Leader of the Pack

Adventure Pack

We tried out the Saddle Rock trail today.  There's a big stream that runs along the lower half of the trail, and the pack was eager to get their paws wet.  We took short breaks on the way up and then a longer one to let everyone splash around when we got back down the mountain.  We came across a few friendly dogs who wanted to say hello and the pack greeted them nicely.  Sputnik just sniffed and Roger Roger didn't jump all over his packmates with excitement.  Mamacita is getting more and more used to drinking from the spout and had her fill of water on the trails today.  Benny took some urging to get him up the hill while Milo, who has several years on him, did a great job keeping pace.  Rucksack was especially eager to get in the water and we practiced a bit of patience when we got near the stream and he wanted to drag me over to it with him.  After he collected himself, he got to enjoy splashing and lapping up the fresh stream water.

Play Pack

There was a big Ridgeback at the park today who made Benny look like a runt.  The two of them spent a while walking around together and sniffing each other to get acquainted.  Sputnik followed them, too, and gave the new Ridgeback lots of kisses.  Later, Mamacita, Benny, Thompson, and Stella all lay down in the shade while Sputnik wandered around, sniffing out the area.  Sputnik fetched a tennis ball just a few times before deciding it took too much energy.  After a bit of lounging, I got Stella, Mamacita, and Sputnik to join me as I jogged around the park and then back to the shady southern end while Thompson and Benny waited for our return.  Sputnik joined in a chase with a few other dogs, which was led by Chester, a Labradoodle and park regular who was carrying a prize tennis ball.  Sputnik wasn't sure how to join in at first and kept waiting around the bend to jump out at the pack, but found that he was easily dodged and ignored.  After several passes, he joined in behind them and then ran alongside with everyone instead of unsuccessfully attempting to ambush them.