Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Today's excitement started in the car when we parked along a shaded stretch of 8th street just by Chautauqua.  Half a dozen or more squirrels happened to be out and about, right in that shaded stretch, and they immediately caught the attentions of both Coco and Wesley.  There was a lot of rushing back and forth from one side of the car to the other while growling and pacing excitedly in place.  Once the squirrels dispersed a bit and Coco and Wesl...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack and Toskey explored side-by-side as we hiked today.  When one of them went off the side of the trail the other stopped and watched them until they came back.  Coco stayed at the head of the pack most of the time.  At one point, Mogul got playful and chased Coco a bit.  After that, Coco followed behind Mogul for a while instead of going up ahead.  When we passed by the creek at Gregory Canyon, Mogul lied down and lapped up some ...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack and Wesley were hot and panting on today's hike; although Rucksack still managed to carry a stick with him for the first half of the way.  We did two rounds of water from the Camelbak.  Everyone is very good at drinking from the spout.  Rucksack bites at the water instead of just licking but aside from what splashes back he gets most of it in his mouth.  Coco and Benny were very playful with one another.  Benny followed Coco as...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Rucksack stuck pretty close by again on the hike today.  Sometimes the pups seem to have endless energy, but the hot weather and relatively steep hike seem to be as tiring for them as for me.  Mogul dropped back to sniff around like he usually does and he wasn't very interested in catching up when I called to him.  Coco spent the return leg in her usual position as advance scout, checking out the trail ahead every 20 or 30 feet.  W...

The Adventure Pack

Wesley and Coco spent the first leg of our trip off leash together but there wasn't any playful romping today.  Wesley and Coco both put all of their energy just into hiking uphill.  Coco occassionally wandered a few steps off the side of the trail to sniff but didn't do the advance scouting that she usually does; Wesley just followed behind me the whole time.  On the way down, Rucksack was anxious to get to certain favorite spots along the trail...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack grabbed up a stick early in our hike and brought it most of the way up the Amphitheatre trail.  I was impressed by his stamina in the hot weather.  Benny wandered around and between his packmates just soaking in all smells and occassionally nibbling bark off the trees we passed.  Coco had a burst of silly, playful energy toward the end of the hike and ran around in the grass beside the trail then flopped onto her back and wiggled around....

The Adventure Pack

Toskey and Rucksack romped while Coco jumped up and down in place, watching them intently.  Toskey and Rucksack both managed to restrain themselves from rushing too far ahead as we approached the stream at Gregory Canyon.  They had a good splash once we got there.  Later, Coco ran around in circles in the tall grass while Mogul watched her.  A few times, Mogul pounced into the grass and Coco darted away and ran a big loop around us, then pas...

The Adventure Pack

Toskey and Rucksack romped while Coco jumped up and down in place, watching them intently.  Toskey and Rucksack both managed to restrain themselves from rushing too far ahead as we approached the stream at Gregory Canyon.  They had a good splash once we got there.  Later, Coco ran around in circles in the tall grass while Mogul watched her.  A few times, Mogul pounced into the grass and Coco darted away and ran a big loop around us, then pas...

The Adventure Pack

Wesley was back to following me for most of his off-leash time on the trails today while Rucksack did more exploring in the brush.  Rucksack got a big burr stuck to his side that I pulled out when we reached the top of the Amphitheatre trail.  I had the pack all sit for a picture and after I snapped a few shots Wesley walked over, turned to face his packmates, sat down, and leaned towards me.  He loves to be close.  I was surprised he stayed...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Rucksack really enjoyed each other on the trails today.  In the car, Benny often nibbles on Rucksack and Rucksack paws at him and whines at him.  On the trail, Rucksack was the instigator and kept running up to Benny and rubbing his head and neck against Benny's chest to kept him wound up.  Then Rucksack would hop back and Benny chased him around a bit until he lost interest, at which point Rucksack nosed nudged him around to play again...