Nate Dog's Dog Blog

I told myself I'd try and update this page at least once a month, so here goes. I want to try and present some relevant content for dog owners, dog lovers, dog fanciers and the ilk.

At the moment, I find myself pet sitting in a client's home with two generally rowdy dogs, two kitties and my own precious dog, Roscoe. These dogs know each other quite well as they have had the occasion to be together five or six times within the last year and it is an amazing feeling to not have any dread or worry about the dogs getting along. That leads me to my topic, which is a lite version of how to deal with high energy dogs.

When dealing with young and energetic adult dogs, they must be able to expel their energy through either vigorous indoor play (if you have one dog this isn't likely), having access to a nice safe outdoor area or facilitating exercise by taking them outside on a walk or a run (if you're feeling up to it). If one of these isn't possible, it's almost guaranteed that you will have an anxious, hyper and potentially destructive dog in your home.

I've had dog owners tell me, "Oh my dog isn't a runner," and while in a certain few situations that statement was actually true because of a physical limitation, in most cases it is the owner projecting their own feelings about running onto their dog. The domesticated dogs we know today are descendants of wolves, animals who travel for up to 30 miles per day in search of their next meal. You can't possibly convince me that your dog isn't a runner when they are capable but not able due to the imaginary limitations you've imposed. Soapbox rant over.

Dogs are 100% trainable in every aspect of their lives but it's up to the owner to display the tenacity and fortitude required to affect the desired change they want to see in their companion.

The situation I am dealing with here is a nice fenced in yard with plenty of room to run and play but the dogs also play hard inside and definitely enjoy their walks and runs. They are well taken care of and loved and their current lackadaisical demeanor is due to their high activity level.

On the other hand, I work with dogs that don't get the energy expulsion opportunities they need. Facetious question: what do you think is the result? If you guessed that the dogs that are cooped up all day cause more damage, you would be correct. Chewed up shoes? Check. Garbage cans scoured through? Check. Poop on the floor? Probably!

A happy dog is a tired dog and a tired dog is something I can help provide to you with my running or fast-paced walking services. I don't want to condescend, I am merely attempting to reinforce what you know is true. Read my testimonials - I think you'll find the proof is irrefutable. Hire me and find out for yourself.

Disclaimer: The following is an exercise in verbosity.

It's been extremely cold for the past couple of weeks and I've decided to embrace the frigidity. In order to be successful, I must adapt to the conditions which have been allocated by the balance of the seasons on this orb. I'm outside with my clients' dogs for up to six hours per day, so I always wear appropriate clothing and make sure conditions are safe for the dogs, too. If you stumbled upon this post and ever wondered what a day in the life of a dog runner was like, I'll try and outline for you what my day consisted of and how the dogs I worked with handled the conditions.

During my first appointment I ran with an eight-year-old husky through some deep virgin snowpack all over the country club golf course, today our de facto playground. He is partially blind in his right eye but that didn't matter because there was nothing but beautiful wide open space, all snow covered and other-worldly. I can't quite describe how that felt, but it was many things: exhilarating, satisfying, cathartic, revelatory. I was wearing a balaclava, two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, two upper layers, a beanie and two pairs of gloves with a pair of shoes with well over 500 miles logged. We climbed the steep northwest side of the golf course towards Wayne Ave. and were both in need of a few deep breaths. The dog, Malachi, was moving effortlessly through the snow as if bred for this type of activity. There were obscure tracks around, some obviously from sleds or skis, but we didn't follow any particular route. Sometimes it feels really good to just carve your own path so I let Malachi lead the way and I acted as custodian for his adventure. We returned to his domicile and he was contented.

The weather today was cold enough for schools to be canceled. I postponed all of my appointments until the conditions were safe for outdoor activity. I put the health and well being of the animals (humans included) ahead of any decision about keeping an appointment that I make. I genuinely cherish every moment that I am with a client's dog. It's what I do for a living and I want to provide the dogs with an experience that they'll look forward to every week.

I ran with another dog at the OARDC after that. He is a ~two-year-old Irish Doodle named Ollie. His energy rivals the husky's energy from my first appointment. I've been running with Ollie for almost one year and he knows the routine. We always have an amazingly fast first mile which consists of a flat sprint to the highway, crossing 250, and then mostly uphill to the arboretum. We usually take the forested path on the easternmost side next to the Dix Expressway; however, today I decided it would be safer to traverse the cleared roadways. During our run we actually came upon two different walking pairs; one a man and woman, one a man and his dog. I commanded Ollie to wait; he barked. Wait! Bark. Wait! When he was finally obedient, we proceeded and turned onto an uncleared path (Dawn Redwood Ln), which had only one set of tracks. During the steep downhill I looked at my GPS watch and it showed an unsustainable pace, so I slowed to something more manageable, but for a minute it was a wild ride. It was then that he had been exhausted to the point of joining me in a relatively similar cadence (I also failed to mention that I use double leashes - one on the front of the harness and one on the back, much like a marionette). Back to home base, tired and happy, but apparently not tired enough because he was jumping up on me giving me hugs not wanting me to go. I promise - I'm not making this up! Dogs are truly the best.

No time to waste! I immediately drove to the next appointment and during the trip I drank some Gatorade and ate some peanut butter & cheese crackers as a little caloric jolt to the ole system. All of my somehow-sweaty-even-though-it's-below-freezing gear was thrown on the defroster as I drive the 15 minutes across town to meet Ellie, a coon hound.

As I pull into the drive, Ellie is barking at the window, harness on and knowing that she is about to get her weekly jaunt. I pull my somewhat defrosted gear off the vents, layer up and meet Ellie's owner through the garage. Now the fun part! We start south towards Highland and begin up the Kinney field path. It's not cleared, but that's no issue for this hearty walker coon hound. She strides with ease through the uneven path, sniffing the prior passers-by and their deposits, while determining where the best place for her own would be. I would describe her gait as a saunter - she has a swagger that I've not seen in other dogs. (As a side note, the first time I ever took her out, it was spring and she targeted up a tall oak like there was a coon in the tree. It was really cool to see her instincts come out!) She is what I would refer to as a "sleeper" - she doesn't look like much in the speed category but when push comes to shove, she will take you for a ride. She is definitely in my top five fastest dogs I work with. We ended up with almost four miles in 30 minutes which is definitely on the quicker end of things! Every time I take her back home, and once she's inside, I can hear her barking from my van inside of the house because she is sad to see me go.

With those three runs, I logged a little over 10 miles. That's what the day of a "dog runner" consists of, more or less. Usually more, but winter causes cancelations and that's OK. As with Malachi, this weather adds another opportunity to really see these great dogs excel in their natural environment, but I am always thinking of safety and will be sure to make the right decision for you and your pet(s). I am content* to be flexible and to make an appointment work for your schedule. I'm quick to respond and concise in communication, unlike this blog post! I've had so many great appointments in this winter weather with all types of dogs: Labradoodles, Beagles, Hounds, Labs, Golden Retrievers, Corgis, Pits, Huskies, German Shepherds, and many others. We've crossed many types of terrain and always safely and usually with frosty beards at the end. I so appreciate all of my clients and I look forward to meeting you and your dogs very soon!

#DogRunning#Wooster#What'sUpDog#NotMuch#Snowpocalypse#GolfCourseBandits#SledDog#AlwaysWearProtection#DogsAreTheBest#EvenIfIt'sColdIt'sNotThatColdThatDogsDon'tNeedToGoOutSideButI'llBeSafeWhenTakingYourPetIntoConsideration#TooManyHashtags#WinterOfMyDiscontent#InspirationThroughArtifice

Thank you to all of my customers. Without you, my dream of being able to own my business wouldn't have come true. I've put in lots of hard work, but without your support I wouldn't be able to continue!

Let's make this year the best yet!

I'll personally guarantee that you and your dog will be so happy that you found me. If you aren't satisfied, I'll give you my lawyer's number (he's also a client).

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Coasting to the start

1/8/2022

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I filed the articles of organization for my business in June of 2019 but for the last two and a half years I've been questioning if quitting a well paying job as a data analyst to pursue my dream of owning a business and running dogs for a living was a good idea. I've had several moments of doubt, uncertainty and fear but through a series of rather fortunate (or unfortunate depending on who you ask) events, I actually feel good about it maybe working out.

Like most everybody else on the planet, the last couple of years have been rough for me. On top of the pandemic, I've gone through a marriage ending and having to sell our house (which had a fenced in backyard with a double lot where I could host clients' dogs) to going to a small 1 BR apartment which I'm paying more for than my mortgage payment because it's the only place I could find that would allow my pets. I've lost a 25-year childhood friendship over a disagreement I didn't even know we were having. I've lost contact with most of the local running community that I had worked really hard to cultivate relationships with because of another bad deal I had to disassociate myself from. I've had another tumultuous relationship begin and end after only about one year. But...I've gained a lot of great customers and awesome doggy clients, some new friendships and even some new business opportunities along the way. I've had a really good friend encouraging me to keep going with my silly idea through the hard times when I was making barely any money. And I've got my health. Stayin' alive baby!

I definitely did not invent the idea of running with your dog or even the idea of monetizing the process. There are already several well established businesses that have the same basic business model but they are in larger metropolitan areas (Denver Dog Joggers, Chicago Dog Runner, D.C. Dog Runner, etc.) and therefore have a much larger population center to market to. Little old Wooster has about 27,232 people in it according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020). Currently, that means roughly 0.11% of the people that live in Wooster are my customers; however, I do have 100% market share. After all, I'm billing myself as the only professional dog running service in Wooster and who could say otherwise?

The watershed moment I decided it was time to make the move to full time dog runner was when I was running a client's dog and found a $100 bill on the ground with nobody in sight. A serendipitous moment perhaps, but it was the one I needed. Every time I am out with a dog or even on my own, there are so many dogs barking as I go by that I'd love to meet and have them become my client, but as the title of this post says, I have been coasting to the start, metaphorically clicking up that first big hill of the roller coaster and hopefully just about to reach the apex before rushing off.

To put things in perspective, the first week of 2022 has been really great and it just kind of happened while I wasn't noticing. I've grossed 63% of the revenue I earned in the entire month of January '21 and it's only been one week (insert Barenaked Ladies song here). There are several new clients inquiring about services, some new advertising ideas moving along nicely in the pipeline, an application with the Wooster Chamber of Commerce in process and hopefully some new helpers will be coming on soon to assist me with my appointments!

I've been stuck in a funk for the last couple of years both personally and professionally, but 2022 is going to be really great. It just has to. I hope you will sit in the front roller coaster seat with me, hands held high waiting to feel that first amazing drop.

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Do pedestrians actually have the right-of-way?

1/6/2022

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My mom always tells me to be careful when running around in the city (loose fit for Wooster, I know). I usually shrug her off and think, "Hey, I am a pedestrian and pedestrians always have the right-of-way, right?" Actually, no - not always. See below based on ORC Section 4511.46:

(A) When traffic control signals are not in place, not in operation, or are not clearly assigning the right- of-way, the driver of a vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield or if required by section 4511.132 of the Revised Code, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

(B) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.

It seems pretty self explanatory, right? That's not really what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is following the laws. When I'm running and if a traffic light is red for the vehicles that are going in my direction I stop too. So far so good, but there are a couple of potential pit falls:

1) When the light turns green and the walk indicator is showing (you know the little white guy that lights up) the car that is traveling in the opposite direction wants to turn into the crosswalk where I will imminently be or
2) The driver of the vehicle going in my direction wants to turn right and subsequently drive directly into me and whatever dogs I may have.

It was his or her God-given right to drive their two ton bringer-of-death closer to the destination while I stand there in utter shock and disbelief. At least the driver saved a couple of seconds out of their commute. I have luckily never been hit but I have had more close calls than I'd care to think about. It has turned me into a defensive walker and that's just the way it has to be because with today's JIT (just in time) delivery schedule and everyone's rushed status going to and fro, it does not pay to follow the laws as a pedestrian. It pays to wait a few seconds and continue on foot once it has been deemed that safe passage may occur.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes and injured every seven minutes in traffic crashes in 2019.

Each year, more than 6,000 pedestrians are killed on the roadways in the United States.

Sobering statistics, but a reality nonetheless. So do pedestrians have the right-of-way? Depends if you are driving or not.

Stay tuned for more uplifting content!

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A not so astute observation

the winter of my content

thanks

Coasting to the start

Do pedestrians actually have the right-of-way?

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