Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Sage enjoyed lying in the snow periodically as we made our way along the trails today.  She and Coco had some playful bouts of bowing and batting at each other.  Wesley surprisingly didn't make any snow angels.  He wasn't into catching snowballs either, but Sage and Coco were happy to pick up the slack.

The Play Pack

Oscar has been hanging out more and more with dogs his own size lately, and he seems to play much le...

The Adventure Pack

Sputnik and Rucksack ran and ran in the snow together today.  The trails were nearly empty and they had a great time making full use of the open space.  Rucksack found a stick he liked and played keep-away from Sputnik for a while, then the two of them shared it and carried it as they walked behind me (though there were some tugs to try to steal it away from one another).

The Play Pack

Mamacita and Coco had fun racing ea...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Coco romped in the snow together and had a great time running up and down the trail.  Later on, Mama and Rucksack had a turn off leash.  Mama wandered off a bit but came back after I called Rucksack over and had everyone sit.  I squatted down along with Rucksack, Coco, and Benny and Mama saw us and ran right over to see what was going on.  After that, she went back on leash.

The Play Pack

Milo and Ben...

The Adventure Pack

Benny got into his habit of stopping in place again today.  Coco and Rucksack both spent most of the hike walking nicely at my side, although they did pull on a couple occasions while passing other dogs.  Benny and Rucksack both found some twigs to chew on; surprisingly, Rucksack didn't haul any big sticks.

The Play Pack

Mamacita, Benny, Milo, and Oscar all had a blast with each other at the park today.  Milo r...

The Adventure Pack

There's a huge rock along the Kohler Mesa trail with some pits worn out of it that collect rain, and the pack always likes to hop up and have a drink when we pass by it.  Benny, Sputnik, and Rucksack had no problem leaping up onto the tall boulder but Oliver couldn't find a way up for his little legs so I lifted him onto it so he could join his packmates.

The Play Pack

We had a brief snow/hail/rainstorm at the park today....

The Adventure Pack

Sage, Wesley, Coco, and Rucksack are exceptionally good at walking on leash together.  Rucksack and Coco both tend to pull more on other days but when in the company of Sage and Wesley they always seem to behave themselves extra well.  The pack calmly let several other dogs pass by us on the trails today without trying to bulldoze their way over to say hello.  It was very pleasant.

The Play Pack

Sputnik joined the P...

The Adventure Pack

Sputnik and Rucksack played tug-of-war over some choice sticks on the trails today.  Benny wasn't interested in joining them as he preferred hunting down the remaining patches of snow and chomping on mouthful after mouthful.  Oliver trotted along happily behind me both while he was on leash and off leash today.

The Play Pack

Coco rolled around in the grass with a wiry-coated dog named Stella who we sometimes see at the p...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack found a small stick to carry on the trails today and when he set it down for a moment Benny was right there to snatch it away and then play a round of keep-away from his packmate.  Later on in the hike, Coco and Benny discovered a carcass and it took some coaxing to get them to leave it behind.  Osito was still stubborn about sitting when asked, but had begun to respond more readily by the end of today's hike.

The ...

The Adventure Pack

We came across Zimbu today - a Rhodesian Ridgeback who knows Benny.  Coco and Zimbu ran around a lot together, and Benny joined in for a brief spurt.  Later on, Wesley and Benny saw some deer and ran after them, but didn't stray very far before turning around and heading back.  Rucksack opted for a pinecone to carry today instead of his usual stick.

The Play Pack

Mia found a blue rubber ball to chew on and spent mos...

The Adventure Pack

Most of the mud was dried up today, though there are some shaded stretches of the Mesa trail that are still covered in a layer of packed snow and ice.  Oliver often abstains from following scents on the trails but he joined Benny, Rucksack, and Sputnik in sniffing out spots today, and one sign post in particular had everyone's attention.  We lingered there for a couple minutes as everyone got a good noseful of whatever was so intriguing - probably sce...