On Belay

Getting back outside - my little helper

It’s hard when a bunch of things happen to you that hinder your ability to do what you enjoy. 

At first it was just knee injury that kept me from reaching my goal to race a half marathon. I’ve been training so hard for my first half marathon race. But then my knee started feeling very tender and sore after a 6 mile training run a few months ago. So I had to back off a little bit until my knee healed. 

Then I got sick, and had to stop exercising let alone doing anything I enjoy. 

I felt defeated. I felt like I could never go outside and enjoy the outdoors again, and I felt horrible. 

But then, I got this little guy: 

This is Tucker, my new dog that I just got a month ago. And that picture is from his first night with me. 

My meeting with him could be described as an answered prayer.

When I started having issues, I started hearing about the benefits of dogs and how they can heal you. Of course, I’ve had dogs all my life, and knew they were smart, but I started finding tons of articles from all kinds of medical sources about how dogs can work wonders for my health. 

Then one week, I started my search for the perfect companion. I wanted an Italian Greyhound because they are small and can run. But after a search in every newspaper, every shelter and a lot of websites….I couldn’t find one. 

One morning, I prayed asking for a puppy. Then I checked my work e-mail, and voila! Someone found a puppy that they couldn’t keep. 

I met Tucker in a radio booth that night, and I fell in love with him. Just the fact that he kept putting his head over my shoulder, and started hugging me in a dog like way had me sold. 

Little did I know…Tucker has a gift. 

I immediately started taking him everywhere I could and started to get out as much as possible with him. And I started to notice that little 15 pound, 6-month-old puppy could keep up with me. And he is very in tune with how I feel and immediately responds when I’m down. 

And this is how he does it: 

Everytime me or someone in my family would feel down, Tucker always would come up and give a hug. In fact it’s his specialty. 

Then I found out why. A friend of mine was watching Animal Planet one day and discovered what breed my dog is. He’s an Australian Kelpie. 

I’ve never heard of a Kelpie, but he’s a dead ringer. Australian Kelpies are a cross between a collie and a dingo and are very popular in Australia as sheep herders. They are incredibly smart, but they are working dogs for a reason…they love to be outside and need as much exercise as possible. And they need to have a job. 

For some reason he started healing me just in the fact he was very in tune with everything about me. And combined with the fact that he needs a lot of exercise, he is practically the perfect dog for me. 

My healing isn’t done but Tucker makes it a lot better.  

So I have him to thank for bringing me outside everyday and helping me improve.  And in a way, Tucker is showing me again why I love the outdoors and why life is good. 

Tear it up on Schweitzer bike trails