Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Oliver is totally comfortable with his packmates now and really enjoys being out on the trail.  He led the way again for a lot of the time today.  Mogul discovered another piece of bone today.  He was very excited about it, but I traded him a treat for dropping it and when carried on and left it behind.  Coco and Rucksack got a lot of practice walking on leash without pulling.  I've tried a few different techniques with the pack members...

The Adventure Pack

Coco, Wesley, and Oliver hiked together again today.  Coco and Wesley weren't as playful today as yesterday.  I think the warmer weather leaves them a little less energetic.  Oliver led the pack a couple yards ahead for a lot of the hike.  We greeted several friendly dogs along the way today, including a pair of Golden Retrievers.  We also met a man who squatted down and called Oliver over when we were approaching, then pet Wesley as We...

The Adventure Pack

Oliver was more comfortable with the pack today when he filled in for his recovering brother.  He followed Coco all around and Coco hopped around him playfully a bit.  Coco and Wesley had a lot of fun together today, too.  At one point, Coco was a little bit up the trail and Wesley was on his way toward her when Coco spun around and ran to him.  They dodged and hopped around each other and proceeded to run in circles together until Wesley fl...

The Adventure Pack

Mogul and Toskey had a lot of fun together today.  Toskey teased Mogul with a stick and got him to chase her around in circles, and then after a standoff Mogul came away with the stick and Toskey chased him around.  Rucksack spent the hike on-leash since he's recently lost my trust to stay with me and his packmates when I let him off.  We worked a bit on his on-leash manners by stopping when he got ahead and standing with the leash tense as he tr...

The Adventure Pack

Coco and Wesley were very playful with one another today.  Coco kept running in big circles away from Wesley and back, and when she came close Wesley moved toward her and then they both dodged each other.  Rucksack was unresponsive when I was calling him back to me again today, so he had to go back on leash.  It looks like he's going to have to stay on leash for a while until I can trust him again.  I'd love for him to be able to run around ...

The Adventure Pack

Coco and Rucksack were both feeling a bit too independent today.  Each wandered off pretty far from the trail and ignored me when I called them to stop and come back.  When they finally did make their ways back, they had to stay on leash for the rest of the hike.  Benny didn't wander far when he was off leash, but he had an unfortunate encounter of his own.  There was a man and his 2 young daughters sitting on a rock right along the trail ha...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack tried teasing Wesley with a stick he found.  Wesley followed him around a little bit, but then decided that the scents along the trail were more interesting.  Coco tried stealing Rucksack's stick from him while Rucksack was on leash, but I interrupted her and made her be more polite while Rucksack was on leash and not free to run with her.  I'm concerned about letting them off leash together because in recent weeks they've gone way up ah...

The Adventure Pack

Benny is definitely a follower.  When he was off leash with Coco, he followed her all around, going where she went and sniffing where she sniffed.  They occassionally broke out into a brief game of "catch me if you can!"  With Wesley, he did the same thing: followed him where he went and sniffed where he sniffed - except their game was more of a wrestle that started with Benny nudging Wesley and nibbling on his fur.  Wesley would ignore him ...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Coco hopped around together on the hike today.  They're very cute together.  Once when Coco stopped to shake herself off, Benny looked at her and then followed suit and shook himself off too.  Mogul chased Toskey a little bit on the trails today.  Later, he came out of the brush alongside the trail with what looked like a stick, and he was very proud of himself.  Toskey followed him all around trying to get it.  I coaxed ...

The Adventure Pack

I let Oliver off leash with Wesley today so he could get to know someone other than his brother.  They didn't interact much, but Oliver was following Wesley around by the end.  Wesley played scout during our hike - trotting up ahead to a crest or a bend and then looking back and waiting for us to catch up to him, and then trotting up ahead to the next spot.  Benny and Coco enjoyed each other today.  Benny had fun bowing and wiggling around i...