Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Wesley made the most of the patches of snow that still remain along the trails.  Benny scooped up bites of snow whenever he could while Wesley found the perfect spot for a doggie-snow-angel.  Coco sniffed around but wasn't particularly interested in the snow.  Wesley and Coco growled at the first couple dogs who passed by us on the trail, so we all sat down and relaxed for several minutes.  Afterward, a few other dogs passed by in ...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Rucksack both scratched and licked at the same frozen puddle that Coco did yesterday.  Neither of them had any more success in turning the ice to water for their efforts.  Oliver has been getting better at sitting and waiting his turn when I give out treats, instead of jumping on my leg and barking for attention like he used to.

The Play Pack

My sister, Heather, came to the park with us again today and threw/k...

The Adventure Pack

Toskey scooped up a snowball along the trail today and Benny chased her around for it.  Later on, Toskey and Coco alternated keep-away with a stick Coco found.  Coco tried drinking water from a little pool in a rock only to find that it was frozen.  She scratched at it, frustrated, to no avail.  She and Benny ran around in circles together as we made our way back to the trailhead.

The Play Pack

Maverick and Be...

The Adventure Pack

Benny and Wesley had a great time running alongside the trail together.  Inevitably, Wesley would end up flopping over in the snow while Benny leapt and bowed around him.  At that point, Coco tried to join in but she was on leash.  Rucksack wandered off, frolicking in the snow by himself and seemingly forgetting about the rest of us despite my attempts to call him back, which were fruitless until he had his fill.

The Play Pa...

The Adventure Pack

Rucksack and Benny both ate a lot of snow off the trail today.  Oliver was much better about coming when I called today.  He followed along behind me for most of the hike.  Coco has been more mellow about other dogs on the trail this week and easier to manage.

The Play Pack

Benny was especially playful at the park today.  He went around from dog to dog, bowing and licking faces, trying to get someone intereste...

The Adventure Pack

The wind was wild today!  At one point, when I felt a big gust, I saw Wesley trotting straight along the trail in front of me yet sliding from one side of the trail to the other as the wind pushed him.  Rucksack grabbed up a twig early on in the hike and when Benny tried to steal it, it snapped in two.  Benny paraded around with his half while Rucksack chewed the remainder apart and left it behind.  Coco was particularly interested in sniffi...

The Adventure Pack

We passed by the same snowman today as yesterday and even less of its head was remaining.  The pack was much less interested in it today and barely gave it a sniff.  Coco was much better behaved today than she had been last week, and stayed more calm at my side when we passed other dogs on the trail.  Rucksack and Benny had a few bouts of tug-of-war over a small, frayed stalk of some plant.  Oliver went up to greet a yellow Lab on the trail ...

The Adventure Pack

We came across a cute little snowman along the trails today and the pack immediately took interest.  Coco backed up and watched it warily, as if it were going to spring to life at any moment.  Rucksack went right up and gave it a good sniff.   Benny sniffed at it for a bit and then pawed at it, taking out a chunk from the back of its head.  After seeing her packmates sniffing it without any reaction from the snowman, she came over and g...

The Adventure Pack

There were a lot of other dogs out on the trails today and many of them were on leash.  The pack was on leash for today's hike, as well.  Wesley and Benny stayed on due to their recent chase after a skunk that luckily turned out much less smelly than it could have.  Coco was being unfriendly toward others on the trail from the beginning of today's hike, so she stayed on.  And I wanted to work more with Rucksack on walking without pulling ahe...

The Adventure Pack

The pack did a lot of sniffing again today.  The snow blankets the smells and mutes them, so I think the pups are excited by the return of their world of odors as the snow melts.  Rucksack, Benny, and Coco would all convene at one spot to give it a thorough check while Oliver waited aside until they were done.  Then, Oliver went over and took his turn.  There was one spot where even I could tell what they were smelling - skunk.  It was ...