Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Toskey enjoyed roaming a bit off the trail today, letting her nose guide her.  Rucksack and Benny had a lot of fun running and playing with each other when they took their turn off leash.  Coco had a very hard time letting her packmates have fun without her.  She spazzed out several times while walking on leash with me, whenever Benny and Rucksack seemed to be particularly enjoying themselves or whenever they ran back to the rest of us when I cal...

The Adventure Pack

It was a bit windy out on the trails today.  Coco was amped up from the beginning of the hike and impatient about her packmates who were interested in sniffing around the trailhead.  Wesley sat down to scratch an itch at one point and started groaning, presumably with satisfaction at finding the right spot.  Coco leapt over to him and gave an inquisitive look as he quietly rumbled.  As we continued on our way back down, Benny became very per...

The Adventure Pack

Sputnik loves Benny.  I let them off the leash together today because I knew Sputnik would just follow Benny wherever he goes so I didn't have to worry about him running off.  He stayed right by Benny's side the whole time, nosing his ears and mouthing his legs and face periodically.  Rucksack and Oliver were much less physical during their off-leash time and mostly just sniffed along the trail.

The Play Pack

Maebe ...

The Adventure Pack

Sage and Coco had a great time chasing each other around along the trails today!  They were very playful with one another but at the same time they were quick to stop and come when I called them.  Later, when it was Rucksack and Wesley's turn off leash, Wesley walked dutifully behind me the entire time while Rucksack hauled a pretty substantial log down from the mountain.

The Play Pack

Oscar played a bit with a couple Ja...

The Adventure Pack

Oliver and Benny explored off leash together today on our way up the Third Flatiron.  Rucksack and Sputnik both wanted to join their packmates but we practiced walking together and stopping/walking the other way when they started to pull ahead, and before long they were both walking very well by my side; though in some moments of frustration, Sputnik turned to Rucksack and started biting at his legs.  Rucksack didn't seem to enjoy it, so I had Sputnik...

The Adventure Pack

We keep meeting Benny's Ridgeback friends on the trails lately!  Benny and Rucksack ran over to say hello while Coco and Toskey made it clear that they wanted to be off the leash with their packmates.  They got their chance later on during the return leg of our hike up the Third Flatiron.  Then, Toskey played keep-away from Coco with a stick she found.

The Play Pack

Milo was a bit more playful than he has usually be...

The Adventure Pack

Wesley and Benny had a blast in the snow together.  They'd run with each other until Wesley decided to lie down in the snow, and then Benny would hop around him and run in circles until he was ready to get up and run again.  Later on, Coco and Rucksack made the most of their chance to romp in the snow.  Coco follows Rucksack like a hawk and tries to direct him like a herding dog, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't actually have any herding breeds in...

The Adventure Pack

Sputnik had a great time on his first pack outing in the snow!  He's so interested in his packmates that I felt comfortable letting him off the leash for a bit to run around with them, because I knew he'd stay close and just go wherever they went.  Benny and Sputnik had a good run together and both ate mouthsful of snow.  Rucksack also chomped on his fair share of powder.  We came across two of Benny's Ridgeback friends again and he and Ruck...

The Adventure Pack

Sage and Benny both tried to steal a stick that Rucksack carried along for today's hike.  Neither were successful, and both just ended up chewing the ends while Rucksack held onto it.  Wesley trotted along beside Rucksack without taking particular note of his packmate's treasure.  Coco was more interested in smells than in sticks.

The Play Pack

Benny and Milo went on a few runs together at the park today.  Oso ...

The Adventure Pack

Sputnik had a good time chewing Benny's ears whenever Benny was in a mood to let him.  Rucksack was less accepting of his new packmate's attempts to use his legs as chew toys, and hopped away whenever harassed - although sometimes that was difficult because Sputnik likes to slip between the legs of his taller packmates.  Oliver has communicated his boundaries effectively with Sputnik and doesn't get bothered as much as the big dogs.

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