Leo and Yoogie

Posted on February 26, 2010 by David Couillard

Hi everyone! After almost 4 years I finally decided to be part of a picture with my dogs Leo and Yoogie. And this is how it came out. I’m so happy to have these two friends waking up next to me everyday. My dogs are the ones who remind me to keep everything in perspective, to take the time to enjoy life and who keep me in good shape with a good 1 hour walks twice a day! I will take care of these two treasures for the rest of their lives.

Thanks Animatch for saving my best friends….

Members Comments

- Donna
- posted on February 26, 2010
Wow !! This is really a nice picture…You and your dogs look as one. You look very proud. The look in their eyes is so clear. You can feel emotion.
I have a chocolate lab..Crazy Daisy and she is 4.. I find myself too in good shape.We walk together 2 hours a day in the woods. She keeps me busy and I would have it no other way !!
Keep loving and spoiling those 2…they look adorable !
Donna and Daisy !
- David Couillard
- posted on February 26, 2010
Thanks for your kind words Donna

I know almost every neighbour around my place (since I walk so often and sometimes I walk the neighbours dogs that I see don’t really have the change my dogs have) and it’s funny because what I get from most middle age people who have started walking with their dogs is how much weight they are loosing and how a 30 minute walk seems never enough once you start doing it every day. They all start walking farther and farther…

And people who say they can’t walk because they have too much work well it’s just laziness!! A good walk everyday is the best remedy to remove stress from work! Just you and your pet… enjoying the moment.
- Joanne P
- posted on March 01, 2010
If we could only get that message across to everyone who adopts—exercise your dog, please!!! Backyards are great for early morning or late night but you and your dog will benefit so-ooooo much from walks. Every dog deserves that. The bonus is you will have a very calm and relaxed dog when you are in the house. David’s dogs look happy, content and, as Caesar would say, well-balanced.
- David Couillard
- posted on March 01, 2010
Haaa… then maybe we need a summer AND winter Walk-A-Thon!!
- Christiane
- posted on March 01, 2010
Excellent photo! Thanks for posting it; the three of you definetly belong together…you can clearly see the joy.
- Francine
- posted on March 01, 2010
David, this picture does you justice as much as the beautiful photos you take of our adoptees. The three of you are way too handsome! Now everyone can put a face to our talented photographer.

It is very true how walking your dog makes a tremendous difference and I am so sad for the dogs who spend their lives within the confines of a fenced yard. My happiest moments are spent walking my Sweetie and I’ve never been in better physical shape. We walk at least 3 times per day, rain or shine, and walking is the most important gift you can give your best friend (with lots of love and care of course)!
- Jen
- posted on March 01, 2010
What a great picture David! Your boys look so happy knowing they have you to protect & love them for all their lives. How wonderful.
I just have to put my 2cents in about losing weight by walking your dogs. With a careful diet & loads of walks with Toby, I’ve lost a little over 12 lbs in 3 weeks and Toby’s starting to lose some of the winter weight as well. We bundle up nice and warm and we go exploring! We climb mountains (OK, they are actually just small snow banks, but don’t tell him!!) and we enjoy the beauty of winter around us. We even caught snowflakes on our tongue the other day! (him by accident, me on purpose). So a message to all dog owners - Summer or Winter, get out there and walk with your dog!! It’s a bonding time that both of you will enjoy and look forward to each and every day! Life is short…. Enjoy each and every moment!
- Debbie
- posted on March 02, 2010
Fantastic picture !!
- Debbie
- posted on March 02, 2010
WOW! Gorgeous….and your dogs are pretty cute too, David! ; )
- David Couillard
- posted on March 02, 2010
haha… ok now I’m blushing…
Thanks everyone for your generous comments.
Leo keeps saying the picture looks great because of HIM mostly…
- Elpis
- posted on March 02, 2010
Wow what a beautiful picture. Your dogs are adorable. I am looking for my great dog and your happy dogs make me more excited about find my dog. I am looking to adopt a Thai Ridgeback. I can’t wait.
- David Couillard
- posted on March 02, 2010
Thanks Elpis!
I had never heard of a Thai Ridgback, but after finding pictures through Google it seems to be a really proud and powerful breed. Really nice dog… I hope you find your match soon! I’m sure you won’t regret it!
- Hélène
- posted on March 04, 2010
WOW, what a nice picture. I will definately hire you for some pictures of Dixie & Jazz family one day.
Have a great day!
- Vanessa Champagne
- posted on March 12, 2010
Wow, what an AWESOME pic David! )
You guys make a VERY attractive bunch lol
Have a good one!!
- cynthia
- posted on March 13, 2010
Wow great picture. All are very handsome . Just wanted to let you know that the photos you take of all the dogs are great. It captures their hearts as well as ours and gives them a great passport picture to a new life.
- Madison
- posted on May 20, 2010
Gorgeous picture! You’re so right about the walking thing- I love going walking with Benji. I don’t know what I did before him! We often go to centenniel park in dollard and walk through the different tree’d paths, and it is very peaceful, and Benji gets to socialize too. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
- David Couillard
- posted on May 20, 2010
Thank you Madison
Yeah, I love walking my dogs… That is also how I meet a lot of people and even get a lot of contacts for jobs and projects. I think I know every neighbour in a 2km radius…

And when they see me with my 4 dogs now… They all smile and wave at me

Dog walking is the best! My next home will be in the woods!!!!
- Vanessa Champagne
- posted on May 20, 2010
Yes dog walking is “tha BEST”. It’s a great way to keep in shape and to relax. I live in in the little village of Sutton, so it’s a great place to take walks. But me too, David, I plan on living in the woods somewhere, sometime. Awwww….peace and quiet
- David Couillard
- posted on May 20, 2010
Peace and quiet… talk about it… I got these 2 new neighbours who have been building their homes until 10pm every night for the past year….
- Vanessa Champagne
- posted on May 20, 2010
hahaha Neighbors eh? I’m a little “sauvage” when it comes to neighbors. I would be having a fit if mine were renovating ‘til 10pm! You are patient Mr. Couillard!
Mine just come on my proprety and they tell me what I should do with my garden and stuff…they are “special” as I like to call them. We need special people, to make a special world
You have 4 dogs now? Wow That’s a handfull! Are you in the city?? It must be tough having 4 dogs in the city no?
- David Couillard
- posted on September 09, 2010
Hey Vanessa! Sorry I had not seen your post here…
Well I live in the West Island… I have a pretty large backyard and I do walk them 2-3 times a day (I work form home). Even if it’s not the city we are only allowed to 2 dogs here. I just make friends with every one around and make sure my dogs behave well so I get no complaints.

And you are right. We all have those special neighbours… But so far, around here, we’ve all pretty much respected everyone’s privacy.
- Vanessa Champagne
- posted on September 10, 2010
The West Island is great It’s a really “friendly” place to live and is really clean I like it.
It’s great that you get to work from home. You’re lucky actually. I wish I could just roll out of bed in my pj’s and get to work. haha. It let’s you be more flexible with your time and schedule and hobbies.
Thanks for responding!
I’m actually thinking about moving in the city in the year to come. I’m job searching right now. I’m not rushed so I’m really gonna wait until’ I find something I really like. I’m in need of a change and get bored out here in the country. Plus, let’s face it, you kinda lower your standards when it comes to career and meeting people when in the country. Your choices are limited and it’s always the same old same old. I go to the city alot, but wanna maybe be there permanently. Move back to the country later in life. Home is home, and it’s always sweet to go back.
I’m thinking about maybe add
opting a doggy when up there. We’ll see what kind of job and schedule I end up with!!Plus, I’m the type of person that works out in the gym and that joggs 5 times a week so that takes up alot of my time and is a priority for me. Dogs come with responsibilities and I am well aware of that! So on this, have the BEST day
Cheers!
- David Couillard
- posted on September 10, 2010
Hello again Vanessa!

If working form home is something you wish or would like to do, do it! There are a lot of jobs or projects that can be started from home and from which you can make a living.

I used to work in an office and decided to leave my job to start on my own. Having the liberty to choose my own working and activity hours was something I chose to do.

I’m sure you have passions (you said you love training) that could give you the opportunity to work from home. With the availability of the internet today, you can start thousands of online services. And you don’t need to be a genius or web guru to do it. Tomorrow you could decide to start selling your favourite jump rope, or interval timer that you use for your training along with some free video examples of your trainings (I myself watch a lot of training videos online and even register to some of the members site or buy products that some recommend). This is just one example in your passion field. But there are other ideas.

I started with web design at home, then developed full websites, then dog photography services, then online stores (dogcollars.ca, poopbags.ca, hardcases.ca and more coming)... Those are passions and I made them my bread and butter. I don’T feel like working when I’m doing any of these. In fact I can be doing it 16 hours a day without even noticing how long I’ve been at it since I’m having so much fun doing it…

All you need is a passion, imagination and a bit of guts. If what you offer is based on passion, people will come and listen to what you have to say, teach or sell

And then you could adopt as many dogs as you would like!

That was my morning motivation speech… Now I need to get ready fort a client meeting!
Have a good day!
- Vanessa Champagne
- posted on September 10, 2010
Hi there

Wow! Thanks for the morning motivation speech!! I really appreciate that you took the time to write me this!!

I really believe in following your passions too and think that what you said about people, that they will come and listen to what you have to say if you trully believe in it, is so true. Be sure that all you wrote will be highly considered in my job search I am gonna be doing later on today

I was actually thinking about eventually starting a little something something in the nutrition field. I’m into training, but I’m in it cause I eat well, and I’m interested in eating well cause I train…it’s a circle. But, my first passion is nutrition.

I don’t think I’ll start something up right away, but slowly. That’s why in the meantime I want to find something. Just to help me build a life out there, in the big bad city lol. You guessed it, I applied on office jobs But in interesting fields I never explored!!
I’m in the school, education system right now, but am looking for maybe working for airline services or magazine editors… something out of my comfort zone. Whynot?
I like to dare and take chances and push myself. I’m one that loves to progress and be a better person everyday. Learning is vital to me.

We’ll see where life takes me from there!! You always end up where you should be. I believe in that also.

And then, as you said, I could adopt Right on!! I also LOVE animals, especially dogs. I’ve always been surrounded with them. My dad was a dog trainer. I always tell people they should adopt and I vent this website to many many many people cause I think it’s just plain great!

Thanks again for the speech! What a great way to start a day!! Will go get my coffee now haha and will be amped up to a fantastic start!!

Again, wishing you a good day David!!
TGIF
- Stdpoodlesrule
- posted on September 22, 2010
Absolutely stunning picture of all of you! And a big thank you, David, for doing such an incredible job of the pictures of the adoptees…you have a way of bringing out the pups’ best qualities and features and this translates into a higher probablility of adoption! You truly are amazing at what you do and clearly a perfect dog owner (although, I do hate to use the word owner since we don’t own them, we share our lives with them .

I loved that you referred to your pups as ‘treasures’...I have never heard that term used before although I think I will steal it from you and use it to describe my two standard poodles! And I also whole heartedly agree with your comments regarding exercise…..as a person with a full time job and a ‘hobby’ as a competitive triathlate, life can be hectic however it’s all about priorities and *making* time for those things that are important. I have encorporated some runs with my dogs into my training schedule but on the days I can’t do this, I am still out there a minimum of 2 hours a day specifically exercising my ‘treasures’. I can’t believe there are people out there who don’t embrace and cherish the time and bonding spent with our animal companions in the great outdoors!
Thanks again for all you do for Animatch and for providing such a great home for your treasures!
- David Couillard
- posted on October 05, 2010
Thank you very much for your comment.
It touches me. Especially tonight…

4 hours ago my big Yoogie passed away at the vet.
One of my treasures flew away from me in a blink of an eye.

All of you who share your life with one or more pets please remember to hugh, kiss, play and be there every free minute or second that you can with your animal. They are are not eternal. They need you and you will need them more than ever when they are gone.

Yoogie a miss you so much already.
I wish I could hugh you right now and kiss you good night. Where ever you are I hope you are happy, have tons of good friends and a lot of love.

You have been an amazing friend and I will never forget a treasure like you.
- Debbie
- posted on October 06, 2010
Oh, David, I am truly very sorry for your loss. It is so very sad, and I know exactly how you feel because I have been there. Your treasured Yoogie will live on forever in your heart and memory. In time it will become a little less painful. Take care. Debbie Quain
- Stdpoodlesrule
- posted on October 06, 2010
David I am so terribly sorry to hear about your loss…...I have been there as well and I know that there is no pain like it. Hold tight to all your memories of your best buddy-nobody can ever take those away from you-and know that one day you and Yoogie and Leo will be reunited wherever your beliefs take you. As Debbie said, time will eventually help change how you feel…..your pain and devestation will eventually drift to the point where you can look at pictures and think of all the happy memories and times you shared and feel comforted and content…..it’s hard to believe that now but it will happen. In the meantime, give Leo all those extra snuggles you have to give and I will be sure to give my boys some extra TLC tonight too, in Yoogie’s memory.
Take care, David.
- Vanessa Champagne
- posted on October 06, 2010
I’m just soooo sorry for you David.
I’m sending you many thoughts.
- David Couillard
- posted on October 06, 2010
Thanks for your kind words everyone.
This morning is hard.
Every time I look under the table and I see the empty spot I think of him.
I know time will heal things up.
I’ve lost one other dog before Yoogie and I’ve told everyone who lost an animal that time heals things up.
I just need to get the last images of him passing away at the vet out of my head and think of all the good times he brought me instead….

Love you Youg…
- Vanessa Champagne
- posted on October 06, 2010
I believe that it’s important to take the time you need. To make peace with things.
It’s important to embrace sadness somehow, for it makes you who you are at the end of the day.
I really feel for you. Sincerely feel for you.
I just know the pain.
It’ll be ok, is all I can think to say.
It’s not much really, but it’s all you need to know.
Have a good day David.

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