What do I know?

I know what it’s like to run 15 miles every day in all weather.

Fifteen miles is an average day. Sometimes I run (and walk) 20 miles. Sometimes five or six.

I am in the best shape of my life.

In May I ran in my first full marathon, and I was nervous about hitting the dreaded wall (the point where the marathoner literally runs out of energy). The wall generally happens around mile 20, and then it’s survival mode.

I never hit a wall. Not even close.

At the end of the race, I felt like I could run another 26 miles.

I’ll probably end up running one of those damn 50- or 100-mile races just because I feel like I should.

You know what I’ve realized? I’m a professional runner.

I started a small business in August of 2008 where I take people’s dogs on 30- or 60-minute running sessions. This changed my running.

Before I started my dog running business, I always wanted to complete a marathon, but I never could.

I followed a typical marathon training plan two or three times. The plan always started with daily 2- or 3-mile runs and a longer weekend run starting with 6 miles and increasing over time to about 20 miles.

This plan always kicked my ass, and I was never able to complete it without injury. I would end up with damaged hamstrings, a sore ankle or bum knees. Or all of the above. No matter how slowly I tried to build up the mileage, I always got injured.

Eventually, though, I was at least in “good enough” shape to start my business. I’m not sure I believed “Run That Mutt” would actually take off. I just had a new obsession based around running with my own dog and a few rescue dogs. If someone would pay me to run her crazy mutt, I would be in.

If you want to become a distance runner, just start slowly.

And I mean slowly.

Like, run a mile once a week for a couple months. Forget about speed.

Then build up to the point where you can run three miles at one time. Increase that over time to about six miles. Then run six miles a few times a week for an entire year before you even think about training for a marathon.

Get your body adapted to running so running itself is not such a big deal. Then shoot for 10 miles after six miles seems like nothing. Do that for a couple of months.

When I started my dog running business, I had to build up my miles slowly and that worked to my benefit. I didn’t have many customers at first so I would run three miles a day. Then four. Then a few months later I had a few more customers and I was running six miles in a day. Then eight. After a year or so I was doing 10 miles consistently and so on.

As far as marathon training is concerned, you’re better off doing less and remaining injury free than training too hard. At least you know you’ll make it to the starting line.

The finish line is not what you should be worried about at this point. Most people don’t even get to the starting line.

Me, a runner?

I still don’t think of myself as a runner. I’m pretty darn slow, actually. I run at about an 11-minute mile pace most of the time. “Serious” runners would laugh at this. They might even say that it’s not running. It’s jogging.

As far as I’m concerned, if you are not standing or crawling or walking, then you must be running. Jogging does not exist. I have never gone “jogging.” I never will.

Many of the people in my life do not view me as an athlete. They think I play with dogs all day.

“Oh … you have a ‘dog walking’ business? Do you get paid?”

I know I bring this upon myself. I don’t brag about myself at all, normally. I don’t even talk about myself unless someone asks.

I forget that what I do is impressive to most people.

I can run a marathon on a Saturday and then go back to work Monday and run another 16 miles without a problem. And then on Tuesday get up and do it again and then again on Wednesday.

Most people struggle to even run 3 miles. I forget that. I take my ability for granted.

The body’s ability to adapt to high mileage

My body has adapted so well that running 15 miles per day is basically as easy for me as it is for a couch potato not to work out at all.

People say things like, “Wow! You must be able to eat whatever you want!”

Actually, not really. Because our bodies adapt. It’s not a big deal for my body to run 15 miles per day. It’s like, if you walk a mile every day, it’s not really much of a challenge after awhile, is it? You don’t lose any weight. You maintain your weight or even gain weight.

Since I run somewhere around 15 miles every day, it is no longer a challenge.

To lose weight, I would have to mix up my exercise routine, and that seems impossible for me right now. Lift some weights. Swim. Sprint. I haven’t made this a habit, so I accept the consequences of my actions.

Adapting to the cold

Another weird thing I’ve noticed after four winters of dog running in North Dakota (this winter is my fourth) is that my body heats up really fast in the cold. Like, really fast.

No matter how cold it gets outside, I still run. My body seems to have adapted to this, and as long as I’m moving I don’t need many layers to keep warm. I’m usually hot.

If it’s 0 degress (F) outside, I might wear a single long-sleeve shirt designed for warmth and my running jacket and I’ll be warm within 15 minutes. My cut off for wearing any gloves at all is 18 degrees. If it’s above 18 degrees, it’s too hot for gloves.

I just find it fascinating how our bodies really do adapt to whatever we give them.

If you eat mostly fast food and soda, your body adapts. If you only sleep four hours a night, your body adapts. If you swim 80 hours per week, your body adapts. It’s really amazing.

I know I will never have to deal with injured knees or hamstrings or ankles anymore.

Sure, I might slip and fall or trip over my own feet like any idiot, but my body has adapted well to the abuse of running.

And what about the dogs? How do they do it?

The dogs adapt, too.

Running for 30 minutes or 60 minutes really isn’t a lot of work for most dogs. When they run with me every day, they become fit, too. I wish I could find a way to take them all running together for about 15 miles at one time. It’s just not realistic because of their various speeds and temperaments and excitement levels.

If I come up with a realistic idea to allow for group runs of four or five dogs, I’ll let you know. That could really be something.

I’ve also thrown around the idea of offering longer runs for dogs, something like 13- or 15-mile runs. A 15-mile run is exactly what some dogs need. And they are very capable of running at least that distance.

The possibilities of a dog runner are endless.

Who would’ve thought?

I’d love to hear your running stories, whether you are a seasoned runner or just getting started. Also, what are some crazy ways your body has adapted?

Here’s a picture of Ranger and Annie. They go running with me several times per week. They take their running very seriously. Both have ran more than 750 miles with me since September 2010. Annie is close to breaking 1,000 miles!

I love technology, obviously, but I don’t want it to control my life.

For me, remaining in control means consciously observing a day of rest on Sundays, away from technology and other distractions.

A day of rest is hardly my idea, of course. People have been attempting to relax on Sundays seemingly forever. We need that.

A day of rest for me means no calling, texting, blogging, emailing, checking Facebook or working on anything business or money related from dawn until dusk.

This gives me much needed time to reflect, relax, write in an actual notebook, take photos, talk with Josh and spend time with my animals.

Ace and I had time to go on a nice, relaxing walk yesterday, the kind of walk where I actually connect with my dog and we are not stressed. I didn’t bring a leash. Didn’t need one.

When Ace and I are connected by our energy, he does exactly what I want without me asking. Without a leash, I must be conscious of that energy.

On these walks, I think about how lucky Ace and I are, and I wonder if I will ever have this kind of connection with any other dogs. I hope so.

We’ve been playing a lot of “touch” where I hold out my right hand and yell, “Ace, touch!” He comes charging as fast as he can, leaps up and bumps his nose into my palm. Much more fun than the usual, “Ace, come!”

We worked on some scent games, too. I had him wait while I zig-zagged through the field and randomly dropped an object I’d shown him. With the command “find it!” he goes to work.

It’s fun watching my dog circle wide, trying to catch the scent and then narrowing in – drool flowing – until he finds it.

I wonder what kind of hounds are in my dog’s ancestry, and what that nose could be capable of with proper direction.

This week has predicted temps in the high 30s. This is the time of year I am normally facing the brutal cold. I can’t believe my luck.

Brown Christmas, welcome.

What I’ve realized is that for most dogs, a 30-minute run does nothing to tire them out. In most cases, it’s just enough to get the dogs hyped up.

Every dog is different depending on her breed, age, how much exercise her owner provides and many other factors. But in general, 30 minutes is just enough time to get the dog excited and ready for more exercise/playing/training or whatever.

I’ve been thinking about this ever since behaviorist Patricia McConnell brought it up on her blog.

I am not suggesting that no walk at all is better than a half-hour walk.

But I am suggesting that we think about exercise and dogs a little differently.

For most dogs, a half-hour walk per day is simply not enough exercise. Not even close.

Ever taken your dog out for a half-hour, only to come home and have her sprint around the house? Those of you with dogs that can go, go, go for hours know exactly what I’m talking about.

A half-hour walk is just a warm-up. The dog enjoys a half-hour walk, but it’s not going to make the dog tired.

I know it’s not realistic for most people to take their dogs running for two hours every day, but owners can still look for ways to increase their dogs’ exercise.

The amount of time the walk lasts is more important than speed

I’ve found that regardless of speed, the amount of time the walk lasts is what’s more important as far as tiring out the dog and helping her feel calmer. Do you notice this as well?

I notice that dogs are generally more relaxed and tired after a 60-minute walk versus a 30-minute run. And they are about equally relaxed and tired after a 60-minute walk versus a 60-minute run.

The reason for this is most likely because of the mental workout. The longer the dog is out and about (regardless of speed), the more she gets to work her mind – see new things, smell new things and so on. The speed is not all that important if we are referring to a human’s walking or running pace. This is probably because humans always seem slow to most dogs, even when we are running.

So what can we do to give our dogs more exercise?

Variety. If we mix it up, we can keep their minds working.

Run when you can. Walk when you’d prefer.

Turn left when you would normally turn right. Visit new neighborhoods. Visit every park in your town. Head to the country.

Make a point to practice obedience commands – sit, down, stay, come, heel.

Walk your dog for 45 minutes instead of 30. Walk her twice.

Hire a dog walker in addition to exercising your dog yourself.

Invite a friend along sometimes. Use a dog backpack sometimes.

Rollerblade sometimes. Bike with your dog sometimes. Visit the dog park sometimes. Let your dog run around off leash sometimes.

Try to get out for one longer walk rather than a bunch of shorter walks. This will be less frustrating for your dog.

Focus on providing mental workouts. Can my dog hop onto this rock? Leap over this fence? Carry this stick?

And when you do have time for a longer walk, do it.

What have you noticed about your own dog and the amount of exercise she needs to feel tired?

My mutt Ace can “get by” with a half-hour walk, but an hour walk seems to be about right for him, especially if this includes some mental challenges like visiting somewhere new.

My goal is to make my living through blogging, but I am an extremely private, shy and quiet person.

I am not available at all times. I use a four-year-old “dumb” phone, and it’s always on silent. I’ve been eligible for the discounted upgrade for more than two years, but the phone I use works just fine.

I take a lot of photos, but I rarely edit them. I point, shoot and post. In a world where everything is fake, the journalist in me wants something real.

Josh and I have not had cable or satellite TV since 2006. We use Netflix and iTunes and Hulu for everything we want to watch. We choose what we want to see and when we want to see it.

We read.

My mom worried that without TV I might miss out on something. I might be too disconnected (never mind that I worked for a newspaper at the time).

Instead I’m more alert. More conscious. More sensitive. Now that I’m “disconnected,” I notice violence, sexism, extra noise.

I try not to absorb what I’m fed.

A group of friends and I gathered at Applebees to watch the Republican presidential debates recently. Everyone else in the bar was watching an NFL game.

I enjoy sports, but something is off.

I read a Facebook post awhile back where the person said she would rather die of her own cancer returning than listen to a Republican.

I also avoid siding with “the right” (or the left), but that’s a lot of people to hate.

There’s an awful lot of fear and blame out there, mostly fear.

One of the most caring people in the world asks me several times per year: “You don’t walk any of those pitbull dogs, do you?”

She asks because she loves me.

This relative of mine fears “pitbulls,” yet she’s not sure what a “pitbull” looks like. She is not a dog person.

For the record, I walk several pit-type dogs. Sometimes two or three at a time.

A friend told me she walked through a park one morning for the first time in months. She commented on how she saw a butterfly and a garden and how it all seemed poetic.

I realize most people are like my friend and might take a walk in a park once or twice per season, and that’s it for the entire year.

I walk through several parks every day, during all seasons.

Early November is when I see geese gathering and leaving, bits of color lingering in trees, my dog’s breath in the morning air. It’s when I see frost coating the grass and the dogs are in top hunting mode, always searching for squirrels or rabbits, migrating birds.

When I’m out running the dogs, I recall all the things that represent November to me – an end to swimming practices and rugby games, a dusting of snow in Minnesota state parks, drinking a beer out back, clinging to the edge of the sun.

Sometimes the answer to this question isn’t known because the dog hasn’t been given the chance to interact with other dogs under appropriate settings.

The problem is, when a dog is taken from a pound environment or a shelter environment, he is going to be stressed and full of pent-up physical, emotional and mental energy. If you remove him from this environment and place him directly in front of another dog, there is a pretty good chance there will be at least some growling from one or both dogs. Adding tense leashes and tense people to the situation is a sure set-up for failure!

But this is exactly how most dogs in need of foster homes meet other dogs!

Since I’ve had my fair share of foster animals and other four-legged guests at our house, I’ve learned that it’s always best to take introductions very slowly. For most dogs, there is not a black-and-white answer to the question of “Does he get along with other dogs?” It just depends on the energy of each situation.

So what can a volunteer do if she is thinking about fostering a dog? Here are some suggestions.

How to introduce my foster dog to my own dog

Get as much info as you can about the potential foster dog.

The first step is to get some feedback from the people who have interacted with the potential foster dog the most. Does he growl at other dogs near his pen? What does he do when he sees other dogs during walks? Has he had the chance to walk with or play with other dogs in a controlled setting? How has he done at adoption events? Has he lived with other dogs before?

You also want to consider a dog that is going to compliment the energy and personality of your own dog. For example, my dog is pretty laid back, so he doesn’t like when I bring home a hyper, young dog. He prefers to hang out with more mellow, older dogs.

Take the potential foster dog for a walk before you decide to bring him home.

Take some time to get to know the dog you are interested in fostering by going for a long walk. Make sure to observe how he interacts with other dogs you happen to pass.

This initial walk will give the two of you a chance to begin forming a bond without the distraction of your other animals. Since dogs are so scent oriented, the potential foster dog will smell your animals on you and begin to associate them with you. When you get home, your animals will smell the potential foster dog as well. Just think of yourself as the messenger. Who knows what kinds of info dogs learn by smelling another dog on a human, but clearly they must learn something!

Take the potential foster dog and your own dog for several walks together.

Bring a friend along to handle one of the dogs. There’s no need to let the dogs sniff one another right away. Do your best to avoid head-on greetings or prolonged eye contact between the dogs. Wait outside with your own dog while someone brings the potential foster dog out. Don’t have them meet in a small, crowded room.

Walk the dogs side-by-side and then one in front of the other so they can get used to walking as a pack. They can smell one another from a distance just fine. If all goes well, let them interact a bit at the end of the walk. The walk doesn’t have to be very long. Even 10 minutes or so would be fine. Obviously, the longer the better. Walk for a half-hour or more if you can.

Return and repeat this walking step two or three more times before bringing the potential foster dog home. Doing so will help the dogs associate something positive with each other – fun walks!

Use a baby gate to create non-stressful separation between the dogs.

When you do decide to bring the foster dog home, don’t put both dogs loose in your car together. Take your dog home first or put them both in kennels if there’s room. Or have your friend take one of the dogs in her car.

Once you get home, this is a great time to take both dogs for another long walk with the help of a friend. I’m talking about a good 45-minute walk or longer. Bring home your foster dog on a weekend or during a time when you will have at least two full days off from work.

After the walk, put the foster dog in a bedroom or other small area with the door open and a baby gate as a barrier. Kennels and closed doors often create frustration and anxiety, but a gate will allow the dogs to interact safely.

The gate will allow your resident pets to approach the foster dog, but it will allow for some safety if one of the dogs decides to snap. Of course, make sure to supervise and distract either or both dogs if there is any tension such as raised hackles, staring or frozen body positions.

The baby gate is also a safe way to let resident cats remain free, but once again, you want to make sure to supervise just in case the foster is able to jump the gate or knock it down. And extra curious and brave cats will not hesitate to jump right over the gate to greet the newcomer. So use common sense.

Let the foster dog roam around with his leash on.

If all goes well after a day or two of the gate stage, it’s OK to let the dogs interact without the gate, but keep the foster dog on a leash. You do not want the foster dog running all over the house exploring and sniffing every corner, claiming everything. For one, this is an open invitation for accidents or marking. But it’s also going to increase the energy levels of all the animals and could lead to a fight.

I usually keep the foster dog “tethered” to me for at least a day until I know more about the dog. Is he housebroken? Does he mark in the house? Is he OK with my cats? Possessive over toys? The leash is usually around my waist or ankle or looped under a nearby chair or table.

Let the dogs interact without leashes.

After a day or two of interacting with leashes on, give the dogs some supervised time together off leash. I still would not give the foster dog full freedom of the house for a few more days. Freedom is a privilege. You may want to use the baby gate again to block the stairway so the foster dog can’t get upstairs. At the very least, keep all your bedroom doors closed. It should be a privilege to enter certain areas of the house. For example, don’t allow the foster dog on your bed quite yet (if ever!).

Continue to use common sense and keep your cat’s safety in mind, too.

Always keep the foster dog confined to a single room or a kennel when you are not home. This is for the safety of all animals. Keep two barriers between the dogs such as a kennel and a closed door because it is fairly common for a dog to bust out of his kennel. I’ve had several pitbull-type dogs use their big heads to push or bend the kennel doors open within seconds. Impressive, I know! This could be a very dangerous situation if the two dogs do not get along.

If you have cats, you should have three barriers between them and the foster dog. For example, put the cats in one bedroom with the door closed and put the foster dog in his kennel in another bedroom with the door closed. My first foster dog busted out of her kennel and proceeded to tear apart my bedroom door frame. My cat was loose in my apartment on the other side of that door. Luckily, this dog was friendly and had no intention of hurting my cat. But that is not always the case, and I’ve heard some very sad stories. Fostering teaches some hard lessons sometimes.

Go back to previous steps, if needed.

If there are any problems during any of these steps, revert back to the previous steps. This should help set your foster dog up for success at your house and a “good with other dogs” status on his adoption profile.

Make sure you are relaxed when interacting with the dogs. If you are tense and worried about a fight all the time, that will not help the dogs relax. Keep the dogs well exercised and calm, and chances are everything will go just fine. Pretty soon your foster dog and your own dog will be napping on the couch together.

Take it slowly with every new dog the foster dog meets.

Just because the foster dog gets along with your dog doesn’t mean he will get along with all dogs. Every situation is different. It’s always better to take it slowly and set the dogs up for success rather than rush these kinds of interactions.

Take precautions if a dogfight does occur.

If a small scuffle or a full-on fight does happen, try not to freak out. These things happen. Usually a loud “Hey!” will stop the fight immediately so you can re-gain control. Never throw yourself between the two dogs or try to pull them apart with your hands. Never bend down and put your face at their level. Instead, use something else to get their attention. Try throwing a blanket over one of the dogs, squeaking a loud toy or even throwing water on them. A strong voice correction has always done the trick for me, but this won’t be the case for all dogs.

Remember, there are always more dogs to foster.

If this particular fostering situation doesn’t seem to be working out, no worries. Every foster dog will not work out in your home. We all have to return a foster dog at some point. Take comfort in knowing there are plenty of other dogs that need foster homes.

The shelter or rescue group should be willing to work with you to find the best match for you and your own pets. The dog will likely go to another foster home or back to the shelter. That’s OK. You gave it a shot. The more you foster, the more you will understand which types of dogs will work out at your house.

Thank you for giving fostering a try!

For those of you who have fostered dogs before, what tips do you have for introducing a foster dog to your own dog?

This beauty is Vixen, a dog we fostered back in January of 2009. She was adopted quickly, after just two weeks. She and Ace got along for the most part, but every now and then we had a few scuffles.

I met a guy through a friend over the weekend, and he asked me what most normal people ask:

“What do you do?”

Usually my response to this question is something like, “I have a pet sitting business, and I take dogs walking and running.”

I’m not very good at promoting myself during these conversations, so I usually feel like my response is kind of lame. I’m painfully shy and awkward, so I try to avoid small talk. It’s why I write, instead.

What do I do?!

I have the best job in the world! I hang out with dogs all day, taking them on crazy outdoor adventures. I run up to 80 miles per week, and when I’m not running, I write about dog behavior on one of the world’s top dog blogs.

That’s what I do.

But that’s not exactly how I say it.

“Oh, I own a pet sitting business where I walk dogs.”

And usually, people look at me like they are really impressed by this, or they assume I have some other part-time job.

This guy I met on Friday said what most people probably think but don’t actually say:

“Is that a lucrative thing?”

I’ve had a handful of people actually ask this question over the years, and I find it extremely offensive because it implies I must be struggling or unsuccessful.

And I don’t have a good response.

“It’s awesome. I’ve been doing it for three years. People are crazy about their pets,” is what I said Friday.

I can think of a few other responses that may or may not have been appropriate.

And so, for dog walkers, pet sitters, dog trainers – heck, any kind of “small” business owner out there, how do you respond to these kinds of questions?

Sooner or later someone will ask, “So do you actually get paid to _________?”

The reason this question irritates me is the person sees nothing wrong with asking. People find it appropriate to ask how much money I make through dog walking and through blogging, maybe because they are afraid to admit they could turn their own hobbies into actual careers. It’s easier for them to believe they are better off at their current job.

I know it is not worth the energy to dwell on someone who can’t understand the value of what I offer. Most people just can’t understand. I should appreciate that they care enough to show some interest in what I do.

So I am making a point to focus my energy on what I can control and to focus on what I do best – write, create, care, exercise some pooches and make the best of each day.

Thank you to all who read my blog and to all who leave their animals in my care.

Here’s a photo of Ace and I from a few years ago. It’s one of my favorites. We were backpacking in the North Dakota badlands. I love how dogs lead us on these types of adventures.

Ace and Cosmo have different needs as far as attention, exercise and training, but I usually end up walking them together to save time. Or, I walk one dog and the other doesn’t get a walk that day.

For those of you with two permanent dogs (or three or four!), how do you find the time for each dog? Or maybe you don’t. Maybe you hang out as a group most of the time. Are you OK with that?

Like most dog lovers, I am always thinking about adopting a second dog. Before I do this, I have to reach some kind of acceptance about how much time I actually have for a new mutt. Ideally, I would find another easygoing, fairly mellow dog like Ace.

Walking with two dogs

Ace and Cosmo are not on the same level when it comes to training and socialization, but I usually end up walking them together anyway. We walk in the morning and again most evenings for about 25 minutes per walk.

When I walk the clowns together, both benefit from the exercise and walking as a “pack,” but it’s nearly impossible to work on their individual training needs. They both wear training collars so I am able to keep them under control. Cosmo pretty much pulls the whole time, and Ace is not challenged at all. Plus, it’s not always fair to work on training if the dog’s basic exercise needs have not been met.

Walking the dogs individually

Ace

Lab mix Ace generally has very good leash manners. I would like to work on more off-leash training with him. Sometimes he behaves even better without a leash because it forces me to use a different kind of energy. I want to focus on rewarding Ace for remaining calm when we visit his favorite people or places. I do not want to rely on any type of training collar with him, and he is the perfect candidate to take almost anywhere. I trust Ace to be gentle around all people and animals, as long as they don’t mind the drool and tail whips! With a second dog around, Ace and I have had very few opportunities to work at this level.

Cosmo

American Eskimo Cosmo needs a lot of work on loose-leash walking. Ideally, I should stop moving forward every time he pulls. But when I walk two dogs at once, Cosmo gets away with a lot of pulling. I want to get to the point where I can walk him on a loose leash, at least when there are no distractions. I would also like him to focus on me when we pass kids and dogs. He and I are preparing to take the AKC Canine Good Citizen test in a few weeks, which tests whether the dog can remain under control in various public situations. Whether or not The Cos passes this test is going to depend a lot on how strict the evaluator is!

How can I find time for each dog?

I’ve been thinking about how I can find time for each dog. I am very lucky that Ace and Cosmo do not require a ton of physical exercise. A half-hour walk per day seems to be enough for each dog.

I’m going to try a new routine where I walk one dog in the morning and the other in the evening so they each get individual time with me. But every other day I will take them running together so they get enough exercise. So, the first day I will walk them individually. The second day I will run them together. The third day I will walk them individually again, and so on.

When we head out for a walk, it also helps if I decide ahead of time what the goal of that walk is going to be. Are we focusing on getting some exercise? Is the goal of this walk to work on not pulling? Am I going to take Ace somewhere new today?

No matter what, I choose not to feel guilty. I know Ace and Cosmo are spoiled and happy. They never complain. They have it pretty good. They don’t seem to care if I walk them together or separately or even not at all.

I am curious what other people do when they have multiple dogs with very different needs.

Do you typically walk your dogs together or separately?

After looking at this sweet face, how can you tell me you are not in love?

I spent just a half-hour running around West Fargo with Harvey, but I began to convince myself I needed a second foster dog.

Of course, I know better. But you could foster him! Or better yet, adopt him! Harvey is up for adoption with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue in Fargo.

There’s just something about Harvey’s personality that reminded me of a younger version of my dog Ace. Harvey was so excited to see me that he wanted to get everything in his mouth – my hands, the leash, my sleeves, my watch. This could be a bit overwhelming to a new dog owner. But don’t worry, as soon as we got outside, Harvey’s true personality kicked in.

Outside, Harvey was very calm and laid back for such a young dog. He paid attention to me and tried to make eye contact whenever he could. He responded well when I asked him to sit or to lie down.

I see a lot of potential for this dog. He is very eager to learn, and he has a sweet, eager-to-please, sensitive personality.

Harvey was just as content to lie in the dirt and chew on sticks than he was to go running. So we were in no hurry. The prong collar he wore was unnecessary. He did not pull on the leash once.

I imagine Harvey is a smart dog with a lot of pent-up mental and emotional energy – hence his eagerness to bite the leash when he first saw me. But he does not have the crazy physical energy a lot of young retriever-types have. After a good game of tug or a good wrestling match with another dog, he would probably be ready for a nap.

We came across two cats during our run, and Harvey was very curious. I am guessing he would like to chase a cat, but a good swipe in the face would probably teach him never to try that again. Or better yet, he would respond well to a consistent owner setting some rules. I also hear he loves to hang out with kids.

Like most big, black mutts, Harvey is dubbed a “lab mix.” He could be a lab mix, or  just about any mix – German shepherd, Chesapeake, Newfoundland. I can tell you one thing – he’s going to be one big pup once he’s full grown. And very lovable.

If you are interested in fostering or adopting Harvey, the first step is to fill out a foster home application or a pre-adoption application with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue. This can be completed online. The adoption fee for Harvey is $100 plus a $50 deposit to be refunded once proof of neutering is provided.

The rescue adopts dogs out to people beyond North Dakota and Minnesota, so don’t let the distance thing deter you. Harvey has been waiting for a foster home for quite some time, so let’s get this boy into a home!

 Follow this link for more information about Harvey.

At ThatMutt.com, big, black dogs are our favorites!

Do you have a big, black dog?

First they stare at me, uninterested. Then they stand, stretch, shake their whole bodies, dance and wag.

Next they plop down in front of me in perfect sit-stays.

Lily practically shakes with excitement. She yawns dramatically, looks at the door, looks at me. “Come on, Lady! Hurry up!”

Sometimes Lloyd picks up a leash.

If you have ever hung out with a vizsla, multiply the happy energy and enthusiasm by two. Multiply the loyalty, athleticism and sweetness by two.

That’s Lloyd and Lily.

They are quite the perfect pair.

Lloyd is calm and collected. Serious. Never far from my side. Loyal. Quiet.

Miss Lily is dramatic. Impatient. Goofy. It’s impossible not to smile at her.

They stay at my side while we run. This seems to impress people. We get compliments all the time.

 That’s Lloyd and Lily for you. Predictable, very nice dogs. Perfect running buddies.

On our fall and winter walks, Ace and I pick up the pace just to stay warm.

In the summer, we take our time.

I took these photos back in July on one of those 95-degree days. Ace wanted to do nothing but roll around in the shaded grass. He was loving life, as he does every day.

Ace does not care about the changing seasons. He does not need a weather report. Depending on the occasion, he might lie in mud, swim, roll in leaves or eat snow. All are equally great.

Ace accepts each day for its greatness, and he helps me do the same.