After a prolonged autumn, winter has come to the Rocky Mountains. More often than not recently, it’s cold, snowing, and (worst of all) windy. Last Friday, I performed an accidental science experiment that pits 40-year-old writer who sits all day against wind chills well below zero. Perhaps the gusty conditions upset Lilly, which we learned last summer can freak out fearful dogs. Perhaps she’s already tired of being cooped up for winter. Either way, she was fussy — whining, squeaking, pacing. I finally relented, bundled up, and headed outside to play ball around 4 pm, just as the sun dropped behind the mountain. I bent down to pick up the ball after her first fetch, and that’s when it happened. Hamstring cramp, anyone?
Like a blazing hot pitchfork jabbed into the right side of my behind, the pain consumed what breath the wind chill hadn’t.
“I really need to find that @#$#@ chuck-it,” I thought to myself, as the pain renewed with each stoop to pick up the ball Lilly dropped at my feet again and again.
More than a bit peeved, I considered telling Lilly, “Tough luck, kid,” but she really needed to burn off energy. It’s best done outside, where I can launch the ball from one end of the pasture to the other.
We sometimes play fetch in our unfinished basement (at least the half that’s “mine”), and while Lilly is always happy to play, I can tell it’s not terribly satisfying in such a small space.
So, I threw and threw and threw — 25 fetches — in the bitter cold before inviting Ginko out for his 3-5 consolation throws. (If he runs much more than that, his boo-boo knees hurt at night.) But, the bonus is that Lilly ALWAYS chases him as he plays fetch, as demonstrated in these old videos.
I managed to satisfy her need to play at a least a bit before the cold drove us inside. But, now I’m nursing an embarrassing injury.
Seriously, where is that chuck-it? We put it away after Ginko blew out his knees 5 years ago. Surely, we didn’t give it away.
Ah, the things we do for our dogs. I love the chuck-it, but it isn’t without risk of injury either. I’ve gotten a bad case of “chuck-it elbow” in the past.
Owwwww. Never mind the chuck-it–you need a warm fire, a glass of whiskey, and a chance to put your feet up. Any chance Lilly could get her exercise fetching you drinks and plumping up your pillow for a while? I hope you feel better soon!