Leader of the Pack

The Adventure Pack

Coco and Rucksack always have a lot of fun when they're off leash together on the hike.  I use to worry that Coco was sometimes too pushy with Rucksack but he always goes back for more.  Coco was a little difficult to round up today when it was Mogul and Benny's turn to go off leash.  It's happened a handful of times over the past few weeks that when I call her she thinks I'm trying to play a game like she plays with the other dogs, and she stays out of arm's reach.  I was glad when she finally came and resolved to work with her to stop that habit from going any farther.  Mogul bounded up and down the trail today with lots of energy.  Benny ate a lot of snow again.

The Play Pack

I spent our time at the park calling the pack members to me when they weren't too distracted, petting them in a calming, massage-like way when they came, and then giving them a treat.  Mogul and Benny were great at coming from the start but I still did with them now and then to reinforce the good habit.  Coco was wary and seemed to think that if she came close enough for me to grab her then she "lost" but I was eventually able to coax her over to me.  Through the visit she became more relaxed when I called her and she started coming right to me.  Meanwhile, Mogul had a lot of fun with a Golden Retriever and Benny played with an 11 month old St. Bernard who intimidated him a bit due to his size.  When the St. Bernard ran toward him, he yelped and came over to me.  But then a minute later he was standing in front of his new friend and nudging him to play.