Each morning this week, we’ve staged our own version of the Bedlam Winter Olympics with two Gus, two speedy and athletic dogs who love to race one another. We thought Gus would steer clear of the outside in the winter, but it turns out he loves being outside, even in his muzzle.

We have three sweaters for him, but we have only used them three or four times, unless it’s windy and in the single digits, Gus seems comfortable and happy outside with the other dogs. Yesterday in the snow, Maria called them down to the bottom of the pasture.

I stand at the top of the pasture. She releases them and I call them and both charge up towards me, racing each other to see who gets to me first. Then we repeat the process.

Yesterday, it was a drawn, Fate 2, and Gus, 2.

We are surprised at how fast Gus runs and how much he loves it. Fate is an incredibly fast dog, she’s been clocked at closet to 50 mph while chasing sheep, and Gus has no trouble keeping up with her.

This is great fun for all of us, it’s great exercise for the dogs, and despite his megaesophagus, Gus has boundless energy. This is important, because if food is being blocked by the esophagus, the dogs aren’t getting enough nutrition and tire easily, and are sluggish.

That is the last word I would use to describe Gus. We’re into day three of my new experiment diet. One spit-up, no regurgitations or vomiting. A dramatic improvement over the previous few days. We are on a good track, however long this lasts.

And you cannot watch Gus and Fate tear through the snow and think of Gus as anything but a healthy dog, no matter what his esophagus says.