Hiking in is a WHOLE lot slower than hiking out!

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I've been taking Yogi hiking on a few trails near us. On the start of our hike he has to smell every blade of grass, tree stump, horse poop, etc, but on the way out he's all business :-). I noticed several hikes ago he seemed to know the way out because these trails have many forks and options of ways to head, but he consistently chooses the right path.

So now when we head back he leads the way, not stopping for anything, he's going at a pretty fast walk, I have to run a fair amount of the time to keep up (good exercise for me). He pauses and glances back at me a lot to see if I'm keeping up (on a 12' lead we use for hiking).

But I just have found this pretty cool that he knows the way out. He's my little compass. You guys find this to be true? Is it the retriever part of them?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it's probably the tracking part of them, which is what makes retrievers good hunting dogs. :)

JD could find his way home from just about anywhere within at least a mile radius of our house. 

[BG and Gavin]

While hiking, one of our guests was out front with Gavin and he looked back for direction on which way he should go...follow the dog, he knows the way.  If Gavin gets a bit too far ahead we will duck behind a tree.  When he turns to check on us and we are not there he comes running back at top speed.  He does not want to lose his humans!  He will keep a better eye on us after a "scare."

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD also keeps circling back to make sure I'm still following him when we walk the trails in the forest preserves. He is always more concerned about losing me than I am about losing him, lol.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

I would have to agree! Both Bentley and Maserati are always checking in on me. I don't have to worry about them going very far!

[Robin and Libby Louise]

LOL - sometimes when Libby is off leash in the park area near her house, and busy exploring, we hide behind a tree.  As soon as she realizes she can't see us she runs like the wind back to the path to find us.  I don't ever fear her running away!

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Aww so cute. I'm not quite confident enough yet to have yogi off leash. When did you start to trust your dogs off leash?

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Libby's mom and I know that she will never run away.  She's too dependant.  But the only time I'm even semi-comfortable with her being off-leash is in that park area near their house.  There are no streets with cars around so I don't worry about that danger.  Libby is 7, her mom has let her off-leash in this park area for at least 3-4 years.  She has also walked her around the neighborhood with Libby off-leash so Libby can run up to greet all her human friends.  I hate that and won't do it if I walk her by myself.  Libby is a great dog but when push comes to shove, if she saw a bunny across the street I don't know 100% if she would come when called.  I live in fear of her running into the street and being hit by a car.  When I have her at my house for our weekly sleepovers, I never have her off-leash when we're outside.

[Adina P]

Speaking of chasing bunnies...

On Easter, I had Rosco on a tie out in the front yard while I pulled weeds and the kids played on the lawn.  Just as I had called Clark out there to hold a big trash bag open so I could fill it, Rosco caught sight of the neighbor's chihuahua (they have two that frequently escape their yard) and hightailed it across the street after it.  Clark tried to chase him down but couldn't catch him.  Rosco was trailed by the leash and metal ground stake the leash had been attached to.  Luckily the chi ended up running back to his house, his little girl opened the gate and let Rosco go in too and the chase ended INSIDE the chi's house.  Nobody was hurt, but they had us thoroughly frightened.

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Yep - I would have passed out from fright after it was all over.  Thankfully another story that ended well.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This is scary and it happens so quickly.  Gordie who NEVER runs out the door when we open it, once saw a cat and took off at warp speed right across the street chasing it.  Luckily, no cars were coming down the street. 

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

OMD, right into the neighbor's house?! Whoops! Lol Glad all ended well!

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin would never run away (he would be a fool to, as he would never have a life as good as he has with us LOL) but I too would not trust him not to take off after a squirrel and cross a street without looking.  He is only off leash at the cottage and in areas where there are no cars.