Leader of the Pack

Adventure Pack

Benny was a good hiker as usual.  He followed closely behind throughout and even when his nose started to draw him off the trail he was responsive when I called him back to join the group.  Roger Roger found a stick on the trail and carried it for a short while.  Later on, Rucksack found a stick and as soon as he picked it up his little brother had to try to steal it.  Rucksack gave it over without much of a fight and Roger Roger carried that st...

Adventure Pack

Roger Roger, Rucksack, Milo, Mamacita, and Thompson might all be famous in Finland soon.  A reporter and photojournalist visiting from there took notice of the pack and asked me a few questions.  They are working on a story about health and fitness in America and were looking for explanations as to why Colorado is among the leanest States in the Union.  I don't think I had much of value to offer them, but after we talked they snapped some photos of u...

Adventure Pack

Oliver started the hike at the back of the pack and finished it at the front, as he often does.  One friendly hiker wanted to guess the breeds of the pack members.  He correctly guessed the Benny was a Rhodesian Ridgeback; he mistook Rucksack for a Schnauzer.  I told him I wasn't certain whether Roger Roger as a Labradoodle or a Goldendoodle and he stopped trying to guess at that point.  Meanwhile, Sputnik, Roger Roger, and Rucksack were all sta...

Adventure Pack

It was a beautiful day for hiking!  Mamacita is ever so gradually growing more and more comfortable with the Camelbak spout, though it still takes a little coaxing.  Meanwhile, Benny was so eager to have a drink that he tried to nose in on Milo's turn.  I addressed Benny and had him sit back politely to wait his turn until Milo was finished.  At the end of our hike, Rucksack and Roger Roger were approached by two intact female Labradoodles whom,...

Adventure Pack

Benny and Milo took their time together again on the trails, catching up when I stopped and called them.  Roger Roger again had some fun chewing on his big brother's ears during the last leg of the hike, while Rucksack himself was busy sniffing at Milo's ears.  Mamacita has been grown gradually more and more comfortable drinking water from the Camelbak, though I still need to hold a hand under her chin to keep her from turning away at first.  Once sh...

Adventure Pack

Oliver barked at a passing group of three dogs as the pack sat at the side of the trail to let them go by.  Oliver's reaction spurred Sputnik on to give a growl, but both of them settled down quickly and then proceeded to let two other dogs go by without any harassment.  Benny and Rucksack enjoyed a drink of water that had pooled in an indentation on a boulded and then both came running enthusiastically to catch up with the rest of the pack.  Roger R...

Adventure Pack

Roger Roger didn't find any sticks to carry on the trails today - or at least none that he found interesting enough to bother with.  Thompson and Mamacita were both very interested in exploring in the brush alongside the trail.  Rucksack was interested in grooming Milo again near the end of our hike.  Milo hiked along unperturbed by his packmate's attentions.

Play Pack

Sputnik enjoyed running along with Isaac and r...

Adventure Pack

Roger Roger and Sputnik had a contest to see who could open their mouth the widest while they trotted side-by-side along the trail.  There was no clear winner.  Benny led a group of kids who followed behind him as we made out way down Bluebell Road back to the parking area.  When we first passed by the kids, they all giggled at Benny's sweet, dopey demeanor as he sniffed them in passing.  Benny lingered behind a bit and then walked at the front ...

Adventure Pack

Roger Roger found a stick to carry early on in the hike and surprisingly kept ahold of it for more than half of the way.  Just as surprising, Rucksack showed no interest in stealing the stick or grabbing it up after Roger Roger was done with it.  However, shortly thereafter Roger Roger and Rucksack both spotted another stick and then they played some tug-of-war over it.  And ended up each taking a turn carrying it on the last leg of the hike.  M...

Adventure Pack

We stopped at the stream again today and everyone enjoyed a dip except Benny, who decided to stay dry.  Mamacita hesitated a bit at first, too, but then made the plunge.  Rucksack had a renewed interest in Milo's ears today and kept going back to lick at them.  Milo was unfazed by the attention and just hiked along as if Rucksack wasn't persistently licking him.  Roger Roger surprisingly kept to himself for most of the hike, save for jumping on ...