An insight on hiking with your dogs
While we were camping recently I had an insight – the “rules” for walking correctly don’t always apply. For instance, we were hiking and two of my dogs wear backpacks. They carry all the water for the group (for us and for them) and carry our lunch. They have a heavy load on their backs and need a bit of room to sway from side to side. It is frustrating and difficult to keep them close, like I usually do, because the packs keep banging into my legs, knocking both of us off balance. I tried for a spell, to keep them behind me but that was also unpleasant as they tended to drip their saliva down the backs of my legs (which is as gross as it sounds.) The solution? I hooked the leash onto the clip on the back pack (we use wonderful packs from RuffWear) and let them walk in front of me. In my opinion this is the perfect solution. They get to have all the room then need to do their “work” and I am free to walk unencumbered.
As you see, they are both working so hard they are staying pretty close by. It was a great solution to this problem. In addition, you’ll see my dog, Bella, on one of those extension leashes. Ordinarily I HATE those leashes as they are used in city walking and the dogs are usually out in front, extending the leashes to their maximum length. This is just a recipe for a whole host of problems, in my opinion. But on a hike, these leashes provide the dog with more room to explore while still being under your control. After a good long hike, you can see, they don’t really want to go that far in front anyway and if they are primarily walked close at hand, that’s where they’ll end up. So, with all things dog training, remember that rules usually need to be broken from time to time.
The important thing is to always ask yourself this question: Who is the leader here, and who is the follower?
More great birthday reunion photos
More great photos of Chloe‘s reunion posted on Photobucket. Password is Chloesgroup
Brady has grown into a good dog
I recevied a note from the owner of Brady (formerly known as Cupid from Annie‘s litter).
Kristin,
I wanted to write and let you know how wonderful of a dog Brady is. He is so eager to please and is currently in training classes which have taken him from a good dog to a great dog. I can not express how happy I am having rescued him. I am attaching a few pictures and will be getting some more soon . hope you like them!
Here is my response:
Lisa,
Thank you SO much for passing these photos on to me! I remember you well, wasn’t your other dog named Bella? I am very happy to hear that Brady is giving you so much love and is being a good boy. I get to see his brother, Donner now named Bauer, every Monday at a free, off leash playtime I run. It is great to get to see my babies all grown up! If you are ever in the St Charles area you have to bring him by for a visit!
Thanks again for the update – it means so much to me.
-Kristin
Another wonderful party
Chloe’s family reunion was a hit – again! What fun we all had even in the sweltering 90 degree heat. We just put out a huge bucket of water for the dogs, gave the kids those extra large squirt guns and all sat in what shade we could find. Again, I am convinced the dogs all remembered one another. At a gathering of dogs who do not know each other there is much more sniffing and posturing; they are all trying to figure out what sort of rank they will fall into. Not this group – they literally met each other at a full speed run, joined up nose to nose, and ran on together with only a few nose nudges and happy pants. It was one of those sights that makes you feel good – like your own heart is out there running fast with them. Very good time. More photos will be up shortly…
Beef & bacon birthday cupcakes!
Taste testing beef & bacon cupcakes!
Tomorrow is the 1 year birthday party for Chloe‘s puppies. They turned one at the end of April but this is the first day where all members of her family could attend. I made cupcakes for the party and then taste tested them. All three of my dogs LOVED them and scarfed them down in seconds. My son insisted on trying one and also loved it for a few bites. Then he got a piece of bacon in one and it sort of grossed him out and he stopped eating them. That was fine by me because they aren’t the healthiest things on the planet.
Here’s the recipe I used. I originally found a recipe online, but I didn’t follow it. I have a disease – I cannot follow a recipe for the life of me. I always change it. So, here is what I did:
Cream together until light and fluffy:
1 1/3 cups of butter
7 eggs
8 small baby food jars of beef and broth (the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen!)
Then add to this one pound of bacon, fried until crisp. I added the bacon cut into small pieces and the fat that came out as they fried. Mix well, then I add:
1 Tbs baking powder
3 cups of white flour (or enough to make a smooth cake batter)
And mix well again. Put in greased muffin cups and bake for about 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Made 16 cup cakes.
For the frosting I put a med. sized tub of large curd 4% milk fat cottage cheese and one 8 oz block of cream cheese in my Cuisinart and blended until smooth. I decorated with dog food to spell out:
“Happy 1st. Birthday!”
If you decide to make these, please let me know how they turned out!! Enjoy!
Moonlight goes boating
Received this note and photo from our recent foster, Moonlight‘s family…
Moonlight in a boat
Hi Kristin,
Here is Moonlight from today on his first boat/fishing trip. He did great! He had his nose in the wind half the time we were out on the lake. Yesterday, he was one of the stars of his first puppy obedience class! (And we totally adore him!)
Thank you for all you did for him and so many dogs. Hope all is well.
Best Regards,
Kathy
What a great picture! Look at those EARS!! Wow. He looks totally calm and at peace. I love that you love him so much. I am happy to do my part but you, opening your heart to him, did/will do it all. Thanks for the update and picture.
-Kristin
