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Runner News – Important Announcements

April 6, 2025

Thanks for logging your run, and Happy day to you!

 

 “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” 

-Mahatma Gandhi

 

LETTER FROM A DOG

“Dear Human,
I see you.
Not just with my eyes but with my whole being. You may not realise it, but every time your heart beats a little faster, I feel it. When your hands tighten ever so slightly on my lead, I sense it. When you breathe differently, I know.
You may smile and say, “It’s fine,” but your scent tells me otherwise. Your muscles betray you. I can feel your energy shifting, and I carry it with me.

You see, I live in a world of sensation. Your voice is only part of what I hear.
I hear the tension beneath it. Your body language speaks louder than words. I watch your posture, your eyes, and the way you hold yourself. I even catch the subtle chemical changes in your scent when you are nervous or afraid. My nose is built for this—I can detect fear and stress hormones in your sweat and skin. And when I do, it shapes how I feel.

When you are anxious, I become uncertain. When you are afraid, I may feel the need to protect or flee. And when you are tense, I wonder if there is danger nearby. Your feelings change the way I experience the world. I’m not trying to be difficult when I pull on the lead or bark at something you can’t see. I’m just reacting to what I feel through you.

I know there have been times when I embarrassed you. Maybe I lunged at another dog, jumped up on a stranger, or barked too much. You held your breath and worried about what others thought. I felt that too. And because I love you, I tried to match your energy—I either got big and bold or small and unsure. Either way, it wasn’t helpful.

But here’s the thing, dear human: I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to be calm. When you breathe slower, so do I. When your shoulders relax, I trust that we are safe. When you move with quiet confidence, I follow.

Please, when you are nervous, remember that I don’t need you to control me with strength—I need you to lead me with clarity. When you feel unsure, help me by being steady. I look to you for reassurance, not through words but through the energy you carry.

If you are feeling uncertain, that’s okay. I understand. Just take a moment. Breathe. Stand tall. Move deliberately. Let me see that you are okay, even if you have to fake it at first. With time, I will learn that I don’t need to carry the weight of your worry. You will be my calm. And I will be your calm in return.

With love and loyalty,
Your Dog”

I hope this helps some folks understand a little more about our dogs’ world.
Best wishes,
Allan Ritchie MGoDT ( MPDTI)

 

OPPORTUNITY IS BARKING!!

 

We picked up a new customer recently in Hermine.  Nutmeg and Padme Bobnar Kou joined us for 60-90 minute morning runs, 7 days a week!!  Their running package includes our new product.  Mrs. Bobnar Kou is very generous to her dogs, and she frequently requests 90 minutes of daily time divided between her pups.  This is our highest paying run yet, at $38 per run. That’s $24 for the “L3-2 Dogs”, and an additional $14 for 2 “Additional 15 Minutes to any Run”.  Nutmeg and Padme are very gentle Bernadoodles.  The neighborhood is rolling hills, and very private with very little traffic.  These dogs are sniffers, and are not athletic, long runners.  They just need moving time, with no expectation of distance.

I’m hoping some of you jump on this opportunity soon, before they run me ragged!!

 

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT DISTANCE!

Everyone is different.  Every dog, every day, and every run are different.  You should all keep in mind that this activity is not all about distance.  It’s also about fulfilling the emotional and instinctual needs of our dogs, while we share our exercise with them. The physical part of the run is only one component. Be careful not to focus too much on the physical aspect of our service, and neglect the other, equally important things like the dogs’ need to explore with it’s nose, take in the environment, and the bond between you!

 

 Be careful out there, have fun, and tell your dog I said “Hi”!!!!

THANK YOU!!!

 

Happy Running,                                                                         

Jeff