Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Benny wasn't the only one looking to stop and take breaks during today's hike.  Toskey was almost as interested, and Coco and Rucksack certainly didn't mind stopping every so often, either.  We took one long break in the shade halfway through our hike and the pack sat politely at the side of the trail as other hikers and their dogs passed by.

The Play Pack

Oscar, Benny, and I hung out at the shady end of the Valmont dog ...

The Adventure Pack

Oso joined the Adventure Pack for the first time today.  He's a big boy, but he behaved himself very well so it wasn't too tough to manage him along with his packmates.  There were several times when everyone practiced sitting and waiting at the side of the trail while another dog or a group of hikers passed by us.  Oso wanted nothing to do with the stream of water from the Camelbak spout.  Coco has quickly gotten used to it again, and even ...

The Adventure Pack

The trails weren't very busy today.  A couple runners passed us and I watched Coco closely since she's been freaked out by runners on the trails in the past.  She stayed calm and sat when I asked her too.  Rucksack, Benny, and Oliver were all calm and sat at the side of the trail to let them pass, too.  At one point later on, Benny sat down almost on top of Oliver and didn't even seem to notice.

The Play Pack

O...

The Adventure Pack

Coco and Rucksack had a great time together on the trails today.  We avoided the Amphitheatre/Saddle Rock trails since, in addition to signs posted about seasonal bear activity, there was a relatively fresh pile of bear poop right in the middle of the trail entrance at the Gregory Canyon trailhead.  Instead, we crossed over the base mountain along the Bluebell-Baird trail.

The Play Pack

Benny has already seemed to have a...

The Adventure Pack

We're heading back to the Chautauqua area trails this month.  We made quick progress up the Amphitheatre trail today and then continued up the Saddle Rock trail.  Benny enjoyed a break in a little cave alongside the trail and Rucksack and Coco sniffed around after him.  Oliver had no trouble keeping pace on the steep hike, as usual.

The Play Pack

We returned to the Valmont dog park for the first time since the renov...

The Adventure Pack

There was apparently a bear at Eben G. Fine park yesterday and Coco, Benny, and Rucksack all seemed to notice the scent.  They spent a good 15-20 minutes just sniffing around the park when we first set out today.  Their noses were glued to the ground that entire time.

The Play Pack

Morgan had his second pack outing today.  He was very eager to go around and greet the dogs at the park when we first got in.  He w...

The Adventure Pack

We made slow progress along the path today as Benny and Rucksack thoroughly sniffed out the surroudings.  We came across a young man in a wheelchair who was out with his mom and the pups were very friendly.  They were standing just off the path and as we neared them, Rucksack walked over and leaned right against the woman's leg.  Benny put his head in the lap of the young man and then, on request, I picked Oliver up so he could pet him in his lap...

The Adventure Pack

A new pack member joined us for today's Adventure Pack: Morgan!  Morgan is a sweet Australian Shepherd and he got along well with Coco and Rucksack on today's outing.  He really likes to keep moving and whenever we stopped - for me to bag some poop or just to get everyone's attention - he kept looking up the trail ahead and whimpering as if to say, "What's the hold up? I just want to go!"  His eagerness to continue was apparent while walking, as ...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack and Benny both had their noses to the ground for much of today's walk, following along just off the side of the path.  Oliver gave a sniff whenever his packmates seemed to find something interesting, but wasn't as dedicated a scenter as them.

The Play Pack

Coco played a lot of fetch today and Oscar got in a few retrievals as well.  Coco was much better about leaving the ball after dropping by me, instead of dar...

The Adventure Pack

It started off hot today but cooled off a bit as a breeze rolled in with some clouds.  We took a long break in the Creek about halfway through our walk.  Rucksack again walked in circles around me, in and out of the Creek, doing his best to get his leash tangled up with his packmates'.  Luckily, I was able to keep up.  Meanwhile, Coco lied down in the stream, Wesley stood, and Benny wandered back and forth at the edge of the water.  Ben...