Our Wild (life) Walk!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Today, I had big plans and was going to get a ton of stuff done, or so I thought. Vern and Fudge were supposed to go to the dog sitter for the day, but she called this morning and was sick. Ok, change of plans. I decided to do something with each dog individually.

First up was Vern and we went to the dog park. It is a pretty long drive over there and guess what...no dogs at the dog park. We waited a bit and Vern was having a good time running all over the place and he even located a toy in a tree and actually stood under it for a little while. What a hound dog :) Finally, a couple of dogs came, he played and we went home.

Fudge was next and we went for a walk on our PA Rail Trail. I decided to let her enjoy the scenery and the trail and not worry about any training. She did great. We saw lots of wild life and some not so wild life. Of course, the first thing we ran into was a ground hog. Next, we saw a beautiful Heron just standing in the field. We passed 16 cows, one black cat, a squirrel, lots of birds, ducks, a furry dog, a man with long grey hair, and on the way home, a hawk.

Yesterday, on our walk two deer stopped right in front of us and then when the dogs started barking, quickly ran off. Also, on the way to the store with the dogs in the car, a large bunch of birds flew out of the nearby cornfield and I assumed they were vultures. But, as I turned the corner, a truly magnificent bird (looked like a pheasant, wild turkey, not sure) was standing right there. Of course, I never have my camera when I see these creatures.

What have you encountered on your walks with your dogs?

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Now, I think you win :)

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

come walk with us! we're out every morning from 9-11, rain or shine :) I absolutely love our mountain and the local wildlife!!! The wild animals were here first and as long as we respect them, they don't pose any threat (I may modify this statement upon meeting a cougar, of course...).

 

[Donna K & Quincy]

I do love nature, but that might be a little too much nature for me.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Eva, I would love to, but I am clear in PA. It sounds like a beautiful place to live.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/30/boy-skis-into-bear-den-lives-to-t...|maing6|dl14|sec3_lnk3|53158

 

Just found this on the internet...funny, right after we were talking about bears.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Skiing on a treadmill could be a bit of a challenge.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

I'm glad the Swedish boy was ok... sounds like a freak encounter. There's been a couple of bear attacks in WA over the past few years, but I am still convinced that our black bears are basically shy and want to avoid humans. So the dogs and I stay on the trails and try not to wander into areas where the bears may have their dens. And based on the few close encounters I've had, I know the bears are scared of the dogs and simply run away when they see & hear us coming.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Wonderful photos!  I hope you had a telescopic lens on your camera!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Traffic! :-(

[Lynn D.]

Lots and Lots of big surley Elk! Deer, fox, bunnys, coyote, magpies? (huge black and white birds), horses, squirrels, falcons, and neighborhood dogs. There is also bear and moose here but we don't see them. We live in the mountains. It is not uncommon to see a lot of different critters here, but they are smart and very wary of people, even more so of dogs. When we are out for a walk we take critter spray with us, we've never had to use it.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yesterday, it was absolutely beautiful here (mid seventies) and I took the dogs for a walk in one of our favorite areas while my DH rode his bike with a friend.  They are practicing for the Sea Otter Classic in a couple of weeks, so we had a nice long walk.  The trail crossed a creek and the dogs had been running in the creek already so I thought I would try to rock jump over the creek.  I did get my tennis shoes wet and then we continued walking and went by a pond.  The guys went in for a swim and I already knew that we would be batheing them when we got home, so I just let them run and have fun.  On the way back, there was a little girl playing in the creek and when she saw Harpo she starting singing R-A-GG M-O-PP, Raggmopp.  It really fit for him.  Oh, yes, nature!  We see so many things while out walking, birds, lizzards, rodents, sheep, cows, and an occasional horse or two.  The boys just love being out in "the wild".  We had to come home and have baths, however, and we were not done with the dog baths until 8:30.  All in all, a wonderful day.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lynda, That sound like a perfect day for you and the dogs.