On the road with Bob and Woody
By Gina Spadafori
December 17, 2006
I know a lot of people think we serious dog-lovers have all gone completely bonkers. Dog camps, dog day care, dog hotels, all added to all the traditional services that have been available for years, plus all the doggy bling you can buy.
Today, I just signed on to a new service I bet will be popular: My dogs now have a personal trainer.
Done laughing? Hear me out on this.
I have a full-time job, not related to my pet-writing (being a famous author doesn’t pay as well as you’d imagine). I have a weekly syndicated column with Dr. Marty, and he and I have three books under contract, due in March, May and June. I hope to go part-time at the “day job,” but it ain’t happening yet.
I also have two young, strong retrievers, who need lots and lots of exercise.
Behind my house, I have something very special: A fenced, five-acre open space that hasn’t been developed for reasons that include the fact that it has a water-district pump on it, a creek with a tendency to flood running through it and ownership divided amongst no fewer than six different people. (Alas, I am not among them.) This de facto dog park is great for fetch and general leg-stretching, but the fact remains that with short winter days and my huge work load, Woody and McKenzie aren’t getting all the exercise they need.
Enter Bob the Dog Runner.
Yesterday I was signing books at my friend Pam’s store, the Bark & Bling. She mentioned Bob and his new business, On the Trail Dog Fitness. Bob’s an ultramarathoner, former golf pro and a dog trainer, to boot. He’s also a Friend of Pam’s, which makes him a friend of mine. He has been running her dog for months while she runs her two stores (she also owns a self-serve dog-wash, Launderdog).
Bob and I talked on the phone, and this morning, he came over to meet Woody. (McKenzie’s a little under the weather, and will be added to the running routine later.) A few minutes of meet-and-greet, and off they went to the running trails along the wonderful recreational gem of Sacramento, the American River Parkway (which we dog-lovers hope one day will have a stretch set aside for off-leash recreation similar to Point Isabel in the Bay Area, but I digress).
Woody did an easy three miles today, and came home grinning ear to ear. Bob was smiling, too. He and Woody hit it off, big time. I’ve signed Woody up for the three day a week package, and will add McKenzie when she’s mended. Just like that: No more Dog Guilt while I’m writing.
Honestly, I love America. Bob gets to do what he loves and get paid for it. My dogs get what they need, lots and lots of exercise, and I get to meet my deadlines. What a great country this is, even if it’s all a little bit nutty.
Makes perfect sense to me!
:))
Nancy
Comment by nancy — December 17, 2006 @ 3:20 pm
What a great idea!! To bad I can’t/can run well
Comment by Melanie — December 17, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
If only I could find someone like that in Houston! Since my stroke I can’t even walk my girls around the neighborhood, and they really need the exercise!
Comment by Theresa — December 18, 2006 @ 8:32 am
I need to start my own dog jogging business here in Cincinnati - OMG - I cannot believe people are paying for this. I run my own dogs but if someone would pay me to run their dogs? OMG I would be in total heaven!!!!!
Comment by Judi — December 18, 2006 @ 11:26 am
Judi, I think you’re on to something. I have already had people in four different parts of the country ask how they could find someone like Bob.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 18, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
Feel free to have them contact me at my gmail account if there is anyone asking from Cincinnati!!!!
Comment by Judi — December 18, 2006 @ 4:12 pm
Curious - what does he charge?
(I put this on the vet post but meant to put it here - sorry)
Comment by Judi — December 18, 2006 @ 4:18 pm
It’s a great thing to do for your retrievers…congratulations!
Kim
NorCal Aussie Rescue, Inc.
Comment by Kim — December 19, 2006 @ 1:56 pm
Does he actually run with them? Now I’d do this if I could go in a golf cart. He must REALLY be in shape. If he does this all day, just think how many miles. God, I’d be skinny.
Comment by Kim Hanson — December 19, 2006 @ 4:36 pm
Yep, he really runs with them. And yep, he is really, really fit!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 20, 2006 @ 11:33 am
So, do the dogs have to stay on the leash while they run? Is this dangerous?
Comment by KathyF — December 21, 2006 @ 1:07 am
Wow, I am impressed!! I am a dog walker/pet sitter and have 6 mid-days five days a week. Some dogs, like the two Shih-Tzu’s I walk don’t get me much exercise, but most of them are big, retriever, hound type dogs who go at a good clip, or so I thought until reading about Bob. My average is 1.5 miles/dog. I do half hour walks and “only” walk these dogs. Some are on the beach and by the end of the day I am fairly worn out (I am 44 and do two miles each morning in open fields and farm roads with my three dogs before heading out) and certainly do not need to go to the gym. I am in great shape, or so I thought, until reading about Bob! Go BOB!!!!
Comment by Amy C — December 21, 2006 @ 6:20 am
They’re on leash. Flat collar, no choker. And they’re trained not to pull.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 21, 2006 @ 6:21 am