Meet Brendan Hanson and Henry

Event: Swimming

Hometown: Havertown, Pennsylvania

Gold medalist in 2004 at Athens. Second Olympic Games

Pet's Name: Henry

Breed: Maltese-poodle mix

Age: Around 2-years-old

Where did you get your pet?

I got stuck in traffic one day so I pulled over to hang out at the pound to see some of the dogs that were there. Loved this little guys energy and his approach on life, so I came back the next day and adopted him.

What is your dog's favorite thing?

Going through the trash, he loves it. I am convinced that's how he ate before the pound rescued him. We are learning not to do it and it's an ongoing process. He also loves to run around the house like crazy, which are a lot like puppy spurts. When he starts running around my roommates and I start screaming "turbo" because he is literally in overdrive nothing is safe. Turbo can easy be instigated with a bath.

Do you have any training tips?

Know the value of a dog treat and use it to your advantage when training your dog, and be patient; most people don't give their dog enough credit.

How does your pet help you train?

He really doesn't play a part at all in my training. The best part about him is that when I come home from workout in the afternoon he is just so excited I am home. Oh, and he hates getting up for morning workout just as much as I do. He goes right back to sleep, little punk.

What is something you love about your pet?

He sleeps on his back, which cracks me up, and if he is awake before you are he hops on you constantly to wake you up. But my favorite thing about him is he is just so darn happy to be alive and it makes you appreciate each day more than you normally would have. Adopted dogs are awesome.

Back to Petside Olympic Coverage >>