Doglympics

Biscuit here. The other day I was looking at the medals Little Sis has received from walking in 5k races and virtual walks with Big and Middle Sis. I got to thinking, if I want to be a legitimate member of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Shoes, perhaps I should look at doing some sort of athletic event that would give me a medal to contribute to the Sisterhood collection.

So, while Little Sis was at work I hopped on her laptop and started investigating. It took a while but I finally came across the Doglympics which, as the name implies, is the canine equivalent of the Olympics. It is a very prestigious, albeit little known, sporting event that many a young pup dreams about. Apparently it is more important than any canine event, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. And best of all winners receive a Golden Bone!

I have my sights set on the 2023 Doglympics, and I’m not sure yet which event I will be participating in, so I will have to do a lot of cross training. I wanted to enter the 4 x 100 relay, but my team fell apart; Lassie, landed a major role in a movie, Snoopy had to have his tonsils removed, and the Littlest Hobo, well he is not so little anymore – must be all the treats he was eating. Right now I am leaning towards the “Go Fetch” event, which is exactly as it sounds. The time keeper throws the ball, and times how quickly I can return it. I am really good at this, and I know I have a good chance at bringing home a Golden Bone. I’m also considering the “Chasing Cars” and “Loudest Bark” events.

One thing I am wondering about is the requirement for drug testing. I was a bit surprised that this was part of the Doglympics, but after I saw a fellow competitor bulldog with what seemed like unnaturally big muscles, I realized that there may be some validity to the testing. The thing I haven’t figured out yet is how the samples are collected – I’ll ask my dog park buddies if they have any idea next time I am there.

And also, where do I get a copy of the words to the national anthem? I want to make sure I am prepared for stepping on that winners podium.

All In A Day’s Work

To make sure I’m ready for this prestigious event, I’ve hired a personal trainer and I train seven days a week. My typical day of training starts whenever I decide to get out of bed. I have a quick bite to eat, then I do my stretching – downward dog is my favourite stretch as it gets all the muscles limbered up nicely. After that I run up and down the stairs to get my heart rate up and finish things off by chasing my tail. Sometimes I mix it up and just run around in circles. I finish off my morning routine by having another snack, followed by a nap.

After my nap I have a drink of water, because it is important to stay hydrated when you are training at such a high intensity level. Then I do some more running up and down the stairs, and may sprint up and down the hallway a few times just for fun. I am also working on my jumping ability so I spend some time jumping on and off the bed.

But by far the best work out I get is when I go the dog park and get to chase a ball around. This also gives me a chance to size up my competition and see some old friends at the same time. Once I am off my leash I run up and down the beach like nobody’s business. I could do this for hours, and hours. It is the best cardio exercise ever and I am really good at it. Some of my dog park friends think I’m crazy for doing all this training, but I just keep thinking about how that Golden Bone will look on Little Sis’ medal shelf.

Along with all this physical training I try to take good care of myself. My diet consists mostly of lamb and rice kibble, which I really like. I am trying to stay away from treats, but I am not very disciplined. I am really good at begging and looking cute, and is it my fault if people happen to toss a cookie my way?

I also try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night, but that does not always work. Sometimes I have to get up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water, and instead of going back to sleep I wander around the kitchen looking for snacks, and sometimes I find them.

Once my workout is done for the day, I head off to the spa for a little rest, relaxation, and a rub down. I get to decompress and forget about the day’s training. The person who does my rub down is amazing and I always manage to fall asleep half way through the session. Once I wake up I help myself to a tall cool glass of cucumber water and some kibble.

Ready, Set Go!

I am looking forward to participating in Doglympics 2023, and I know I will do my country and the Sisterhood proud by bringing home a medal. I can already see myself on the podium, howling out the national anthem, with the Canadian flag being raised in the background. Just thinking about this brings a tear to my eye. I can’t wait!

I’ll do my best to keep you up on my progress as I train for this important event, but right now I’ve got to get back to my workouts – my personal trainer is a tough taskmaster!

We plan to do a new post every Monday so stay tuned for our next one entitled “100 (Almost) Posts and Counting.”