My dog Dallas is getting up there in years. He is a golden retriever and according to the internet should be nearing the end of his life expectancy which would be about 12 years. In researching his expected longevity though I read things that said his breed used to typically live about 4-5 years longer than it does now. It makes me wonder what factors have changed that.
Maybe dogs, like people, need more exercise than they often get. Dallas, however, has been on a regular running program for the majority of his life. When he was young and still a pup though I wondered whether he would become much of a runner. We still lived in town and were about to move to the country so I would take him for a very short run around the neighborhood on his leash.
On one of those first runs something spooked him and he bolted from the right side of me to the left side taking the leash between my legs and sending me to the pavement. Fortunately for me it was a cold day and I happened to be wearing some gloves that took most of the damage from falling onto the street. As I hit the ground I dropped the leash and Dallas went racing back to the house dragging the leash behind him, probably also scared by the clattering of the leash handle on the street.
In spite of these less than auspicious beginnings, Dallas became a daily runner, and being a retriever, he needed to start most runs with something to carry down the road. This evolved into taking a shoe, likely one I used for lawn mowing, from the garage and transporting it down the road some random distance and then depositing it along the way. I’m sure he intended on getting them on the way back but he never did. If the shoes ever got back home it was because I picked them up so that his supply of running accessories did not get depleted.
As we moved I tried to gather up the shoes I saw along our paths and trails, but I’m sure the next residents will find strategically placed old running shoes for quite some time. I did even bring a few old shoes along to try and help him acclimate to the move. He has yet to grab one although one day he did attempt to take along a stick that was the size of a small log. That did not get very far down the driveway.
I suppose another factor that has affected dogs’ longevity is their diet. If you watch the commercials for some dog foods it would sound like they should eat like a vegetarian. Some say they are loaded with vegetables, or maybe grains. I’m thinking that if a dog was given the option of vegetables, ground up corn meal like what is in some foods, or steak he is going with the fatty meat every time. Other foods say they have meat “byproducts”. Maybe that is marginally better.
One thing Dallas forgot in the excitement of the move was that he is not a young pup any more. I mentioned before how he had been going running every time I went, which was not his routine prior to the move. The chance to go swimming in the lake and exploring new roads led him to throw caution to the wind, and he ended up with a sore paw so one day I had to go get the car and pick him up and take him home. Like me though, he was not happy about his run ending early. When I told him to get in the car he just turned away and attempted to limp on home.
If the lifestyles of many dogs are mirroring those of their owners, then it’s no wonder that they are not eating right or getting enough exercise. Let’s set a good example for our 4-legged friends and maybe some good lifestyle habits will help them brighten up our lives for a little longer. Live Well Today. Everyday!