My New No-Pull Leash Is Working

My dog needs more short walks and this leash helps

My dog Snowy is a white German Shepherd. He is beautiful. He is also HUGE. He now weighs 120 pounds. How did he get so big? I am baffled. I thought male GSDs got to 80 pounds or so, max? I know he’s a purebred because I have his AKC papers.

He doesn’t seem fat. It’s all muscle.

The vet is doing bloodwork to make sure it’s not his thyroid.

To keep his joints from being under too much strain, it’s going to be lots of shorter walks throughout the day.

Which might ironically make it easier for me to keep him. Since I got cancer I’ve had to have a friend care for Snowy most of the time. However, I was giving him an hour to an hour and a half of exercise every day because I thought that was what he needed.

If he would be fine with several shorter walks throughout the day, it will be a lot easier for me to have him back. I am at a point now where I can actually do a short (15-minute) walk every day. If I do several of those, even though it will wear me out at first, it will also make it easier for me to become healthier and fight my cancer.

So this would support me both physically and emotionally. Being able to keep my dog would make me so happy.

I really miss having him with me full-time. My cat Opal? Not so much. She’s gotten used to being the sole pet in the house. However, my dog is super gentle…