2nd Annual Austin Fittest Dogs
by Drex Earle
Editor-in-Chief
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This month we showcase 18 amazing canines who exemplify health and fitness...on four legs, no less. Whether running, jumping, swimming or fetching a tennis ball, these dogs can do it all.
BILLY
Muscular, handsome, intelligent, happy and kind.
Owner: Sarah Scott
Billy goes with me every day to the Wimberly Athletic Club and to IronSmith. He greets every client and is in the gym more than any other dog I know. Not only is he a fit dog, he's around fitness 40+ hours a week.
Q+A
What breed is your dog? That's the first question everyone asks me! What kind of dog is that? My vet did a blood test to confirm Billy's breed...and he is a blend of Chow, Dalmatian and Mastiff.
How old is your dog? Billy is 11 months old. He picked me when I went to the Town Lake Animal Shelter one Sunday after a hot July run around the lake.
What are three of your dog's favorite activities? Running (long distance and sprinting), chasing and retrieving tennis balls, and going through his menu of tricks!
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Healthy, he loves a food brand called "Taste of the Wild," and he takes some of the same daily supplements I take. He loves his daily multi-vitamin, and his omega-3s!
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Very Important! Fitness is our life. Billy grew up in the gym. Billy spends more than forty hours a week in the gym with me and when we're not in the gym we're outdoors running and playing. Billy goes with me to work every day, whether I am at IronSmith in Austin or The Wimberley Athletic Club in Wimberley, Texas. Often times we are at both gyms in the same day. He spends more time in a gym than any dog I know! Billy's presence in either gym provides a calming, relaxing and therapeutic effect for our clients and members. After Billy goes to work with me, he loves to run around Lady Bird Lake or run laps with me around the track near my home.
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SHELBY LYNN
Active, sweet, obedient, loyal and smart.
Owners: Deric & Eleanor Williams
Shelby loves to run a 5K around Lake Pflugerville, then go for a swim and roll in the sand. She also motivates kids to get in the lake and swim and play fetch. Shelby is an extremely loving dog and promotes health and wellness to people of all ages and fitness levels.
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? Running next to me and my wife as we run and ride our bikes. She also enjoys swimming with me and my kids in Lake Pflugerville.
What kind of food/treats does Shelby Lynn eat?
Nutro Ultra dog food and biscuits.
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PEPPER
Independent, loyal, playful, submissive and protective.
Owner: Dan Huffine
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Chasing squirrels, swimming and playing at Zilker Park (usually chasing the Chuck-it ball!).
What kind of food does your dog eat? Holistic Select dog food, which does a great job of keeping her coat in great shape. Blue loves to have bones and rawhide chews as well.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Pepper is definitely more fit than I am! She’s always wanting to go play. She gets out at least twice a day on most days. Lots of walking (for me) and running and swimming for her. I’ve always been pretty active, but having a dog around basically insurses that I don’t miss a day.
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MAJOR
Wiggly, resilient, carefree, motivated and devastatingly handsome.
Owner: Jacqueline Curtis
Major was found on the streets of San Antonio and saved by the good people of Austin Boxer Rescue. I adopted Major because I always wanted a "big breed" dog that could keep up with my active lifestyle — he’s certainly lived up to that expectation. His favorite thing to do is hike the Barton Creek Greenbelt, where he gallops like a horse back and forth on the trails. I also call Major the "Unofficial Ambassador of Zilker Park," as he has to greet every man, woman, child and dog before trotting on to the next unsuspecting patron. Major helped me get back in shape as a runner. I’d competed in half marathons before suffering a foot injury that left me feeling defeated and out of shape. With Major's constant whining to hit the trails, he became my motivation to take the loops at Lady Bird Lake almost daily.
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? Hiking Barton Creek Greenbelt. Our favorite time to go is really early in the morning during the week, when we hardly see a soul for miles. This is the time I can give him my undivided attention and let him be an active dog. He loves chasing children on the playground, too. He’s happiest galloping around off-leash at Zilker Park. I don't know if it's possible, but when he's active and doing all these activities, I feel like I can see the happiness in his eyes, his gait and his spirit.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Although I keep him on a tight rein with his diet most of the time, he really loves peanut butter sandwiches, sausage, beef liver, string cheese and ice cream. To keep his motivation going when we’re running the trails, I give him doggy treats or freeze-dried chicken. They’re easy to swallow and digest, plus it helps Major keep focus on me (and off the woodland creatures).
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is paramount in our lives. I have to maintain a good balance of eating what I enjoy and staying active and fit. It’s important for fitness to be fun and something I look forward to. Major makes it fun and entertaining, with his enthusiasm and comedic personality. It’s important to Major because two years ago he might not have survived heartworm treatment, much less been able to run and get his heart rate up. I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Major, who reminds me that health can be fleeting, so enjoy it and preserve it while you can. And while you’re at it, let your tongue hang out and have fun!
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TEX
Vocal, intelligent, curious, energetic and affectionate.
Owners: Lindsay Spurck & Andrew Webb
Named after the State Fair of Texas’ “Big Tex,” he lives up to this larger than life reputation. He's a little on the small end for a pointer, but he's got a huge personality to make up for his lack in size. He's a vocal guy and will "talk" to just about anyone, especially if you're the one throwing his ball.
With a marathon training mom and a University of Texas track alum dad, Tex rarely sees a day without a run at Lady Bird Lake, or a stroll through his neighborhood. He absolutely must get in one good session of ball daily — twice if he has his way. He's tried his "paw" at bird hunting through the rural terrain of West Texas, and has taken to it quite well thus far. He also loves to sit on the front end of a kayak out at Lake LBJ, looking for fish at the end of the line.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Playing ball, frequenting the dog parks and swimming (even when it's 30 degrees outside).
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Natural Balance kibble and Zuke's peanut butter treats.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? With both of us having running backgrounds and active lifestyles, a high energy level was top on our priority list while looking for a dog. Tex has certainly filled this role. He refuses to see a day without a run, walk or at least a good session of fetch and we love this about him. He has an enthusiasm for life that is hard to match, but we do our best to keep up with him.
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SCARFACE
Intense, happy, stubborn, a blur
Owners: Luke Gentry
Scarface and I love to find the most remote, beautiful and adventurous places to exercise. Also, we both enjoy a good long, weighted run. Aside from running and the long car rides to get there, Scarface enjoys swimming. He's an avid swimmer and diver. He actually keeps up with me while i've got my flippers on!
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? Intense, obscure trail runs, swimming (a lot) and wrestling.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Aside from his dog food, Scarface shares food from each of my meals. In this way, he actually keeps me motivated and disciplined to maintian a healthy diet. He especially likes bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and even turkey sausage and eggs in the morning.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is paramount! It’s also one of my highest priorities. A life without the pursuit of fitness is not worth living.
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NADIA
Playful, excited, friendly, loving and alert.
Owner: Zac Evans
Nadia loves playing at Auditorium Shores, and swimming in and running around Town Lake with my wife and me. Still practically a puppy, she has tons of energy and a love for fitness.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Running stairs in the house, running around Lady Bird Lake and playing at Auditorium Shores.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Rawhide chews and peanut butter. She could eat a bucket of peanut butter and still run off the calories in an hour!
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Extremely! She's a much better-behaved dog when she has regular exercise. She, my wife and I, all get much healthier in the process!
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DYSON
Inquisitive, energetic, funny, patient and loving.
Owner: Sean Fair
Dyson is a huge hiker. We go for a hike every morning before I leave for work. On the weekends, when we have more time, we run up hills, over streams and along the Greenbelt trails throughout Austin. He just got his yearly check up and the vet said he was one of the healthiest and solid boxers she has ever seen. He is a solid brick — 88 pounds of muscle — and an extremely active dog. He is definitely a lap dog when he is in the house and he’s also one of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet (although I'm sure everyone says that about their dogs).
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? He loves to run and hike on local trails, go to dog parks and play with other dogs (his best friend Chance, a pitbull, is his favorite). Finally, he loves to do anything in or around water.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? He eats Evo Ancestrial Diet as his main staple. His treats are Innova Health Bars. I also give him raw eggs every now and then, which keeps him lean and ready for just about anything.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? It is extremely important. I don't know how someone could live in Austin and say otherwise. When you start with the great culture here and then add all the dog parks, hiking trails, city parks, lakes and fitness activities, it’s hard not to have fitness play somewhat of a role in your life. I do admit, it’s easier when you have a very energetic and playful dog.
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ARISTOTLE
Strong, agile, playful, fearless and adventurous.
Owner: Kimberly Ball
I believe I truly have one of the fittest dogs in Austin. Aristotle is a Dachshund, weighs about 15 pounds and is incredibly active. His personality is deceiving — he loves to curl up and nap most of the time, but when I take him hiking, swimming or to the dog park he loves it. His favorite area would have to be the Hill of Life part of the Greenbelt off of Scottish Woods, but he also enjoys the Turkey Trail and Town Lake. During the summer, people are always amazed to see him swimming at Barton Springs or Twin Falls. I guess they think little guys don't like that kind of stuff, but he proves them wrong every time.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Hiking the Greenbelt, swimming along trails and in Barton Springs, and fetching a ball from his Chuck-it ball launcher outside our apartment.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Spot’s Stew Salmon formula dry dog food, CET veggie dental treats and Nutro dental dog treats.
How important is fitness in you and your dog’s life? It’s a No. 1 priority. It’s important not only for me to be healthy and active, but for my family to be as well, and this definitely includes my dogs. It’s a must that he gets at least three miles a day of walking, jogging or playtime. Even now that he’s a little older, people still comment on how surprised they are to see him hiking pretty much every weekend. I would say that he has always been fit.
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CRICKET
Tenacious, full of heart, adventurous, sweet and a survivor.
Owner: Marla
Cricket is not only fit but has the best attitude of any running partner I’ve ever had. The ironic part of it is when I first took her on as a foster from Blue Dog Rescue, I never thought she would make a running dog. She was overweight and had a crooked leg that had been broken earlier in her life. She was blind in one eye and was covered in rough patches of skin because she had spent the first three years of her life lying on hard earth without much room to move around. We took her to the Petfest 5K, planning on walking her, but Cricket wanted to run. Amazingly, she finished fourth. Now she runs with me almost every time I go out.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? She loves to run more than any dog I’ve ever been around. She does long runs on the weekends with me. She does tempo workouts during the week with me and every run in between. I found out the hard way that she is a great swimmer. She jumped into Town Lake and chased a group of ducks for 10 minutes. I had to ask a really nice gentleman in a kayak to get her for me. And last but not least, Cricket's favorite fitness activity (which only applies in a dog's world) is chasing the deer at my parent's house in San Angelo. I can let her off the leash with no real worry she is going to catch them. She chases them from one side of the field to the other.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? I am pretty strict with her diet. I wish I was that strict with my own. She gets Blue Buffalo dog food and Blue Dog biscuits or homemade dog treats. But she also likes carrots and light popcorn. After a long run, we head to the 7-Eleven for coffee and a stick of beef jerky.
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JACKSON
Affectionate, animated, determined, ecstatic and inquisitive.
Owner: Michael Hancock
Not only can Jackson leap tall buildings in a single bound, he can fly, too. And he’s as strong as super glue! Believe it or not, he has more energy than a nuclear power plant. If you place a “Chuck-It” in my hand, there’s no telling how long he can go. Sometimes I have to stop because all he wants to do is motor. He loves to hike, swim, run and devours his healthy food. He truly is a happy, super fit dog.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Swimming, hiking and running are just a few, but his favorite activity is the Chuck-It. Jackson cannot seem to get enough of that toy! He blocks out everything around him and concentrates so hard on me throwing the tennis ball as far as I can. Whenever I toss it into Barton Creek, he dives in and swims as fast as he can, leaving a wake while retrieving the ball. It’s simply amazing to watch his determination.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Blue Life Protection Formula from The Blue Buffalo Company.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Health and wellness are the two important factors in both of our lives. We feed off of each other whenever we’re outdoors. After a long day in the office for me and with him sleeping most of the day, there’s nothing better than hitting Zilker Park, the greenbelt or Lady Bird Lake to relieve stress and to get the blood flowing. Both Jackson and I are always up for being outdoors no matter what the weather brings.
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Q-TIP
Encouraging, well-trained, non-shedding, outstanding temperament and immaculately groomed.
Owner: Holli Smith
Q-Tip has a sweet, caring and energetic personality. He went through about eight months of training to become a therapy dog and now volunteers at both Austin State and Brackenridge Hospitals. He’s registered with The Delta Society and Devine Canines of Austin. Q-Tip has a purpose now and loves every minute of it. He can be mellow when he needs to be and active on his down-time. He loves to play with the nurses and give attention to patients when needed. Therapy dogs have to be healthy and fit, very well-groomed and have their shots up-to-date.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Running, practicing his therapy training and walking with his brother Simba who is a 15-year-old Sheltie.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Q-Tip eats Beneful Healthy Weight and his treats for training are Chicken Training Rewards.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness plays a key role in our lives. I think it’s very important for Q-Tip and I to have a healthy physical and mental life. Q-Tip and I go for long walks together and sometimes do sprints.
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DIXIE
Strong, playful, energetic, loyal and loving.
Owner: Matt Pacanovsky
My wife, daughter and I own Dixie, an 80-pound American Bulldog, who is mostly solid muscle. When we brought Dixie home at 10 weeks of age and 18 pounds, it was quickly apparent that it would take a lot to wear out this energetic puppy. Walking alone didn’t seem to do the trick, so we took a trip down to REI and purchased a dog vest. We added weights to it to increase the intensity of her workours. More than three years later, Dixie is now a big puppy, and one of the fittest dogs in Austin.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Going for walks while wearing a weighted dog vest, chasing after elusive squirrels that run across our fenceline, playing tug-of-war and fetch.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is a way of life for us. Regular walks and excursions help release Dixie’s pent-up energy, all while enjoying nature and the true beauty of Austin’s parks.
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HENRIETTA
Devoted, athletic, loving, cuddly, and beautiful.
Owner: Andrea Thompsen
I found my Henrietta in a trash can seven years ago. She was skin and bone and had cigarette burns on her. She also just had puppies. We now call her our triathlete dog. She runs up to 15 miles with me and LOVES to swim. I think she could win the dog duathlon but unfortunately she is not very fond of other four-leggers besides her sister. We moved from Dallas two years ago and she is a true Austin lover. Nothing makes her day more than a day filled of swimming and hiking.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Hiking the greenbelt, swimming, running in Travis Country neighborhood.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Wellness All Natural Yogurt Treats. She loves them!
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? My favorite part of the day is going for a run with Henny. Once I put my running shoes on she starts to cry with excitement. She is one of my main marathon training partners. If we both don't get at least an hour of exercise daily we go a little crazy! Henny also loves to swim with her dog sister, Roxy and my husband. She usually beats both of them in the water! Henny is a true rags to riches dog – found in a trash can seven years ago, now relaxing on the couch or bed in anticipation of her next run, hike or swim.
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SAM
Licky, cuddly, drooly, bearded and very kind.
Owner: Chad Ballentine
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Running around Town Lake, swimming and chasing cats.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Pedigree and anything with peanut butter on it.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is very important to both of us. It helps me keep balance in life and helps her live longer.
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FRED
Loud, energetic, slobbery, gentle and funny.
Owner: Kari Terrell
Fred is one of Austin’s fittest dogs because he wants nothing more than to put his nose forward and walk! This breed was bred to walk mile after mile with little signs of fatigue. He spends his days at home where he starts the day off by running the perimeter of the yard to get a scent of everything that went on the night before. When I get home he looks forward to heading out for an hour-long walk. After dinner he can be found back outside baying at all the people out exercising or walking their dogs. I like to think he is cheering them on instead of baying! He may not be a big runner or the fastest dog but his stamina can outlast some of the fittest dogs around.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Walking through the neighborhood smelling every square inch, running around chasing and wrestling with kids at the playground, running around the tennis court hiding tennis balls in his mouth and making you chase him.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Fred eats Wellness and Natural Balance – I rotate him through the flavors. Treats range from carrots and apples to Cheerios and cheese sticks.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is extremely important and a daily part of our lives. Fred requires an hour-long walk five days a week in order to get him to wind down each day. Having Fred as a dog has taught me the importance of how great it feels to exercise. Fred has already helped me walk off 15 pounds and we continue to walk every day to keep it up.
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TUCKER
Athletic, handsome, playful, outdoorsy, fearless.
Owner: Martha
Tucker is impossible to keep indoors. He loves to run and swim and is just naturally an athletic, strong dog.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Swimming, fetching his orange rubber ball and short, fast runs with me.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? He loves rotisserie chicken.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? It’s top priority. We’re always running or playing at leash-free dog parks!
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BLEU
Handsome, fast, friendly, sweet and loyal.
Owner: Desha Bunton
Bleu lives for activity. His favorite form of cardio is running, though he is always up for a long hike or a run while I ride. He has trained for two marathons with me. His longest run is 10 miles in 1:13. Bleu is a regular at area dog parks, too – Zilker, Red Bud and Auditorium Shores. Emma Long Trail is a personal favorite of his, reserved for pleasant Saturday mornings. While Bleu's appetite for activity keeps us out on the town, his loyalty and genuine love for "his chair" keeps us in for drinks and a movie after an exhausting day out.
BILLY
Muscular, handsome, intelligent, happy and kind.
Owner: Sarah Scott
Billy goes with me every day to the Wimberly Athletic Club and to IronSmith. He greets every client and is in the gym more than any other dog I know. Not only is he a fit dog, he's around fitness 40+ hours a week.
Q+A
What breed is your dog? That's the first question everyone asks me! What kind of dog is that? My vet did a blood test to confirm Billy's breed...and he is a blend of Chow, Dalmatian and Mastiff.
How old is your dog? Billy is 11 months old. He picked me when I went to the Town Lake Animal Shelter one Sunday after a hot July run around the lake.
What are three of your dog's favorite activities? Running (long distance and sprinting), chasing and retrieving tennis balls, and going through his menu of tricks!
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Healthy, he loves a food brand called "Taste of the Wild," and he takes some of the same daily supplements I take. He loves his daily multi-vitamin, and his omega-3s!
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Very Important! Fitness is our life. Billy grew up in the gym. Billy spends more than forty hours a week in the gym with me and when we're not in the gym we're outdoors running and playing. Billy goes with me to work every day, whether I am at IronSmith in Austin or The Wimberley Athletic Club in Wimberley, Texas. Often times we are at both gyms in the same day. He spends more time in a gym than any dog I know! Billy's presence in either gym provides a calming, relaxing and therapeutic effect for our clients and members. After Billy goes to work with me, he loves to run around Lady Bird Lake or run laps with me around the track near my home.
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SHELBY LYNN
Active, sweet, obedient, loyal and smart.
Owners: Deric & Eleanor Williams
Shelby loves to run a 5K around Lake Pflugerville, then go for a swim and roll in the sand. She also motivates kids to get in the lake and swim and play fetch. Shelby is an extremely loving dog and promotes health and wellness to people of all ages and fitness levels.
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? Running next to me and my wife as we run and ride our bikes. She also enjoys swimming with me and my kids in Lake Pflugerville.
What kind of food/treats does Shelby Lynn eat?
Nutro Ultra dog food and biscuits.
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PEPPER
Independent, loyal, playful, submissive and protective.
Owner: Dan Huffine
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Chasing squirrels, swimming and playing at Zilker Park (usually chasing the Chuck-it ball!).
What kind of food does your dog eat? Holistic Select dog food, which does a great job of keeping her coat in great shape. Blue loves to have bones and rawhide chews as well.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Pepper is definitely more fit than I am! She’s always wanting to go play. She gets out at least twice a day on most days. Lots of walking (for me) and running and swimming for her. I’ve always been pretty active, but having a dog around basically insurses that I don’t miss a day.
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MAJOR
Wiggly, resilient, carefree, motivated and devastatingly handsome.
Owner: Jacqueline Curtis
Major was found on the streets of San Antonio and saved by the good people of Austin Boxer Rescue. I adopted Major because I always wanted a "big breed" dog that could keep up with my active lifestyle — he’s certainly lived up to that expectation. His favorite thing to do is hike the Barton Creek Greenbelt, where he gallops like a horse back and forth on the trails. I also call Major the "Unofficial Ambassador of Zilker Park," as he has to greet every man, woman, child and dog before trotting on to the next unsuspecting patron. Major helped me get back in shape as a runner. I’d competed in half marathons before suffering a foot injury that left me feeling defeated and out of shape. With Major's constant whining to hit the trails, he became my motivation to take the loops at Lady Bird Lake almost daily.
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? Hiking Barton Creek Greenbelt. Our favorite time to go is really early in the morning during the week, when we hardly see a soul for miles. This is the time I can give him my undivided attention and let him be an active dog. He loves chasing children on the playground, too. He’s happiest galloping around off-leash at Zilker Park. I don't know if it's possible, but when he's active and doing all these activities, I feel like I can see the happiness in his eyes, his gait and his spirit.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Although I keep him on a tight rein with his diet most of the time, he really loves peanut butter sandwiches, sausage, beef liver, string cheese and ice cream. To keep his motivation going when we’re running the trails, I give him doggy treats or freeze-dried chicken. They’re easy to swallow and digest, plus it helps Major keep focus on me (and off the woodland creatures).
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is paramount in our lives. I have to maintain a good balance of eating what I enjoy and staying active and fit. It’s important for fitness to be fun and something I look forward to. Major makes it fun and entertaining, with his enthusiasm and comedic personality. It’s important to Major because two years ago he might not have survived heartworm treatment, much less been able to run and get his heart rate up. I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Major, who reminds me that health can be fleeting, so enjoy it and preserve it while you can. And while you’re at it, let your tongue hang out and have fun!
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TEX
Vocal, intelligent, curious, energetic and affectionate.
Owners: Lindsay Spurck & Andrew Webb
Named after the State Fair of Texas’ “Big Tex,” he lives up to this larger than life reputation. He's a little on the small end for a pointer, but he's got a huge personality to make up for his lack in size. He's a vocal guy and will "talk" to just about anyone, especially if you're the one throwing his ball.
With a marathon training mom and a University of Texas track alum dad, Tex rarely sees a day without a run at Lady Bird Lake, or a stroll through his neighborhood. He absolutely must get in one good session of ball daily — twice if he has his way. He's tried his "paw" at bird hunting through the rural terrain of West Texas, and has taken to it quite well thus far. He also loves to sit on the front end of a kayak out at Lake LBJ, looking for fish at the end of the line.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Playing ball, frequenting the dog parks and swimming (even when it's 30 degrees outside).
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Natural Balance kibble and Zuke's peanut butter treats.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? With both of us having running backgrounds and active lifestyles, a high energy level was top on our priority list while looking for a dog. Tex has certainly filled this role. He refuses to see a day without a run, walk or at least a good session of fetch and we love this about him. He has an enthusiasm for life that is hard to match, but we do our best to keep up with him.
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SCARFACE
Intense, happy, stubborn, a blur
Owners: Luke Gentry
Scarface and I love to find the most remote, beautiful and adventurous places to exercise. Also, we both enjoy a good long, weighted run. Aside from running and the long car rides to get there, Scarface enjoys swimming. He's an avid swimmer and diver. He actually keeps up with me while i've got my flippers on!
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? Intense, obscure trail runs, swimming (a lot) and wrestling.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Aside from his dog food, Scarface shares food from each of my meals. In this way, he actually keeps me motivated and disciplined to maintian a healthy diet. He especially likes bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and even turkey sausage and eggs in the morning.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is paramount! It’s also one of my highest priorities. A life without the pursuit of fitness is not worth living.
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NADIA
Playful, excited, friendly, loving and alert.
Owner: Zac Evans
Nadia loves playing at Auditorium Shores, and swimming in and running around Town Lake with my wife and me. Still practically a puppy, she has tons of energy and a love for fitness.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Running stairs in the house, running around Lady Bird Lake and playing at Auditorium Shores.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Rawhide chews and peanut butter. She could eat a bucket of peanut butter and still run off the calories in an hour!
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Extremely! She's a much better-behaved dog when she has regular exercise. She, my wife and I, all get much healthier in the process!
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DYSON
Inquisitive, energetic, funny, patient and loving.
Owner: Sean Fair
Dyson is a huge hiker. We go for a hike every morning before I leave for work. On the weekends, when we have more time, we run up hills, over streams and along the Greenbelt trails throughout Austin. He just got his yearly check up and the vet said he was one of the healthiest and solid boxers she has ever seen. He is a solid brick — 88 pounds of muscle — and an extremely active dog. He is definitely a lap dog when he is in the house and he’s also one of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet (although I'm sure everyone says that about their dogs).
Q+A
What are three of your dogs favorite fitness activities? He loves to run and hike on local trails, go to dog parks and play with other dogs (his best friend Chance, a pitbull, is his favorite). Finally, he loves to do anything in or around water.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? He eats Evo Ancestrial Diet as his main staple. His treats are Innova Health Bars. I also give him raw eggs every now and then, which keeps him lean and ready for just about anything.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? It is extremely important. I don't know how someone could live in Austin and say otherwise. When you start with the great culture here and then add all the dog parks, hiking trails, city parks, lakes and fitness activities, it’s hard not to have fitness play somewhat of a role in your life. I do admit, it’s easier when you have a very energetic and playful dog.
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ARISTOTLE
Strong, agile, playful, fearless and adventurous.
Owner: Kimberly Ball
I believe I truly have one of the fittest dogs in Austin. Aristotle is a Dachshund, weighs about 15 pounds and is incredibly active. His personality is deceiving — he loves to curl up and nap most of the time, but when I take him hiking, swimming or to the dog park he loves it. His favorite area would have to be the Hill of Life part of the Greenbelt off of Scottish Woods, but he also enjoys the Turkey Trail and Town Lake. During the summer, people are always amazed to see him swimming at Barton Springs or Twin Falls. I guess they think little guys don't like that kind of stuff, but he proves them wrong every time.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Hiking the Greenbelt, swimming along trails and in Barton Springs, and fetching a ball from his Chuck-it ball launcher outside our apartment.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Spot’s Stew Salmon formula dry dog food, CET veggie dental treats and Nutro dental dog treats.
How important is fitness in you and your dog’s life? It’s a No. 1 priority. It’s important not only for me to be healthy and active, but for my family to be as well, and this definitely includes my dogs. It’s a must that he gets at least three miles a day of walking, jogging or playtime. Even now that he’s a little older, people still comment on how surprised they are to see him hiking pretty much every weekend. I would say that he has always been fit.
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CRICKET
Tenacious, full of heart, adventurous, sweet and a survivor.
Owner: Marla
Cricket is not only fit but has the best attitude of any running partner I’ve ever had. The ironic part of it is when I first took her on as a foster from Blue Dog Rescue, I never thought she would make a running dog. She was overweight and had a crooked leg that had been broken earlier in her life. She was blind in one eye and was covered in rough patches of skin because she had spent the first three years of her life lying on hard earth without much room to move around. We took her to the Petfest 5K, planning on walking her, but Cricket wanted to run. Amazingly, she finished fourth. Now she runs with me almost every time I go out.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? She loves to run more than any dog I’ve ever been around. She does long runs on the weekends with me. She does tempo workouts during the week with me and every run in between. I found out the hard way that she is a great swimmer. She jumped into Town Lake and chased a group of ducks for 10 minutes. I had to ask a really nice gentleman in a kayak to get her for me. And last but not least, Cricket's favorite fitness activity (which only applies in a dog's world) is chasing the deer at my parent's house in San Angelo. I can let her off the leash with no real worry she is going to catch them. She chases them from one side of the field to the other.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? I am pretty strict with her diet. I wish I was that strict with my own. She gets Blue Buffalo dog food and Blue Dog biscuits or homemade dog treats. But she also likes carrots and light popcorn. After a long run, we head to the 7-Eleven for coffee and a stick of beef jerky.
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JACKSON
Affectionate, animated, determined, ecstatic and inquisitive.
Owner: Michael Hancock
Not only can Jackson leap tall buildings in a single bound, he can fly, too. And he’s as strong as super glue! Believe it or not, he has more energy than a nuclear power plant. If you place a “Chuck-It” in my hand, there’s no telling how long he can go. Sometimes I have to stop because all he wants to do is motor. He loves to hike, swim, run and devours his healthy food. He truly is a happy, super fit dog.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Swimming, hiking and running are just a few, but his favorite activity is the Chuck-It. Jackson cannot seem to get enough of that toy! He blocks out everything around him and concentrates so hard on me throwing the tennis ball as far as I can. Whenever I toss it into Barton Creek, he dives in and swims as fast as he can, leaving a wake while retrieving the ball. It’s simply amazing to watch his determination.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Blue Life Protection Formula from The Blue Buffalo Company.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Health and wellness are the two important factors in both of our lives. We feed off of each other whenever we’re outdoors. After a long day in the office for me and with him sleeping most of the day, there’s nothing better than hitting Zilker Park, the greenbelt or Lady Bird Lake to relieve stress and to get the blood flowing. Both Jackson and I are always up for being outdoors no matter what the weather brings.
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Q-TIP
Encouraging, well-trained, non-shedding, outstanding temperament and immaculately groomed.
Owner: Holli Smith
Q-Tip has a sweet, caring and energetic personality. He went through about eight months of training to become a therapy dog and now volunteers at both Austin State and Brackenridge Hospitals. He’s registered with The Delta Society and Devine Canines of Austin. Q-Tip has a purpose now and loves every minute of it. He can be mellow when he needs to be and active on his down-time. He loves to play with the nurses and give attention to patients when needed. Therapy dogs have to be healthy and fit, very well-groomed and have their shots up-to-date.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Running, practicing his therapy training and walking with his brother Simba who is a 15-year-old Sheltie.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Q-Tip eats Beneful Healthy Weight and his treats for training are Chicken Training Rewards.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness plays a key role in our lives. I think it’s very important for Q-Tip and I to have a healthy physical and mental life. Q-Tip and I go for long walks together and sometimes do sprints.
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DIXIE
Strong, playful, energetic, loyal and loving.
Owner: Matt Pacanovsky
My wife, daughter and I own Dixie, an 80-pound American Bulldog, who is mostly solid muscle. When we brought Dixie home at 10 weeks of age and 18 pounds, it was quickly apparent that it would take a lot to wear out this energetic puppy. Walking alone didn’t seem to do the trick, so we took a trip down to REI and purchased a dog vest. We added weights to it to increase the intensity of her workours. More than three years later, Dixie is now a big puppy, and one of the fittest dogs in Austin.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Going for walks while wearing a weighted dog vest, chasing after elusive squirrels that run across our fenceline, playing tug-of-war and fetch.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is a way of life for us. Regular walks and excursions help release Dixie’s pent-up energy, all while enjoying nature and the true beauty of Austin’s parks.
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HENRIETTA
Devoted, athletic, loving, cuddly, and beautiful.
Owner: Andrea Thompsen
I found my Henrietta in a trash can seven years ago. She was skin and bone and had cigarette burns on her. She also just had puppies. We now call her our triathlete dog. She runs up to 15 miles with me and LOVES to swim. I think she could win the dog duathlon but unfortunately she is not very fond of other four-leggers besides her sister. We moved from Dallas two years ago and she is a true Austin lover. Nothing makes her day more than a day filled of swimming and hiking.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Hiking the greenbelt, swimming, running in Travis Country neighborhood.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Wellness All Natural Yogurt Treats. She loves them!
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? My favorite part of the day is going for a run with Henny. Once I put my running shoes on she starts to cry with excitement. She is one of my main marathon training partners. If we both don't get at least an hour of exercise daily we go a little crazy! Henny also loves to swim with her dog sister, Roxy and my husband. She usually beats both of them in the water! Henny is a true rags to riches dog – found in a trash can seven years ago, now relaxing on the couch or bed in anticipation of her next run, hike or swim.
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SAM
Licky, cuddly, drooly, bearded and very kind.
Owner: Chad Ballentine
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Running around Town Lake, swimming and chasing cats.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Pedigree and anything with peanut butter on it.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is very important to both of us. It helps me keep balance in life and helps her live longer.
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FRED
Loud, energetic, slobbery, gentle and funny.
Owner: Kari Terrell
Fred is one of Austin’s fittest dogs because he wants nothing more than to put his nose forward and walk! This breed was bred to walk mile after mile with little signs of fatigue. He spends his days at home where he starts the day off by running the perimeter of the yard to get a scent of everything that went on the night before. When I get home he looks forward to heading out for an hour-long walk. After dinner he can be found back outside baying at all the people out exercising or walking their dogs. I like to think he is cheering them on instead of baying! He may not be a big runner or the fastest dog but his stamina can outlast some of the fittest dogs around.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Walking through the neighborhood smelling every square inch, running around chasing and wrestling with kids at the playground, running around the tennis court hiding tennis balls in his mouth and making you chase him.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? Fred eats Wellness and Natural Balance – I rotate him through the flavors. Treats range from carrots and apples to Cheerios and cheese sticks.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? Fitness is extremely important and a daily part of our lives. Fred requires an hour-long walk five days a week in order to get him to wind down each day. Having Fred as a dog has taught me the importance of how great it feels to exercise. Fred has already helped me walk off 15 pounds and we continue to walk every day to keep it up.
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TUCKER
Athletic, handsome, playful, outdoorsy, fearless.
Owner: Martha
Tucker is impossible to keep indoors. He loves to run and swim and is just naturally an athletic, strong dog.
Q+A
What are three of your dog’s favorite fitness activities? Swimming, fetching his orange rubber ball and short, fast runs with me.
What kind of food/treats does your dog eat? He loves rotisserie chicken.
How important is fitness in your and your dog’s life? It’s top priority. We’re always running or playing at leash-free dog parks!
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BLEU
Handsome, fast, friendly, sweet and loyal.
Owner: Desha Bunton
Bleu lives for activity. His favorite form of cardio is running, though he is always up for a long hike or a run while I ride. He has trained for two marathons with me. His longest run is 10 miles in 1:13. Bleu is a regular at area dog parks, too – Zilker, Red Bud and Auditorium Shores. Emma Long Trail is a personal favorite of his, reserved for pleasant Saturday mornings. While Bleu's appetite for activity keeps us out on the town, his loyalty and genuine love for "his chair" keeps us in for drinks and a movie after an exhausting day out.
Get Stoked to Get Soaked: 15 Austin Lake Activities, May 2009 Issue
Austin's 10 Fittest, August 2009 Issue
Fairway to Fitness, June 2009 Issue
