Pooch to 5k
Running with dogs
You may have read how one of the founders of Pooch to 5k, Francis, is an experienced ultra marathon runner. It is official, he has completed his athletics coaching course and is now an accredited athletics coach. You can be even more confident that you’ll get great running advice for both you and your dog …
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Starchen Brown, and his owner Liz, from Redcliffe, QLD, Australia. Liz and Starchen started the Pooch to 5k program earlier this year and, after a short interval to help with a dog rescue, are now up to week 8 of the program. Starchen is looking great! He’s got …
Saturday 26th June found us bright, early and cold at Woodford for the St Matthias Parish annual fun run. This event is a fundraiser for church activities, and most of the Caboolture Road Runners were keen to be involved. I knew that Woodford was a quiet little town and that the race route was along some country roads, so I emailed the race director to ask if dogs were allowed to participate. I was thrilled to receive the reply, “Dogs are VERY welcome!”.
Our whole family ran the 5km event, and we were accompanied by Jen and her Australian Cattle Dog, Girl. The route was along paved or bitumen road, and had some gentle undulations which made it interesting. Young Cameron at 8 years old ran a personal best of just over 31 minutes for the distance, ably accompanied by his whippet, Sherbet. We all enjoyed a sausage sizzle and soft drink afterwards, and yes we did share with the dogs.
This is not good. I have just read the results of an Australian Veterinary Association study that showed that around 41% of Aussie dogs are overweight or obese. I know there’s an obesity problem in people but it’s sad to see that dogs are also affected, and it is just as harmful to them. They get joint pain, diabetes, heart disease and infections in the folds of their skin.
There are some medical conditions that can make dogs a bit curvy around the middle, but they’re not common. 95% of cases of canine obesity are because there are more calories going in than are being burned up.
This book will open your eyes! You may be horrified to learn that your sweet fluffy canine companion doesn’t cuddle up to you because he loves you, and he doesn’t chew your slippers to get revenge for leaving him at home. Nope. Dogs basically do things or don’t do things because there is something in it for them. Not for love. Not out of defiance. Not for revenge.
That may be hard to get your head around, and should make you stop and think about how you interact with your dog. Do you come home and get angry at your dog if he has chewed the furniture while you were out? He doesn’t connect your anger with the furniture, all he sees is his beloved master coming home and yelling at him. That’s not good for your relationship at all!
We went along to one of our favorite races today. The Caloundra Foreshore Fun Run has a lovely relaxed, family feel, and raises funds for Our Lady of the Rosary school at Caloundra. I went in the 10k with Guinness while Kato and the kids did the 3k dash with their dogs.
A lovely if fresh morning with a slight breeze greeted the assembling runners for the 10k. I caught up with our mate Jen and Girl, her Cattle Dog, as well as clubmate Bill and Mum-on-the-run Le-Anne with her son Connor. Co-worker Emma was also lining up for the start, as well as Bellthorpe (our web host and mate as well as forum member) and the usual list of fellow runners.