Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack and Benny were very playful together today.  They started off in the car, where Benny nibbled on Rucksack's legs while Rucksack nosed him and barked in high-pitched, playful tones.  On the trails, they wreslted around a bit and then Benny found a small stick and got Rucksack to chase him around for it.  Wesley and Coco also had some fun together today, exploring off the trail a bit together and then running up side-by-side when I called ...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Rucksack took up the same positions they did yesterday: Rucksack in front and Benny in back.  Rucksack brought along a few different sticks for short stretches of our hike today and Coco carried along a couple of her own at different points.  They both tried to steal each other's stick away.  Oliver stayed close by for the whole hike, usually following right on Benny's heels.

The Play Pack

Charlie and Marl...

The Adventure Pack

Coco and Toskey were adventure buddies on today's hike.  They explored side-by-side and when we took breaks by the stream, Coco chased Toskey around.  Toskey enjoyed the attention and picked up a small stick to tease Coco and really get her going.  Benny and Rucksack were on opposite ends when they were off leash together - Benny took up the rear while Rucksack forged ahead.  I stopped several times to call Benny to catch up and to call Ruck...

The Adventure Pack

We took it slow today and lingered by the stream for a long while.  Keeping wet really got Wesley's energy up and for the first time in memory he was actually leading the pack up the trail instead of following behind.  Poor Benny stuck his curious nose into an anthill and ended up with a face full of ants.  He stepped out from the brush, flinching and twitching, and then I noticed the black flecks sticking to his whiskers.  He had about 4 or...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack was happy to splash around in the stream again today though not quite as exuberant as yesterday.  Mogul lied down for his usual soak while Coco and Benny meandered around the banks and trotted through the water.  Coco was the big stick carrier today; she started off with a small chunk of wood and then upgraded to a branch partway through the hike.  Benny and Rucksack both had a brief gnaw on it but Coco didn't give it over to either of t...

The Adventure Pack

Everyone was happy to splash around in the water during the beginning of today's hike but Rucksack was easily the most enthusiastic splasher.  Coco lied down in the water while Benny and Wesley walked around in it with calm and content smiles; Rucksack ran up and down the stream over and over, occassionally stopping and popping his head up and looking at me and his packmates as if to say, "AREN'T YOU EXCITED!?!"

The Play Pack

The Adventure Pack

Oliver stayed close for the whole hike today, either just ahead or just behind.  Meanwhile, Coco took her usual position several yards up the trail and played scout.  Benny's tummy was bothering him again today.  He was a little sluggish on the trails and he really stunk up the car.  Rucksack was enthusiastic throughout the hike and got a little ahead of himself (and me) when we were approaching the stream at the bottom of Greogory Canyon.&#...

The Adventure Pack

Mogul and Coco both bathed in the stream we passed at the beginning of our hike today while Rucksack and Toskey walked around in it and just got their paws wet.  Mogul had a kick in his step afterwards and took the lead for a while.  After Mogul started to lose a little steam, Rucksack picked up the lead.  On the way back down, Coco and Toskey ran from place to place together and then flopped down in the grass next to each other.  Toskey was...

The Adventure Pack

Coco was pretty rambunctious on the hike.  She's really gotten into the habit of wiggling around on her back in the tall grass alongside the trail.  Benny was in much better spirits and kept up the whole time without lagging.  Rucksack grabbed up a big hunk of wood a short way into the hike and ended up carrying it the entire rest of the time, all the way back to the car.  Wesley was right by my side the entire hike, as he usually is.  ...

The Adventure Pack

It sprinkled on us a bit during today's hike.  We took cover under a tree canopy for 5 or 10 minutes when the rain got a bit heavier and then moved on afterwards.  Coco was a bit hyper this morning.  She ran back and forth between Benny and Rucksack - nudging them with her nose or giving them a playful nip and then turning and bolting back to the other to do the same.  Benny was feeling much better today; he didn't lag behind as much as yest...