Runaway Thoughts
Est. Read Time: 4.5 Mins.
My lungs were burning as I sprinted down our narrow back lane. A mixture of gravel and leaves crunched beneath my feet as my breath hung aimlessly in the frosty morning air. It was foolish to think I would ever catch up to the dog we named Auto, adopted only 24 hours earlier. Standing strong at 75 lbs. (34 kg), his long and powerful body was truly built for speed.
Head down and hot on the track for his perceived breakfast, he continued to chase the bunny that caught his eye, completely oblivious to my existence. Yes, GSD’s are a loyal breed; but aside from taking him home from the pound, I had done absolutely nothing to earn or deserve his trust just yet.
As I continued to run, my mind was drawn to 3 fleeing thoughts in rapid succession. It’s funny what panic can do to the mind.
Here are my 3 points of clarity:
Auto running in his Patrol Swat Vest.
Point 1: Your Working Dog is Faster Than You.
You might be thinking, yeah no kidding, real insightful stuff there bud…but hear me out.
The average German Shepherd can run roughly 30 mph (48 km). The average Belgium Malinois is even faster at 35 mph (56 km). The fastest human in history, Usain Bolt’s, top speed was clocked at 27.8 mph (44 km)…once.
So when I hear people say that their working dog will be slowed down by their Patrol Swat Vest, I can’t help but think how ridiculous a statement that is.
On average, a regular human can run 15 mph. We are pathetically slow in comparison to the rest of the animal kingdom.
Our custom-fit vests allow your dog total freedom of motion to allow them to maintain their full mobility and agility. We’ve gone to great lengths to make our vests as light a physically possible too, weighing in at an incredible 3.9 lbs. (1.8 kg) on average. Even if, hypothetically, your dog was working in something that slowed them down 50%, they would still be faster than you. By a lot.
Auto thoroughly kicked my ass in an uninhibited footrace. He’s the perfect example of a dog’s genetic strengths and a human’s genetic weaknesses in action.
Point 2: The ID Collar is Your Saving Grace as a Pet Owner.
As I continued to chase after Auto, I honestly didn’t think I was ever going to catch him. He was nearly 100 ft. ahead of me and I was losing ground rapidly. He turned the corner at the end of my block and I officially lost him in my line of sight. Even with all the madness, another surprisingly clear thought entered my mind.
At least my number is on his collar.
One of the first things we did when we brought him home was get him a ID Collar with his name and my phone number on it. There is always a possibility, especially in the early stages of a new adoption from a rescue shelter, that your dog could bolt and get lost. In my case, I left the front door open just a smidge to check the mailbox and he took full advantage. Before I knew it, Auto slipped through my legs and out the door like a scene straight out of Air Bud. I imagined a fake audience cheering him on, pointing and laughing at my misery, as he outsmarted his owner in complete bumbling fashion.
It’s hard to fully understand how hopeless it feels to lose a pet. Will they ever be found? The last thing I wanted was for my dog to be scooped up by someone and trotted back to the pound. Having the knowledge I could be contacted immediately if I was not able to find Auto was huge for my peace of mind.
Getting an ID Collar with your dog’s name and your cell phone number can provide peace of mind in the event that they are unexpectedly lost or separated from you.
Point 3: Give Your Dog What They Need To Be Their Best
Sure, this may not be the highlight of my dog owning career, but knowing that you have the opportunity to build a bond with an animal is gratifying.
In the weeks and months that have followed, we’ve started to understand each other’s language and a mutual respect continues to grow. We head to the park every evening to train basic commands like sit, down, come, and out. Ultimately, Auto is born to run. Nothing brings more joy into his life than chasing his favorite red ball in a wide open field.
I think it’s easy to flip the responsibility on other people for the actions of our own dogs. It’s easy to say that things are outside of our control, when often times, they aren’t. The responsibility rests solely in your hands, as does their safety.
Have you given your dog the tools they need to succeed? Have you set aside time to train them? Are they working in the appropriate equipment for the tasks at hand?
If you can answer yes to all these questions you are on the right track. It’s ok to make mistakes, we are all flawed humans; however, in recognizing where we can do better you have the ability to grow as a handler.
—
I rounded the corner and saw Auto dart in-between a row of houses toward a fenced in back yard, still in pursuit of the pesky hare. Finally, I knew I had him. With nowhere left to run, I dove head first and corralled his ID Collar before he was able to get away again.
With the chase now officially over, I walked back home with Auto, hand-in-collar, humbled, yet eager to improve.