dogs · family

Dogs are awesome!

Sam B

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I love dogs. And there’s a dog shaped hole in my life right now. As some of you know we lost two dogs this year, plus my mother, who lives right next door, said goodbye to her elderly dog, Bronte.

Our big dog Manny drowned last winter after falling through the ice on the river, after chasing a duck. Our medium dog Olivia recently came down with a kidney/liver disease and died after a couple of weeks of veterinary attention. Sad times.

Not having a dog all of a sudden makes you realize how much of your life is shaped around having a dog. I miss Olivia and Manny, in particular as I loved those dogs very much, but I also just miss the company in the morning, throwing sticks in the backyard, and taking walks through the woods. I know you can hike without a dog. I get that. But dogs get you out the door and they love it so much it’s hard not to share in the joy, even in the depth of winter.

There is a lot of dog content on this blog! I’ve written Jogging with dog versus running with son, Dogs are natural intuitive exercisers, and Injuries, exercise, and thank God for dogs.

We’ve also had a two part series on running with dogs, Part One: Running with Dogs and Failing and Part Two: Running With Dogs and Succeeding. Thanks Joan Forry.

And our guest bloggers are in on the action as well. Cate wrote Canine Fitness Coach and Audrey wrote Three Reasons Why My Dogs Are My Fitness Heroes. We feminist fitness types love our dogs.

My family has decided to get another dog/puppy. No big surprise there. There are reasons to do so, of course. See The 11 Science-Backed Reasons You Need to Get a Puppy and Dogs Get You Moving.


But in a way the reasons are kind of besides the point. We love our canine companions and we want another one in our lives. We’re committed to rescue puppies and dogs and so we’re scouting the local agencies. I’ll report back when we find one that’s a good match.

 

Published by Sam B

Philosopher, feminist, parent, and cyclist! Co-founder of Fit Is a Feminist Issue, co-author of Fit at Mid-Life: A Feminist Fitness Journey, published by Greystone Books.

13 thoughts on “Dogs are awesome!”

  1. Like you’ve said, dogs are awesome!
    I’m sorry to hear about the loss of two of your dogs.
    I lost one a few years ago and it does make you realise how much they are a part of your life.
    We got another one because of that, but also because we already had a dog, who was feeling lonely after being accustomed to company from another dog.
    Dogs really do become a part of the family.

  3. Sorry to hear about your losses. Good luck with your search for another one. There are so many to love, I’m sure you will find a perfect one to join your family.

  4. Very sorry to hear about the loss of your canine friends. I have a 12-year-old Kerry Blue Terrier who came into my life two years ago and has made me smile and laugh every day since. When I think about the prospect of losing her, I always find comfort in this quote: “It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”

  5. So sorry for the loss of your dogs. Dogs are totally part of a family and they give back so much more than we give to them. They fill a home and can make you feel better when things aren’t going so well. Dogs are ‘awesome’ and nicer than so many people. Glad you are getting another 🙂

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