Two days ago, Alison and I took Oscar our 18-month-old yellow lab for a run on the Burlington Bike Path. I should qualify that statement: Alison and I were running. For Oscar, our running pace is nothing too strenuous -- a brisk walk, or at best, maybe a trot.
I think he enjoys our runs. He smiles, stays right with us, and gets excited whenever he sees us pull out our running shoes. But what he really loves is running -- full-speed, honest-to-goodness, dog-running.
For example, 3.5 miles into our bike path jog, we came to the Starr Farm dog park. Dog parks, as far as I'm concerned, are miracles, because they promote so many positives. Anyway, we decided to take a little break to let Oscar visit with some of the dogs within the fence of the park. So with our dog straining at his leash in excitement, we opened the gate, stepped inside, and let him go.
Full tilt, slobber flying on both sides, and tufts of grass and dirt flying into the air with each of his thundering bounds, Oscar charged three-quarters of the way across the park to where a group about four dogs were standing. Three of the other dogs froze -- mesmorized by the 70-pound yellow flash hurtling towards them like a meteorite. The fourth dog, a smallish light-brown terrier, bounded into action. It charged away, with Oscar in hot pursuit -- one lap, two laps, three laps, four laps...
And I am talking about full speed. They finally came to a stop, panted for a second or two, then launched towards each other, wrestling and playing until they separated and went into chase-mode again, full speed, in circles, changing directions, from one side to the other -- all around the park.
Oscar hopped, skipped, laughed, smiled, and jumped the whole time he was in the park. Exuberant. This is living, he seemed to be saying. He re-joined us for the rest of our run after five or ten minutes in the dog park. He breathed a little more heavily after his high-speed tempo workout, but I know he could have gone longer. If it's fun, Oscar has energy reserves. Although he let his tongue hang out of the side of his mouth on the way back, I wasn't fooled. He would have run all day if we had let him.
And I am talking about full speed. They finally came to a stop, panted for a second or two, then launched towards each other, wrestling and playing until they separated and went into chase-mode again, full speed, in circles, changing directions, from one side to the other -- all around the park.
Oscar hopped, skipped, laughed, smiled, and jumped the whole time he was in the park. Exuberant. This is living, he seemed to be saying. He re-joined us for the rest of our run after five or ten minutes in the dog park. He breathed a little more heavily after his high-speed tempo workout, but I know he could have gone longer. If it's fun, Oscar has energy reserves. Although he let his tongue hang out of the side of his mouth on the way back, I wasn't fooled. He would have run all day if we had let him.
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