The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Spring 2022 | Page 52

FEATURE
Mike Thomas and Rogue on one of their 364 adventures in 2021 .

A Pandemic-induced Virtual Reality 1,000-km Race Saved Me and My Dog

By Michael Thomas , CPDT-KA , Fear-Free Certified , CTDI , CCFC

W ith the wear and tear that 2020 put on us ( like so many others ), 2021 did not seem that much better . Events of all types were cancelled . Everywhere . And while normally Rogue , my almost 12-year-old Siberian Husky , and I would be preparing for our next Canicross race , the two of us were relegated to our neighborhood in Toronto , Canada . Our world felt so much smaller .

Then I heard about a virtual walk called Woof Walk on a news broadcast in the spring of 2021 . It was also serving as a fundraiser for a local dog rescue called Save our Scruff . There were multiple distances to pick from to accomplish over eight months . I chose for us the longest possible one . It gave us — mostly me — purpose . It revitalized us .
By Sept . 10 , we had 24 logged 171 walks / hikes / runs / workouts as a team . It ’ s only about 3 kilometers a day , but it is 3-kilometers of bonding , fun , adventure , teamwork , friendship , and joy . And so , 364 adventures and 1,000 kilometers later ( nearly 622 miles for those from the United States ), that journey ended on Dec . 31 . Every day we have a choice to get up , get out and get after it . Here is what we learned :
• The same walk every day is not healthy for your dog OR you .
• Focus on spending time together . Worry less about the distance .
• Make sure your dog has your full attention . Be present with them .
• Rest days are crucial .
• Your world is bigger than you think . It is all about perspective .
50 Building Better Trainers Through Education Photos : Mike Thomas