Big B’s 30-minute melt down

M encouraged me to bite the bullet and increase my beginner 20-minute walk back to the full 30. It was bit intimidating as it has been so hot here lately (90+ degrees with humidity). The last 20-minute walk my lab, B, and I took about killed us. I was so worried she would get heat stroke I couldn’t relax.

This time it wasn’t as hot so I just headed out on the old path and didn’t think about it. Once we reached the one-mile “canine cocktail” watering hole/turnaround point there was no point in quitting or shortening it. Afterall, we had to get home and the second mile is the shortest distance back.

During mile one, B pulled eagerly on the leash… but in the next mile she was like a different dog. Fading fast, she was panting and dragging her feet - all four of them. I actually had some pep in my step where she was a mess! (I can see it is good we are both getting healthy together). But other than a mild “surprise” lunge - compliments of a German Shepherd hiding behind a diner’s chair - we had no unusual incidents to report. In fact, we caught our second winds and made it back refreshed.

After a huge tanking up of water on our return, B collapse like a ragdoll onto the wood floor under the fan and panted for quite a while. As she slipped away into a deep recovery sleep, I swear I saw her tail wag. I suppose she was looking forward to tomorrow’s walk.

~ by lesismore64 on Monday, September 10, 2007.

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