"Dog Shit."
There are a few ways you could summarize Rick DiPietro's injury luck when it came to his NHL career and "Dog Shit" would be one of them. "Dog Shit" does not have to be a negative anymore, though.
Nowadays, the Winthrop, MA native is seeking to redefine himself through another life-long passion of his: Dog Training.
"I've always felt another calling in my life," DiPietro said, "and while the game of hockey did not work out the way I would have liked, I find myself in a good place these days thanks to my furry friends."
DiPietro credits his Bulldog, "HamBone", with helping him through the hardest times of his career.
"Without his companionship, I might not be here today."
There are a few ways you could summarize Rick DiPietro's injury luck when it came to his NHL career and "Dog Shit" would be one of them. "Dog Shit" does not have to be a negative anymore, though.
Nowadays, the Winthrop, MA native is seeking to redefine himself through another life-long passion of his: Dog Training.
"I've always felt another calling in my life," DiPietro said, "and while the game of hockey did not work out the way I would have liked, I find myself in a good place these days thanks to my furry friends."
DiPietro credits his Bulldog, "HamBone", with helping him through the hardest times of his career.
"Without his companionship, I might not be here today."
The two have competed nationwide in over a dozen dog shows to date with HamBone placing in the top in all but 2 shows.
"We've had a lot of success thus far, but HamBone has a little bit of trouble with the more rigorous activites some judges ask the contestants to complete.
"I've been hesitant to train him properly for the harder, more physical drills. Mainly because of my own bad luck with injuries, but I plan on easing into them with him very soon. We hate to waste anymore wonderful opportunities to compete because of me."
Looking into the future, it looks like a bright one for these two friends in the world of Dog Pageantry.
STORY UPDATE: RICK WAS INJURED LOADING HAMBONE INTO HIS VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 18TH.
A TORN PECTORAL MUSCLE WILL KEEP THE DUO SIDELINED FOR 1-2 MONTHS.
"We've had a lot of success thus far, but HamBone has a little bit of trouble with the more rigorous activites some judges ask the contestants to complete.
"I've been hesitant to train him properly for the harder, more physical drills. Mainly because of my own bad luck with injuries, but I plan on easing into them with him very soon. We hate to waste anymore wonderful opportunities to compete because of me."
Looking into the future, it looks like a bright one for these two friends in the world of Dog Pageantry.
STORY UPDATE: RICK WAS INJURED LOADING HAMBONE INTO HIS VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 18TH.
A TORN PECTORAL MUSCLE WILL KEEP THE DUO SIDELINED FOR 1-2 MONTHS.