One of a least 100 pictures I have of
Guinness leaping in the air to catch the ball
He's a dog who puts everything he has into chasing a ball -
every single time he goes after the ball
The other day, John, Madie and I were playing nine holes at our golf club. The course at our club is a challenging one with narrow fairways, a great deal of water (the Don River intersects the course 14 times over 18 holes) and some challenging bunker placements. Overall the course demands forethought and an ability to place the ball; rather than hitting it and hoping for the best (which is how I usually play the game). But, lo and behold on the 9th hole during my approach shot to the green, from about 130 yards out, I sunk my shot! It was a spectacular shot to an elevated green, that landed about 10 feet from the pin and promptly rolled in. If I was a pro and it were a televised game, it would have certainly made the highlight reel!
To say the least, I was absolutely gobsmacked (such a great word, that North Americans don't utilize enough)! Though I have to admit a great deal of luck went into the shot and I probably couldn't come close to repeating it ever again in my life. I ended up double bogeying the hole (I know, quite the accomplishment given my final shot), due to a rather unfortunate tee shot that ended up in the river, yet even with the unfortunate score, I was quite happy, because what I think is happening, is that all my practice is starting to pay off.
I practice golf, far more than I practice hockey. It shows in my golf game and it certainly shows in my hockey game!
Guinness, is our family dog. He's a rescue dog whose highly attached to our family and to chasing a bright pink tennis ball. At times, I think he'd have a hard time deciding which is the more important to him, and in my heart of hearts, I fear the tennis ball would win out (but only if it's bright pink).
Guinness is walked three times a day now. Actually the term 'walk' is a bit of a misnomer, since the only walking that takes place is on our way to or from the park (or school grounds or beach). Once there Guinness single mindedly chases a ball. Oh, there are odd interruptions to take care of doggy bodily functions and he might deign to give a fellow pooch the odd sniff, but all in all, he's incredibly focused upon chasing said pink tennis ball.
He's absolutely amazing at leaping and twisting to catch the ball in mid air. He's never been taught to do so and he's quite aware that he can remain on the ground to catch the ball, but I think he prefers the challenge of an acrobatic catch. We use a device called a "chuckit" which is an elongated arm that holds a tennis ball and allows the thrower to gain far greater distance with their throw (another positive to this device, is that it allows the thrower to pick up the ball without touching it, an important feature with a doggy saliva soaked ball). We throw and throw and throw .... Guinness loves it.
Today while I was throwing the ball for Guinness I got to thinking and then to timing. I throw a ball approximately every 30 seconds and usually we're out for an hour - which means
1 outing = 120 throws (catches and returns) ... yes we are approximating
3 outings per day (120 x 3) = 360 throws (catches and returns)
7 days per week (7 x 360) = 2520 throws (catches and returns)
52 weeks per year (52 x 2520) = 131,040 throws (catches and returns)
OK I know there are days he doesn't get three outings, but there are other days, like on the weekend when John takes him to the beach for a couple of hours or when we go to a cottage and it lasts all day ... so I think it all works out ....
This since Guinness is 3 ... 3 x 131,040 = 393,120 throws (catches and returns). Or 3 hours per day x 365 days per year 1095 hours per year which is 3,285 hours over Guinness' lifetime so far ...
No wonder he's good. We're talking about a lot of practice .... now only if I could do that with my golf or hockey skills ... I'd still never be as good as Guinness is ... and I even use pink golf balls! Maybe I should look for a bright pink hockey puck!
I practice golf, far more than I practice hockey. It shows in my golf game and it certainly shows in my hockey game!
Guinness, is our family dog. He's a rescue dog whose highly attached to our family and to chasing a bright pink tennis ball. At times, I think he'd have a hard time deciding which is the more important to him, and in my heart of hearts, I fear the tennis ball would win out (but only if it's bright pink).
Guinness is walked three times a day now. Actually the term 'walk' is a bit of a misnomer, since the only walking that takes place is on our way to or from the park (or school grounds or beach). Once there Guinness single mindedly chases a ball. Oh, there are odd interruptions to take care of doggy bodily functions and he might deign to give a fellow pooch the odd sniff, but all in all, he's incredibly focused upon chasing said pink tennis ball.
He's absolutely amazing at leaping and twisting to catch the ball in mid air. He's never been taught to do so and he's quite aware that he can remain on the ground to catch the ball, but I think he prefers the challenge of an acrobatic catch. We use a device called a "chuckit" which is an elongated arm that holds a tennis ball and allows the thrower to gain far greater distance with their throw (another positive to this device, is that it allows the thrower to pick up the ball without touching it, an important feature with a doggy saliva soaked ball). We throw and throw and throw .... Guinness loves it.
Today while I was throwing the ball for Guinness I got to thinking and then to timing. I throw a ball approximately every 30 seconds and usually we're out for an hour - which means
1 outing = 120 throws (catches and returns) ... yes we are approximating
3 outings per day (120 x 3) = 360 throws (catches and returns)
7 days per week (7 x 360) = 2520 throws (catches and returns)
52 weeks per year (52 x 2520) = 131,040 throws (catches and returns)
OK I know there are days he doesn't get three outings, but there are other days, like on the weekend when John takes him to the beach for a couple of hours or when we go to a cottage and it lasts all day ... so I think it all works out ....
This since Guinness is 3 ... 3 x 131,040 = 393,120 throws (catches and returns). Or 3 hours per day x 365 days per year 1095 hours per year which is 3,285 hours over Guinness' lifetime so far ...
No wonder he's good. We're talking about a lot of practice .... now only if I could do that with my golf or hockey skills ... I'd still never be as good as Guinness is ... and I even use pink golf balls! Maybe I should look for a bright pink hockey puck!
