Dot, the Tennis Court Runner A Pet's Life

Dot & her brother Monty

If you’ve ever seen a dachshund running, it is truly something to witness. Watching that long body and short legs bouncing along with long flopping ears just inches above the ground will put a big smile on your face.

My wife and I first witnessed Dot’s ability as a runner during puppy kindergarten classes where all of the other new puppy owners would stop what they were doing and gather around to watch Dot run to my wife in “call-and-come” training sessions. Due to her kidney disease, Dot was never really food driven which certainly helps in training. However, given the chance to be unleashed — allowing her to run as fast as she could and especially to my wife at the opposite end of a long room — Dot was one fast hot dog!

When at home on most evenings, Dot and her brother Monty were treated to a walk around our neighborhood. Their lives usually revolved around our kitchen, TV room, backyard and their bed. So they would always get so excited when their special walking leashes would make an appearance.

One of our stops while out walking was our community tennis court. I never had the heart to tell Dot that it was actually a community tennis court for humans; she always assumed that like our back yard, it was actually hers.

Immediately upon arriving on the court, Dot and her brother Monty would be taken off their leashes so they could run free. Believe me, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova couldn’t run faster then Dot could on a tennis court!

She would make repeated laps around the nets, always to our amazement at her speed and agility as she seemed to almost leap through the air just inches off the ground. Monty would do his best to keep up with her, but often he could not.

Even to near the end of her life, Dot always seemed to come up with the energy to run around the tennis court. It’s something we’ll never forget.

Next week, read about Dot dressing up as a reindeer!