with every squirrel or bird that
snapped a twig or rustled a leaf. My dog would be my protector – at least a
deterrent -- against any would-be assassin/rapist/kidnapper lurking in the
woods.
Suddenly, the reason to get a dog made perfect sense.
In his insightful book, “The New Work of Dogs” Jon Katz makes the case for the
new role of dogs. Once herders, guard and hunting dogs, now our canine
friends have a new work: tending to life, love and family. Dogs need a job, and
they will adapt to whatever circumstances their human companions give them.
What I wanted from my dog was simple: security while walking in the woods
and a reason to walk everyday.
A survey done a few years ago in Australia showed that dog owners walked an
average of 18 minutes more per week than non-dog owners. Studies abound
extolling the psychological benefits of dog. Plus...dogs are not afraid of the
dark, are excellent listeners, they’re never critical and never gossip, they follow
you everywhere, and no matter what – your dog will always love you.
So we got a Golden Retriever puppy. Much like when I became a new mother, I
vastly underestimated how much work goes into raising a small being. By the
2nd week of night-crying (me and the puppy) I was beginning to rethink the
merits of having a dog. I was going outside more times than I wanted to be
outside. (Uh, like, 8-10 times a day). Long walks were out of the question as
Sadie would plop down for a nap at the most inconvenient times (halfway
through our walks). But as she grew, so did her seriousness about her “job” to
take me into the woods and keep me fit. We were soon up to 3 miles a day by
the winter. She also was housebroken and down to 3-4 “business walks” a day.
I enjoyed our walks, and by the looks of her smile (yes, dogs do smile!) she was
loving every minute of it too.
There is nothing like a dog to keep you in touch with nature. I don’t think I
would voluntarily go outside in sub-freezing weather. Or take a walk around
the block at night before bedtime. But I do with Sadie. And I’m grateful for
that. I'm also grateful for the stars that I see most nights. For the phases of the
moon, which I now notice. For the changing seasons that I witness first hand
with each familiar tree around the bend. Grateful for the ever-changing Ashuelot
River near our home, with its pattern of freezing and thawing. For the birds,
who rarely sing in the dead of winter and return with happy songs in April. It is
an interesting world, one which I have in the past avoided due to the
inconvenience of being outside in the rain, sleet, cold or snow.
Now , Sadie is officially my walking dog. And thanks to a Puppy Kindergarten
class she can also sit, stay, come and heel on command. She is also unbelievably
devoted not only to me – but to everyone in the family, even the cats and the
guinea pig. She lets me know when the mail has arrived. She keeps my feet
warm when I’m at writing at the computer. She looks at me with those warm
loving eyes like…she thinks I’m just wonderful! She has become more than my
walking dog -- she's my, well, co-worker here at my home office. I can’t imagine
life without her.
The two of us, walk -- a lot. I feel good, healthy. And I no longer go to the
gym. No need for that anymore -- now that I have my “golden” gym.
About the author:
Marcia Passos Duffy is the publisher & editor of The Heart of New England.
Subscribe to her weekly newsletter by sending a blank email to
heartofnewengland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
| “Don’t accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.”~ Ann Landers ~ |
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