Posts Tagged ‘running’

BarBar Loves His BedBed

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

So Lars the energetic one, has developed an undeniable love for his bed.

He spends bountiful amounts of time on it, and if I ever need to find him for whatever reason, that is the first and only place I need to look.

Don’t get me wrong, he is the furthest thing from a lazy dog that exists whatever that thing may be, but he, without a doubt enjoys his leisure time.

Lars is a very energetic dog, and he has outlets for sure to burn off this energy whether it be from daily play sessions, guide work or actual trail running.

It is funny to see such an active dog spend so much time lying down, but Lars has developed a true passion for putting himself to bed, at anytime of day.

If anybody who did not know Lars were to see him on a daily basis, they’d think I work him to the bone, 8 hours a day.

He is not getting as much running time because of the winter weather we are dealing with but he is still logging 2 to 3 runs a week, plus all the playtime he demands, lol.

He reminds me a little of myself in a way due to his apparent need for lengthy naps during the day.

I work from home, and being a national team level track athlete, have the flexibility to train when I want, as much as I want and to nap as often as I can.

I keep telling Lars that maybe when he retires from guide work, he can sleep on the “big bed.”

Lars Scores an A for First Year of Guide Work

Friday, November 6th, 2009

So lost in the last few months which have been marred by Luther’s deteriorating health crisis, is the fact that Lars, AKA Bar Bar has been, and continues to be a little fire cracker.

Monday was actually Lars and my 1-year anniversary, man its hard to believe that time has flown by as fast as it has.

Lars has matured in many ways since I brought him home, but one thing that has not changed is his incessant need to play and be the center of attention.

If Bar had his own way, he’d play 24 hours a day 7 days a week, skipping breakfast and dinner, in exchange for a game of tug of war or going for a good run.

Speaking of running, I have begun referring to Bar as my little Kenyan because of his love to run.

He is not the fastest dog, but has endurance superior to mine, a fact that makes it easy for him to come running with us no matter how far we go.

Lars’ guide work is, as it was when I got him, steller.

He has a tremendous pull in harness, and has, with some coaxing begun to show a better ability to slow down in “delicate” areas where the bull in the China shop mentality is bad for business.

Happy anniversary little man, the first of many, knock on wood.

Run Bar Bar Run

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

So right now Lars is crashed out, lying at my feet.

It is not very often that LarsBar is crashed out anywhere, but he has been very active of late thus he is a tired little dude.

We’ve been taking him for some runs with us, and he is totally in love with the whole ordeal.

We’ll drive to the beginning of our trail and park the car, and before the engine is off, he is whining to be let out of the back.

He usually likes to lag behind for the first little bit, sniffing trees and scents from other dogs, but then he’ll do this 150 windsprint, surge past us
and then re-inact the exact same shpeel.

After he gets the initial 15 minute hyper spell out of his system, he is content to grab a stick, of any size he does not discriminate, and then simply
run a bit in front of us, like a pacing rabit.

The funny thing is, he will not let me pass him, if I speed up he speeds up, if I slow down he slows down.

Anybody else love running with their dogs?

Lars, Not a Fan of Hot Weather

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Well it is official, Lars, my guide dog does know when it is ok to take his foot off the gas pedal.

Generally he is a little demon in harness pulling all the time and very hard, but as of late he has relented some what.

It is very hot here, and he is finally realizing that he does not have to go 100% all of the time to make me proud of him.

I hate it on the days when I think its too hot but he does not, because I am the one who is forced to travel quicker than I want too.

I do not like slowing him down because from my own experience, dogs work better when they set their own pace.

Our summer has been crazy this year, with bouts of cooler weather and rain, with the occasional blazing hot day.

For this last week, we’ve had nothing but those blazing hot days combined with heavy humidity, both making for very uncomfortable outdoor conditions.

Lars loves to come running with me when I go, but I’ve had to leave him at home as of late because of the heat.

Based on trial and error, I’ve figured out that he can not handle anything over 24 degrees, and for the last week or so here it has been over 30 plus humidity.