Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised that I’ve found a reason to write a blog post about my dogs. In all seriousness though, I wanted to use them to get a message across. Let me start by introducing them:
Finley is a greyhound, adopted from the racetrack in December 2017. She was bred to sprint short distances, and she has remained very lean despite living the “retired” life. She’s still all sharp edges and bones. Finley gets cold easily, so she especially enjoys cuddling. The cozier the bed, the better!
Dexter is a mix of breeds, but predominantly some type of scent hound. Before we adopted him in March 2014, he had obviously spent that winter fending for himself. He was not in good health. But Dexter was able to survive, likely thanks to his body fat stores. Although survival is no longer a concern, Dexter maintains a higher body mass, making him tolerant of tough conditions and an excellent hiking buddy!
These 2 dogs eat the SAME food in the SAME amounts every day. Dexter and Finley also generally have the same activity level. Look how different their bodies are! Yet no one expects one to look like the other. Finley and Dexter are both dogs, but their genetic predisposition has determined their body weight, shape, and size.
What if dogs had the same body pressures humans have? You’d have dachshunds wishing they were taller and bulldogs wanting to get rid of their wrinkles. What a shame! We love these pups exactly how they are. Thankfully Dexter doesn’t understand media messaging telling him that he is too fat, and that he should try to be thinner like his sister. I know, we are humans, not dogs. But this story is for those of us wishing we looked like someone else. You are worthy of love EXACTLY the way you are.