Leader of the Pack

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Adventure Pack

The pack was mellow on the trails this morning. We encountered a handful of other dogs along the way including a little Pomeranian who barked as we walked by. Sputnik, Coco, Mamacita, and Rucksack all just trotted on, earning a comment of praise by an observer for their composure and lack of reaction to the noisy little pup. Mamacita ended the hike with dry ears, as Rucksack didn't show any interest in licking them today.

Play Pack

Thompson looked great after a trip to the groomer, and he seemed to be feeling much better again as well as he hiked along at the CU South Campus trails without a noticeable limp. Colby was much more relaxed today than she has been recently. She wagged her tail as she trotted next to me, and didn't have any jumpy reactions to noises or anything the whole time we were out. Stella and Thompson were the most eager to greet dogs that we passed along our way, while Colby and Coco were content to just keep moving along. Colby did seem to get slightly nervous when a couple dogs passed by close to the pack, lured over by Thompson. She just picked her pace up a little bit and gave a wide berth to the other dogs while Thompson and Stella lingered for a moment to say hello, and Coco kept moving as though the other dogs offered nothing of interest to her.

Adventure Pack

Mamacita, Sputnik, Coco, and Rucksack all got pretty well soaked on our hike this morning.  We waded through a mist of sleet that hung in the air as we made our way along the trails at the Chautauqua.  We spotted a handful of other hikers making there way in raincoats, but none of them were of the four-legged variety.  Whereas on Monday, Mamacita ended the hike with soaking wet ears from Rucksack's lick, today the whole pack finished the hike with wet ears and more without any help from each other.

Play Pack

Thompson was especially vibrant today as we hiked the trails at CU South Campus.  He had a bounce in his step and he spent much of the time walking ahead, rather than lagging behind and taking his time to sniff around like he often does.  Stella kept up better than usual today, too, so we didn't end up lingering around for the oldies much at all today.  Perhaps their fleet-footedness was due to the rainy weather, which wasn't exactly conducive to hanging out and smelling the roses.  Isaac found a big stick right by the trailhead and carried it for the first stretch of our walk until he reached a gate that wasn't wide enough to accomodate his prize.  Benny joined the pack for our outing this afternoon and he was also in a lively mood as he followed his old friend Coco around as she blazed the trail ahead of us and identified points of interest for sniffing.  When Benny did linger behind to sniff out a spot more thoroughly, he made up for it by galloping back to the pack upon recognizing his delay.  Colby was feeling playful today, too, and made dodges and leaps around Coco whenever we crossed over a big puddle that required a bit of a leap to avoid.  I guess the little tests of coordination made Colby feel confident.  It was as if she thought, "If I got the best of that puddle, surely I can get the best of Coco!"  Coco made some playful moves in return, but I had Colby on leash so I didn't let them get too carried away.

Adventure Pack

Sputnik and Coco made playful moves with each other on the trails this morning.  Aside from that bout of leaps and dodges, they were both pretty mellow today and didn't pull at the leashes much.  Coco was actually more interested in sniffing around than Sputnik, and spent much of the hike a couple feet off the side of the trail, making her way through the brush.

Play Pack

Isaac, Thompson, and Coco walked the Boulder Creek Path this afternoon.  Isaac was bursting at the seams when we first set out, though he managed to avoid harassing his packmates.  He just kept bolting ahead and bolting back with every step.  Eventually, Isaac settled down and we got into a comfortable pace.  I kept Thompson on my right side because he seems to pull less there than when he's walking down the center of the sidewalk, and I'm trying to minimize any pulling of the leash since he has been struggling with some pain and stiffness in his shoulders lately.  

Adventure Pack

Colby joined Coco, Sputnik, and Mamacita for our hike this morning.  Coco and Sputnik both showed their enthusiasm to have Colby join us by sniffing at her ears and making playful dodges with her when they first hopped out of the packmobile at the trailhead.  After giving them a minute together, we set out for the hike.  Colby was a bit jumpy thoughout the hike, but she settled down for some periods and just sniffed around alongside her packmates.  Whenever she heard the sound of people talking in the distance or the machinery working on the trailhead improvements, she would look all around to try to pinpoint the intrusion.  Meanwhile, Mamacita, Coco, and Sputnik took all of that in stride, only stopping when things along the trail smelled particularly interesting.  Colby took to drinking water out of the CamelBak spout surprisingly quickly.  Many pack members have taken time to warm up to the practice - but after seeing Sputnik and Coco have a drink, Colby was right there lapping it up.  Of course, when the spout made a little squealing sound from the way I squeazed it, Colby immediately backed off and looked very concerned.  But a moment later, after I practiced my technique so as not to make any weird noises from the spout, Colby drank some more.

Play Pack

Coco was in a very playful mood this afternoon and actually managed to draw Thompson into some playful hopping and dodging.  After that, Thompson just walked the park and said hello to the handful of other dogs there, while Coco followed me around and chased down some tennis balls.

Adventure Pack

Sputnik and Coco enjoyed a hike on the almost completely empty Chautauqua trails this morning.  Although it was overcast, the rain mostly held off during our time out, so we stayed surprisingly dry.  Coco and Sputnik had a burst of playful energy and hopped around with each other, laying their faces side-by-side and then dodging away with silly, exagerrated movements.

Play Pack

The park was even more empty than the trails were with morning.  Isaac, Coco, Thompson and I were the only ones there for the duration of our visit.  Isaac and Coco had a blast chasing tennis balls in the rain.  After an initial walk through the park, Thompson went to the shelter at the center of the park.  I went and scratched his chest while avoiding the rain for a bit, and then ran around with Isaac and Coco in the rain and threw tennis balls for them some more.

Adventure Pack

The pack was excited to get on the trails when we arrived at the Chautauqua this morning.  Unfortunately, excitement translated into rudely barking at a Husky who rounded the corner to the block where we parked just after everyone had hopped out of the car.  Rucksack maintained his good manners, but Sputnik, Mamacita, and Coco all made a bit of a fuss before I brought them away from the sidewalk and had them sit and wait to let the Husky pass.  Once we were on the trails, everyone relaxed substantially and gave a much firendlier greeting to a sweet yellow Lab who came over to say hello.  Rucksack gave Mamacita's ears a lot of attention today and by the end of the hike her entire head was soaked from his licks.

Play Pack

Stella and Thompson took a slow pace as we walked around the perimeter of the Foothills Dog Park this afternoon, so I matched their pace while RogerRoger and Coco frolicked.  Colby seemed a bit anxious after only a short while at the park.  RogerRoger tried to play with her and she made a couple moves, but she made no attempt to chase him back or invite him to run more, so RogerRoger returned to wrestling around with Coco.  When we made our way back from our first loop, Colby went over to the gate and whined.  I put her on the leash at that point and we walked around the park some more.  Coco, RogerRoger, and Thompson all took an interest in a playful, young mutt.  Coco and Thompson were both so interested as to mount him a few times.  Later on, Colby showed some interest in another dog who entered the park so we went over to him and they sniffed hellos before the pack headed shortly thereafter.

Adventure Pack

Rucksack and Coco frolicked through the tall grass together in the rolling hills of the Ski Jump Trail at the Chautauqua this morning.  Sputnik looked on with excitement and made a few moves with playful poise as he watched his packmates, but settled down pretty quickly and accepted that he was staying on the leash with me and Mamacita.  Later on, Rucksack took off after some creature that evaded my detection.  Coco ran after Rucksack a bit but didn't go too far.  Sputnik and Mamacita both seemed to know what Rucksack was after, as they whined and stared intently in the direction Rucksack ran.  When Rucksack finally gave up and made his way back, he spent the rest of the walk on the leash.

Play Pack

Former packmates Oliver and Benny joined Coco and Colby for our afternoon outing today.  We headed to the CU South Campus trails again, for the third time this week.  Colby settled into the pace much more readily and without any nervous fuss this time around.  Benny and Oliver took their time as they sniffed along the edge of the trail.  Coco looked at me expectantly after I let her packmates off leash, but I kept her on after her foray into the muck last time.

Adventure Pack

Sputnik is always the most curious of the pack as he stops frequently to sniff out spots that interest him, and tends to try to pull off to the side of the trail in pursuit of scents.  Today was no exception.  Coco only stopped occasionally to check out her packmate's finds.  Most of the time, she just hiked along in pace right behind me and waited next to me while Sputnik did his thing.

Play Pack

Roger Roger gave Isaac some competition in playing fetch today, and managed to come away with the ball some of the time.  When Isaac got to it first, Roger Roger barked his frustration, occasionally earning a sharp retort from Isaac.  While Isaac schooled Roger Roger for his lack of social grace, he in turn displayed his own shortcomings in that regard by splashing about in the water bowls.  Ruffers also took it upon herself to eductate Roger Roger as she sometimes dove into him to interrupt his barking.  She tried to distract him with play-bows and wrestling, but Roger Roger was single-minded as long as there was a ball to be had.  Meanwhile, Coco followed closely at my heel around the park.  Thompson and Benny wandered around, greeting all the other dogs there.  Thompson's limp has been pretty noticeable lately, poor guy, but he's always happy to sniff some new behinds and get pets from whoever's giving them out.  Benny made some playful moves with one dog who caught his interest, but the other dog didn't return the sentiment and wandered off without paying him much attention.

Adventure Pack

Sputnik, Coco, and Mamacita enjoyed a nice hike on the busy trails at the Chautauqua this morning.  We passed by several dogs and lots of people, and everyone was friendly.  One little girl stopped and pointed at Coco, calling her by another name.  Her father explained that she looked just like their dog, and asked whether she was part Doberman.  I'm not entirely sure what mixes Coco, Mamacita, or Sputnik are and I was unable confirm his suspicion, but I let him know that she was supposed to be Lab and Sharpei by the Humane Society when she was a puppy.  Later on in the hike, Mamacita broke the calm by jumping at a man who passed us heading the other way along the trail.  It has been a long time since Mamacita has acted out like that on the trails, and it was especially unfortunate since the man had a baby strapped to him in a baby bjorn, but Mamacita was on the leash and i caught her quickly so she didn't come that near to him.

Play Pack

Rucksack and Coco kicked off our hike at the CU South Campus trails by trudging around in the muck, as Thompson had done at the the beginning of the week.  After ignoring my calls and diving in for a second time, they found themselves back on the leash.  Ruffers, who was off-leash along with them, stayed out of the much and retained her freedom; however, she spent much of the walk sidled up next to Rucksack anyway.  When we encountered a few friendly dogs, Colby and Roger Roger were both very excited to say hello.  Colby spun and danced around until she got next to a big yellow Lab, while Roger Roger was whining and stepping anxiously in place before I gave him some slack to go say hello.  After the whole pack got a good sniff, we continued on our way.  Thompson seemed a bit looser today than he has been in recent days, but he still seems to be operating with a slight limp in his gait.  We stopped at the pond to give Rucksack and Coco's legs a rinse, and Thompson and Ruffers both took the opportunity to get their paws wet as well.