Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Coco and Wesley had a lot of fun on today's hike.  They hopped around in the snow together for a little while early on.  Later, we came across a couple friendly Boxers with their people, who were hiking the same way as us.  The four dogs were fast friends and all ran around in a train together until we eventually parted ways.

The Play Pack

The park was almost empty today, presumably because of all the mud....

The Adventure Pack

When we reached the far end of our hike today and turned around, Mogul suddenly got a burst of energy that lasted all the way back.  He bounded down the trail ahead and back when I called him.  When we came across another dog, he broke out into spins.

The Play Pack

Maverick was hesitant to enter the park because there was a big puddle at the gate and he didn't want to get his paws wet.  He stepped lightly for a lit...

The Adventure Pack

We hiked a long way up the Shanahan North Fork today, right up to the base of the sheer mountain.  Coco and Wesley still had plenty of energy, though.  We practiced sitting politely at the side of the trail when people and other dogs passed by and they did a very good job for the most part.  There were a couple occassions when the other dogs were off leash and rushed right over to us, though, and then Wesley and Coco both leapt up out o...

The Play Pack

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!  Coco and Maverick certainly enjoyed themselves at the park today!  Maverick started off in a social and playful mood.  When a pack of 4 dogs ran by, he started chasing along with them.  Coco bolted to the end of the park to greet her human friends, as usual, then came sprinting back to me.  She kept rubbing up against my legs with her neck, shoulders, and back to transfer scents.  La...

The Adventure Pack

Coco, Benny, Wesley, and Rucksack were all very good on the hike today.  We practiced sitting politely by the side of the trail and letting other dogs pass without swarming around them and everyone did a good job each of the 3 or 4 times we did it.  Coco did get a little worked up when a jogger stopped with his dog a few yards away to chat for a minute but she stayed with me after her initial attempt to pull me over to them.

The Adventure Pack

Toward the end of today's hike, Mogul started waiting behind for a little while and then bounding down the hill past me.  Benny got excited and hopped around goofily when Mogul came running by.  Then Mogul waited again as we headed further back down the trail, and then he came running up again.  Oliver wasn't as impressed as Benny by Mogul's playful behavior, as he just trotted alongside me.

The Play Pack

Maverick ...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Oliver mostly stayed on the trail again today, though Benny wandered off to follow his nose through the snow every now and then.  Wesley was excited to get out on the trails and pulled a bit early on but then settled back into his usual position, following right behind me.  We bumped into packmate Rucksack who was out hiking with his human grandpa and Coco and Benny were both very excited to see him.

The Play Pack

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Oliver stuck close by as they explored the smells along the trail while off leash with each other.  Rucksack was pulling quite a bit so we worked on his on-leash walking.  Every time he started pulling ahead consistently, we turned around and took several strides in the other direction before heading back down the trail.  Coco was along for the ride and kept her attention on me without pulling ahead.  By the end of the hike, R...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack carried a huge stick today for the first time in a while.  He hauled it along for about half the hike.  Coco gnawed on it for a little bit when Rucksack set it down to take a break.  She tried to swing it around like she does when she teases other dogs with a smaller stick or a tennis ball but she only managed to drag it a few feet.  Toskey had a good run with Rucksack and Mogul played his trail guarding game with Rucksack.

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The Adventure Pack

Wesley had fun making doggie snow angels in patches of untouched snow off the side of the trail today.  Coco watched with a bit of confusion and whined as if to say "Wesley's being weird, do something!"  Afterward, Benny frolicked around in front of Wesley and got him to chase him up the trail a bit.  Rucksack was particularly in a mood to pull on the leash today and I tried a new method of getting him (and his packmates) to keep his attenti...