It’s really important to give your dog exercise after an injury. However, the timing is very important. You also need to build up his strength little by little and you need to know when to stop. ************
Dad and I are running together every few days. This morning he took me out at 5:45 a.m., before the other joggers were out, before the sky revealed its morning light. We ran in the same morning light as on our last long run, before I was hit by the car. This time, my dad and I ran for about 5 minutes, steady running, no breaks. I felt great. Afterward, Dad said I was a little slower than I used to be but who cared. The running was the real thing and I was with my dad; we were together and we had the world to ourselves.
Then I came home and went back to sleep in my bed, and stayed asleep until my mom arose. “Joey, up! Up! Up!” she said, her intonation rising with each “up”.
By that time it was already really warm out. She made up her doggie kit, into which she places a few poop bags and a few treat. She also got a few tennis balls and a few towels. Then she got me into my new harness. I was getting definite ideas at this point: The harness is connected with swimming. Hmmm….My ears are standing up high and I’m following her around our home, focusing intently on her.
Then she attached the lead to the harness and off we went – into the car.
into the water i went right away
Soon we were at my favorite hangout, the lake! Ah, my beloved crystal lake!
There was only one dog there and only a few people, and I think that was the idea.
Into the water I scampered, right away.
My mom threw out a tennis ball, said “Joey, go get your ball!” and I’m supposed to go after my ball, and I start to.
But then I see the distant shore and that scares me so I turn around to face the nearby shoreline, to go back where I started out. This new harness seems to have an answer to that. My mom is right there and she gently lifts me by the harness, which is easy because I’m in deep water already, and holds me in place while I make like I’m swimming. Sometimes she holds one hand under my belly which also holds me up and allows me to just get back in shape.
I am looking at the nearby sandy beach and working hard swimming but I’m not going anywhere – but I don’t realize that. Or maybe I do, but I keep swimming and paddling away. My legs are getting a lot of exercise, my rear legs in particular. That’s what my parents want.
My mom can see through the crystal water of the crystal lake that my injured leg doesn’t quite kick as well as the other leg. She’ll be careful to get me exercise and build up my muscles and coordination but to not hurt my recuperating leg.
Every once in a while she lets go of the harness and lets me really swim – on my own, to shore, of course. I relax a bit and sniff around. Then she throws the ball again, I go after the ball, I get into deep water and become afraid and turn around, and while I’m looking at the nearby shore she holds me in place while I swim. She says “Good boy. Joey, you’re doing great!” a lot. Then she lets go of me and I swim, on my own, to the nearest shore. We go through this a few times.
swimming in place
It’s getting later and other dogs are showing up. I focus on them. The tennis balls don’t interest me. If a dog owner throws out a ball and his dog goes and swims after it, I go after the dog. Suddenly I have forgotten that I’m in deep water.
My mom is watching out for dog safety and if I get too close to the other dogs she tugs on my harness. The harness is gentle and doesn’t hurt or pull or tug on my neck. It just slightly separates me from the other dog.
Another dog, a boxer, is there in the lake, also learning to swim. He’s 8 years old, and until this year he was afraid of the water. His mom and big sister do like my mom does to me: They carry him out to the deep water, let go of him, and he swims to shore, and then say “Good boy! Good Julie!”
After a lot of swimming and physical therapy and playing, my mom decides it’s time to leave the water and head for home.
She’s hoping that when we get home, I’ll be exhausted. But I’m not. I am, however, happy – and thirsty!
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Hey Joey – what a wonderful site – hopefully when things calm down some I will read everything your “folks” have written – the photo’s are great and the different color socks you were wearing during your recovery are just awesome.
Hope you continue to swim at that Lovely Crystal Lake – (legally)
Maybe some day I will see you @ the Lake when I drive bye…
take care and be well
Carol
Carol,
Oh, I’m so happy you like my website! And my array of sock colors – even if I can’t appreciate them!
I’ll be doing swimming at the lovely Crystal Lake just as long as my folks continue to take me there. You don’t think they’d get me a season pass, do you?
Would be so happy to meet you when I’m getting my therapy and workout.
You be well too,
Joey
I love the pictures of you and Mom swimming at Crystal Lake- because ( I think I posted this before) I remember the day (and week) she taught you to swim.
Last week, I was driving my car in my Long Island neighborhood and turned the corner. All of a sudden, a black lab (are there such dogs?) came running out and tracked my car, running right up to it and barking and running alongside and barking. I stopped the car, remembering all too well what had happened to you. The black lab’s people (all men!) were off at a distance having drinks and socializing on their patio, oblivious to their “son” going madly frantic and barking at my car. When I SLOWLY moved it (since they were not coming and I had a deadline), the leashless dog again went beserk and barking, ran alongside the car. At that point, I totally stopped and screamed at the men merrily holding their drinks and gabbing. One guy screamed back, it’s ok, he is trained not to go into the street! He will bark and follow the car but will not go into the street.
I still refused to drive until he came after his son, and held him back. You can never be sure. I gave him a lecture, told him about you, Joey, and now wedged by car away. Some people should absolutely NOT ADOPT DOGS.
Aunt Ellen
You’re lucky that I’m reading this and not my mom because she just hates that “It’s okay it’s okay” comment from dog owners whose dogs are off-leash: She know that dogs are prone to instincts that humans cannot “control” and such it’sokayit’sokay attitude really rankles her. If she were a dog, her hair would be standing on end if she were to hear such a comment.
But I’m reading this and I just have to say that people who own dogs must understand their dogs and must be responsible. They must understand the potential for danger both to their dogs (dog getting hit, look at me!) and to cars driving. For example, on our street, my dad’s car was parked on the street in front of our house and got hit by a car driving by. The driver swore that he swerved to miss a small animal driving by. A cat, perhaps? Makes no difference: The fact is that domesticated pets in the streets can cause accidents. Look at your situation. And panic. And upset: Like the woman who was driving the car whose wheels I ran into.
I heard this was a problem at dog parks: Owners who let their dogs inside the dog park then just chat with each other, forgetting about their dogs until they get in a huge dog fight and the owners cannot break it up – and it’s dangerous to.
Thanks for your comments! I hope your travels are all safe ones!
Joey