Ode to Bo

Today, Bo and I hit the trails in honor of the sweatshirt weather. You have to get out of the house when it's this warm in January, and Bo is always up for an adventure.

Have I mentioned that I love my dog? Well, I do.

A little over ten years ago, I remember traveling in the truck with my dad to a farmhouse in Goshen. We were there to look at their Siberian Husky/German Shepherd puppies. Now really, that never works. You can never just look at puppies. Sure enough, we picked one out, brought him home, and dubbed him Bo. He was to be my dog, and he was to reside in the garage. 

Looking back, I'm surprised my parents consented to my desire for a dog so easily. They have certainly regretted that decision many times since. Bo was awfully naughty. His "puppy stage" lasted about seven years. He quickly became house-trained but decided that he preferred to go to the bathroom in the garage for about five years. Anything in the garage that could be chewed up was destroyed, including my dad's ice fishing hut. Now that was a bad day. Bo could only be given hard, rubber toys. All others, including tennis balls and soccer balls, would be quickly destroyed and eaten.

Bless my parents for taking care of him while I was at college.

In addition, Bo loved to run away, and he was incredibly disobedient. Well, let me clarify; he was disobedient outside of the show ring. For four or five years, I competed with Bo in obedience, agility,  and other disciplines. He did amazingly well. It took A LOT of time and energy, but he won most shows. That Bo is smart as a whip. Smart enough to know that when he was loose in the yard, there was no reason to listen to anyone. True to his husky roots, he took off whenever given the chance. Until several years ago, when my dad brought home a wireless containment system. That thing literally solved all of our problems with Bo, and our family was significantly more peaceful. I brag on Petsafe so much, I ought to be receiving royalties.

At times, it may seem like a curse, but one of the best things about Bo is his energy. The dog never gets tired! He is the best running, hiking, and biking companion. One hot July day, we ran 12 miles. That's the farthest that I have ever run, but he could've gone further! Later that day, we had an agility competition, and he still had an abundance of energy. During the cold winter, I didn't run with Bo so I decided to teach him to jump rope with me to burn off some of his energy. He loved to jump rope, and it became a hit at trick competitions. 

Last year, Bo turned ten. It snuck up on me. He definitely did not act his age. But over the last year, he has noticeably grayed and while he still has a lot of energy, he can't quite rack up the miles like he used to. Regardless of his age, this dog is chock full of infectious joy. There is nothing like coming home from work to this guy. He gets so darn excited, and I can't help but smile.

Did I mentioned that I love my dog?