For years, owning a dog proved more valuable than a gym membership
My husband and I recently had to say goodbye to our beloved 11-year-old dog. Murfie was many things. She was so sweet and loyal, and possessed some very, shall we say, unique dog characteristics. Among those was a disdain for the other dogs at the dog park. It cracked me up every time we went to the Wellington dog park and she turned into an anti-social momma’s girl. She could hardly wait to get there, but when she realized how many other dogs were running around, Murfie wanted out.
Besides the entertainment value of her “too-good-for-the-dog-park” shenanigans, one of Murfie’s most admirable traits was her ability to get us out to exercise. Before she got sick, Murfie was the driving force for daily walks and runs (even though pacing was not her strongpoint.)
When our daughter was born, Murfie even walked perfectly alongside the stroller. Rain or shine. Busy or not. Some days it seemed like her sole mission in life was to get me out the door for a run or a walk on her pink leash.
I can’t think of a better workout partner than that — she would abide no excuses. If Murfie didn’t get out for a walk, she made her presence known around the house, turning into 28 pounds of restless energy reminding me that a quick walk or jog would be great for both of us. For three years my lunch breaks turned into jogging breaks; otherwise my home office would have been impossible to work from. When jog break was over, I was always so thankful because I was in a better mood and my afternoon was more productive.
There is no doubt in my mind that Murfie got me into better shape. Sometimes days would pass that I missed getting to the gym, but never did we miss our heartrate-raising walks.
Our wonderful vet, Dr. Joseph Griffitt at Bluegrass Veterinary Clinic, weighed in on the health benefits of dog ownership.
“I’ve got a number of clients that are runners and their dogs run with them,” he said. “Their dogs are fit as a fiddle.”
On the flip side, he said, most dogs he sees that are overweight have owners who are overweight. But the benefits of dog ownership go beyond that.
“From the emotional standpoint, I feel sorry for people who have never known the love of a dog,” he said. “It’s so pure and unconditional. And it’s a proven medical fact that people who own pets, they have less blood pressure problems,” he continued. “It’s a stress reliever — that loving and caressing of a pet.”
And for young children, dogs also promote health. “It’s a proven fact that children who are raised in a home with pets, they have a lot fewer diseases,” Griffitt noted.
We will have to get another dog before too long so our 7-month-old daughter can continue to reap the health benefits now that Murfie is gone. We definitely are not ready yet, but we want our home to always be one with happy kids running around with their happy dog — whether it’s a backyard play buddy or a friend to cuddle with after a long day.
Murfie will be missed. My sweet daughter is my new jogging buddy. I can’t wait to have a furry, four-legged friend join us again when the time is right. And if I’m ever going to do a third half-marathon I will definitely need a training partner again.