Lambiedog

Canal sprint

 

    We have a new fresh approach to exercise, replacing last year's fresh approach.  

    This one recognizes and addresses the Achilles heel of exercising locally:  the difficulty I have in walking away from my home.  I keep stopping and refusing to go further, in the hope that this silent protest might convince my owner to turn around.

    Under the new regime, she puts me in the car and drives me to our exercise spot.  This practice both leverages my enthusiasm for car rides and  neutralizes my homing instinct, since, similar to a blindfolded hostage, I am disoriented and have no idea how to get home.

    Our itinerary today was Venice, for an entertaining canal walk.

(We couldn't take a boat ride because all the boats in the canals are individually owned by canal residents.)     

I saw ducks,

     classy residences,

         and threatening residents.

 

     All in all, I had a great time.  Although I am not ashamed to be a traditionally-built dog, I fancied I could feel some of my bulk melting off.

Close to the bone

A story in today's Wall Street Journal, "When Man's Best Friend is Obese", addresses an issue recurrent in this blog.

I climb some stairs

  

 My first get-fit scenic health hike took place last weekend when, inspired by the book Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles, I went on a stair walk in Silver Lake with my owner and her friend Teresa.   We saw interesting architecture, and I made a couple of new friends.

    I also climbed stairs -- a lot of them. 

     The walk was long and arduous but I kept my wits about me and was a good hiking companion.  But once we reached the end and stopped for a coffee (them) and water (me) at Café Tropical, I settled down for a snooze.  I was spent.

Solid citizen

    When I visited Dr. Galea last week to seek help for my recurrent ear infection, talk inevitably turned to my weight (18 pounds 2 ounces).  Dr. Galea's first thought was that I was eating too much, but after favorably reviewing my diet, he changed his analysis.

    He felt my abdomen and commented that he could still feel my ribs easily, then had me stand on the floor while he checked out my profile, which also met with his approval.

    His conclusion?  

    I am not overweight -- just built sturdily. (Or, as Mma Ramotswe in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series would put it, I am a 'traditionally built' dog.)  

    This is what I have been trying to convey to my detractors* for months, perhaps even years!

    Dr. Galea provided some practical advice:  We should keep my diet as it is, avoid the treats I so enjoy when I go to Willy's house, and try to add more exercise.

    With his words in mind, I will be taking up scenic hiking.  Stay tuned. 

 

 *To be fair, they are not really detractors.  They carp about my weight because they want me to live long and healthily.  In that sense you could call them some of my biggest supporters.

Crouching tiger, hidden dragon

 

It's happy hour out at the bluffs.

Most of the dogs are busy interacting.

One still small voice crouches and leaps toward his owner, attempting to get her to pick him up.  
       

Call it his version of aerobic exercise.

Exercise program

I have a new exercise program that optimally requires two attendants working with me.

    The first one holds me stationary, while the second one walks down the block away from me. When the second one has gotten a distance away, he or she calls me and the other person releases me.  I run like a piston, like a Champion of Fire, and I am very happy.

    It's a great program because it works at any time of day.  When we do the program at night I focus on my hamstrings.  In the morning I like to work on my quads.

         
    If you want to try it, feel free.  In fact, I have a feeling that this may sweep the land.  Just give me credit.

Surprising revelation from Bruno

Bruno and I were having a nice time playing.

 Noticing that he is rather more sleek than me, I sought to normalize the situation by casually alluding to my epilepsy, and to the pheno barbitol that has caused me to gain weight.

   

I should have pulled out another excuse.

It turned out that Bruno too has epilepsy, and that he is also on pheno barbitol.  

Obviously he has an exceptional metabolism.

Postcard from America's Vacationland

    Winnie and Ollie sent this photo from Colorado where they are enjoying their annual vacation.   

    They've been going on hikes every day and are clearly getting into great shape.  (Trudie stayed home in a board and care facility, since exercise is no longer her thing.)  

    These dogs are poster children for the healthful properties of mountain air, meadow romps, forest tromps, and so on.  

    Maybe I'll take a hike today too. A short one.  Got to build up slowly.

Haiku

 

Ambushed by water

I may forgive, won't forget

The trees click their tongues.  

The Saint Bernards are back!

 When I went out to the bluffs yesterday afternoon I was happy to see some familiar faces. 

 Iseley, Portia and Romeo are friends who travel together in a small red Ford Festiva. 

   

They are very sweet animals.  

Iseley is the biggest,  and was the boss for a while, although now Portia is finding her power.  

     Romeo is the one who has problems with his legs.  In the past couple of months he's had to have two surgeries. Because of that, the three of them didn't come to the bluffs for a while.  

    Even now, Romeo is still taking it easy.  He stays on the leash so as not to overdo it.  I'm not sure he's going to ever fully recover.

Whatever -- we're all happy that the St. Bernards are back.

    They provide a general Shane Battier-esque positive energy for our group at the bluffs, while at the same time shining individually as well as one-on-one.