Dear Oscar, Congratulations on your selection as Vermont Sports Magazine's "Wagger Athlete of the month." Will your fame affect your life? -- A Fan

Dear Fan, Thanks for reading the magazine -- it was a fine piece of reporting (with a captivating subject, if I do say myself). Click here to read the interview online. Also, don't miss the informative article by my human in the same issue (the annual April "dog" issue) about running with your dog.

As for how the fame will affect my life, it shouldn't -- except for the usual obligatory phone interviews and tour of the national talk show circuit. Maybe some cameo appearances in some TV sitcoms, you know the sort of thing. Otherwise, I'll be running, hiking, and playing just like usual.

Photo: here I am waiting for my humans on a hike last weekend. Photo courtesy of Ruth!

Your friend, Oscar

Weight Loss

Well, it's official. At my vet appointment last week, the backup vet (Dr. Dan, my usual vet, had the day off) proclaimed that I was "overweight."

My human was aghast. "Overweight?" he said. "Do you realize how far this dog runs?" She didn't, but it didn't matter. She pointed to my sides, where my ribs were not visible. One should, she explained, be able to feel a dog's ribs easily when one rubs a dog's sides. My ribs were in there, but you really had to press to feel them.

I didn't mind all the rubbing, but I did mind what came next. "Are we over-feeding him?" my human asked.

Whoa there, buddy! Let's not get carried away! We are talking about winter fat; it will disappear after about 2 weeks of spring-time activity. It's like I've been saying all along: it's not about feeding the dog less. It's about feeding him more, and then letting him run around more.

"Less" is not the answer. "More" is!

A Tale of Two Baths

Okay, I'd like to vent a little something that has been frustrating me lately. Two times in the last three weeks-- count them, twice! -- when I have returned to the house after little adventures in the woods behind our house, my humans have greeted me by smelling me and immediately forcing me to take a (gasp) sponge bath. The humiliation! The shame!

The good news in this story is, with the great maturity I have demonstrated in this third year of my existence, they do let me cruise around a little bit as long as I wear a collar with their contact information and my bell (see photo). As long as I return within what they consider a reasonable amount of time (and believe me, in their minds "reasonable" means "brief"), they're fine.

Again, that's the good news. Meanwhile, back to the baths. Yes, prior to both, I did roll in something dead. And so what if I did? Is a little rotten raccoon so bad? They just don't get it, you know? Read my lips: I... don't... mind... smelling... like... carrion!

Believe me, I'd rather smell like dead coyote than be subjected to a bath. And, if you don't mind me saying, the fresh sheets on their (read: "my") bed could certainly use a little deadening up. Sheesh. What does a dog have to do to get through to people? Helloooo... I do not like your baths, okay? Brother!

Dear Oscar, I noticed that you recently sponsored your red-headed human's...

... fund-raising triathlon in the amount of $10. I was wondering where you got the money and why you only donated $10? Also, I noticed that one of the cats you live with donated too. Where did he get the cash, and why didn't the other cat donate as well? This is an extremely important cause, you know. -- A Fan in Montana


Dear Fan,

You are right; supporting cancer research and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society IS an important cause, which is why, of course, I donated. Ali has been training for months with a team of fund-raising athletes for the Mooseman Triathlon in New Hampshire. To donate, click here.

As for where I get my money, this is obvious: I steal it from my humans. Like their internet and DSL service, I take it when they aren't watching. Although I have never asked him, I believe Scout, who also donated, gets his money the same way. Likewise, I am unsure of where Waffle gets his money, but I do know where he spends all of it: on booze.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's names up there with mine on Alison's fund-raising website!

Oscar

GOOD LUCK ALISON!

Have a great race!

Your training partner, Oscar

Dear Oscar, I love to run too, but I am rather new to the concept of a leash since I was homeless for most of my life (I'm 11 months old)...

...until I found my new family about a month and a half ago. My mom takes me walking daily and to the dog park almost daily. She likes to run and has taken me on jogs a few times. I run at a good speed with her, but I zig zag a lot and want to stop and sniff a lot which drives her nuts. She found this new contraption called a Halti which helps us walk together a lot better. But she's not sure if it would be nice for me if I wear it when we go running. Do you think it would impede my panting if I wore it running? Thanks for your expert opinion! -- Ruby (part whippet and part beagle)

Dear Ruby, First off, congrats on finding your new family. That is an exciting development! Secondly, it's great that your human takes you on walks and to the dog park so frequently. In a short span of time, you have trained her well -- nice work!

The running is also great. And, as long as your human sticks with it, I think you'll get less distracted when you go for real runs. Seriously, right now you're just 11-months-old! What 11-month-old puppy can focus enough to go for a run without stopping to explore? So just stay with it, and eventually, you'll calm down. As a highly mature 3-year-old (why is everyone snickering when I describe myself as "mature"?), I know the difference between a walk, a run, or a play in the dog park. And I know when I can stop often or when it's best to stay focused. That said, I always make sure to stop to pee or sniff something -- or even to try to chase a squirrel -- a few times on every run. To establish who's really in charge.

As for the Halti, I do not endorse any products on this blog -- unless they offer full blog sponsorship (please contact my agent). Hey, every dog has his price! Pictures I have seen of the Halti harness, however, don't indicate to me that it would be restrictive. I say try it. Or, your human may want to try what my humans do (see photo). They clip the leash to my collar, then wrap it around my belly or chest. That way, if I pull, rather than choking me, it squeezes my belly and reminds me to let up. It's not mean, it is simple, and it works.

Bottom line: you're out there running and having fun -- that's the most important thing. Oh... and the other most important thing: you are reading the right blog. Ruby, as far as this dog is concerned, you are on the right track.

Your friend, Oscar

Dear Oscar, Why did you delete your last post? -- Curious.

Dear Curious,

I hated to do it. But I guess even yellow puppies aren't safe from spammers. That's right: a slimey scummy spammer posted a comment on the last post and in his/her/its user ID name was a link -- probably to some slime-ball gross spam site.

Anyway, as much as I liked the post because it told how much I love snow, I just got rid of the whole thing.

You know why? Because I think spammers are slimey, scummy dufus-brains. And they smell.

Everyone else out there, however, is fine with me, though.

Mind your own business, spammers. Wags to everyone else.

Oscar