The Ad(age)

Argos' Mom, Ashley (I'll introduce Argos soon, I promise), has an adage, that I swear I've heard before, or perhaps I just agree with it so wholeheartedly it seems like something I've heard/said.

A Tired Pup, is a Happy Pup. (Ok, she may have said dog.)

It's true. Dogs are pack animals. They like knowing their place in the world (pack), and doing their part. We so often hear about "working dogs" and "dogs with jobs" and how much they take comfort in those roles. Like people, they gain from contributing, participating. I believe a worn out dog at the end of the day had a damn good day.

One day, I decided there are dogs out there that might not have enough good days, and at the same time, I didn't have enough good running partners (MY definition of a good running partner: one who enjoys running more than myself and motivates me to keep going, doesn't want to make conversation or mind that I have my iPod on loud enough to almost drown out their voice, and always runs at whatever pace I want, or maybe a step faster, for as long as I want, or maybe longer, and can pee on the go, but will always wait patiently for me to do the same. In short: a dog).

So I turned to Craigslist. I created myself a new email address from gmail (puprunnersf), immediately forwarded it to my main email, and posted the following ad in the pet section:

Hi, I am a 20 something working female who doesn't do drugs or drink. However, I do play soccer, and work out, and hike, and RUN. I really love running with dogs, there's something very motivating about seeing how much they enjoy that gallop down the trail.

My life currently does not lend itself to owning a dog of my own, but I have owned 7 dogs of all sizes and breeds in my life. Each passed away old and happy (except one who leads a great life with my brother in Oregon).

My dog-owning friends are kind enough to occasionally be too busy to exercise their dogs and indulge me with this privilege. I am also a favorite dog sitter by pets and owners alike, but I digress. If you think you might also benefit from having a designated running/exercise pal for your dog, I'd love to be that person.

I am knowledgeable of dogs, animal behavior, and care. I respect the owner's rules and commands, as we all have different beliefs, but consistency is what's best for the dog. I am flexible in scheduling, get up early, and stay active late. Oh, and I'm free. This isn't my attempt to make some extra money or get a side job, I really just love dogs (and all animals), and would love the chance to run with your dog.

Shoot me an email if you'd like to get together for a meet and greet, or, if your dog needs to go for a run. I'm happy to supply references.


I plan to continue to always repost it, so you should be able to see/share it here:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/pet/1857343265.html

Step 1. Done.