My Golden Gym

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Title: "My Golden Gym"
Author: Marcia Passos Duffy
E-mail: editor@theheartofnewengland.com
Web Address: www.TheHeartofNewEngland.com
Category: Health/Fitness/Pets

“My Golden Gym”
By Marcia Passos Duffy
Editor & publisher
The Heart of New England
www.theheartofnewengland.com


“Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive
evidence that you are wonderful.” -- Ann Landers


A year ago, almost to the day, I 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 scenic Northern New England of the
country if I rarely got outside to enjoy it? And I
never walked in the woods alone – my New York
mentality (where I grew up) 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” John
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.

Last August 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 who
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, at 10 months old, 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.

===================================
Marcia Passos Duffy is the editor and publisher of
The Heart of New England (www.TheHeartofNewEngland.com),
a free monthly online magazine that celebrates the
unique character of the Northern New England states
of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Subscribe to
our weekly companion newsletter, "From: The Heart
of New England" for the latest on the area's
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