Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Toskey was into pulling on the leash during the first half of today's outing but she settled down and stayed by my side for the later half.  Mogul wanted to stop every 5 minutes to mark various spots along the way.  Coco and Toskey hopped around together and played with a stick while Mogul rolled around in the snow.

The Play Pack

Mogul and Coco had a fun time diving on a tennis ball as I kicked it around for them. ...

The Adventure Pack

Wesley and Coco attentively watched some squirrels we passed by at a few different point during today's walk.  We also saw a big, green, ribbon-like strip of paper that was flailing about in the wind and the whole pack thought took it for a living creature.  Wesley's impulse was to run straight for it; Coco stared curiously; Benny gave a suspicious "woof" and hesitated for a few steps.

The Play Pack

Coco had fun to...

The Adventure Pack

The paths were mostly clear this morning of yesterday's snowfall but there was plenty of snow alongside it for the pups to frolick in, eat, and bury their faces.  Benny and Rucksack were the most excited about doing those things.  Mogul liked sniffing in the snow but he wasn't as animated about it.  Coco wanted to keep moving forward for the whole walk and pulled a bit on the leash, which is unusual for her.

The Play Pa...

The Adventure Pack

Benny barely stopped at all during the entire walk today.  The few times he did, I just had to touch his collar and he started walking again.  We had a good long walk at a quick pace.  Rucksack carried along a couple small chunks of wood at different points.  Benny picked up one that Rucksack left behind toward the end and carried it back to the car.  Oliver barked at passing dogs a couple times and both times the people walking them ob...

The Adventure Pack

Toskey was back in the pack today after her holiday break; she and her packmates were happy to see each other.  Rucksack walked alongside Toskey as they both did a lot of sniffing off the side of the path.  Mogul only veered off occasionally and it was always to leave a scent mark and then kick up some dirt.  Coco was great today and very friendly when a woman came over to us to say hello to all the pups.  Sometimes Coco dodges stranger...

The Adventure Pack

Benny got over his stopping habit today and I now I know how to get him to keep walking - calling his name didn't work, a tug on the leash didn't work, holding out a treat worked briefly, nudging his butt ahead kind of worked; but holding his collar directly without using the leash and drawing him forward worked like a charm!  Wesley was tempted by both squirrels and ducks today, who are out to enjoy this stint of nice weather we've had.  Rucksack and...

The Adventure Pack

Mogul tried rolling around in a snow bank but I had to interrupt him because I didn't want to him to disturb the cyst on his back.  Benny was back to his habit of suddenly stopping periodically but I kept him going by walking behind him and nudging his butt.  Rucksack pulled on the leash quite a bit a first but eventually settled down and walked more with his packmates.  Oliver kept pace but I had to keep rearranging the leashes so his wouldn't g...

The Adventure Pack

We took a more leisurely stroll today, partly because Benny returned to his habit of stubbornly stopping in place.  Wesley, Rucksack, and Coco all enjoyed getting well acquainted with the smells alongside Boulder Creek as we went.  Wesley and Coco caught sight of a squirrel at one point and instantly went stiff, so we paused and all sat for a moment so they could calm down.

The Play Pack

Benny spent a lot of time lickin...

The Adventure Pack

Everyone was very good on today's walk along the Boulder Creek Path.  Oliver got a little worked up when another dog passed us, and he barked, but he stopped promptly and his packmates all provided a good example of how to pass politely - even Coco, who sometimes gets overexcited herself.  Benny kept pace the whole walk until the last stretch when he began stopping in place as he's done before.  It didn't take too much coaxing to get him to conti...

The Adventure Pack

Coco practiced sitting politely beside the trail to let others pass since she sometimes gets a bit too worked up.  We also worked on shaking on command after she sits, to keep her engaged as the people or dogs pass by.

The Play Pack

Benny was very excited to see his friends, both in the pack and at the park.  He licked at Maverick's face when he first hopped into the car but Maverick grumbled at him.  Benny receive...