Avoiding Foxtails!

Well, spring has avoided the bay area this year, and summer is upon us. With summer come foxtails galore. It's my job to think of creative places to go hiking, where we're actually allowed and there are few or no foxtails. As you can see we managed to find some still-green grass which Bonner leapt and bounded through, with Murphy in hot pursuit. I'm positive Bandit would have loved to join in the fun, but unfortunately he is no longer allowed off leash. It's a bummer having to restrict his movement, but I've learned from many past walks that he's an enthusiastic if unreliable little fellow.

This group has room for three more friendly small dogs. Please visit the main website to learn more about our group walks: www.LPBA.net

Pj's last walk :(

Today marked PJ's last walk until September. Bye Bye PJ! We're going to miss you over the summer, but we're looking forward to having you rejoin us in the fall.

Parker spend this unseasonably hot day playing fetch and wading in the bay. It was so hot that salt from the bay crystalized on his fur.

PJ trotted from one shady spot to the next and promptly splayed out flat on his belly.

Blue is on vacation.

As you can see, we have lots of room in our tues/thurs walking groups. We'd love to fill up our afternoon walking group to 6 little doggies. Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and how you can join us: www.LPBA.net

Blue drinks!

Well yesterday afternoon was so warm that I hosed down the long haired dogs before our walk. And boy am I glad I did, because by the end of it you would have never known they were soaked just an hour before. Blue and Bonner looked like they had just gotten out of a blow dryer.

Blue drank water for the first time ever from a bowl on a walk yesterday. In the past she has drunk from a creek, but never from a water bottle, my hand, or a bowl.

PJ did better with staying with the group and was off leash for the first leg of the walk yesterday. After our second water break though, I leashed him back up for the way home, because he wasn't coming just two feet away from me.

Bonner is doing terrific off leash! He's staying with the group. Attempting to get Parker to play with him, although I think he'd do better to egg on Blue.

Parker of course is playing fetch and not letting anyone else near "his" pine cone. All the same, Bonner gets a kick out of chasing him while he chases his pine cone.

We still have a few open spots on our walks each weekday that we'd love to fill up with friendly, well mannered small dogs. Little Paws Big Adventures serves neighborhoods bordering Freeway 13 / Highway 13 in Oakland and South Berkeley. Visit our website to learn more: www.LPBA.net

Our first hot day

Well, today Bonner got to try being really and truly off-leash... And he did great! He now comes when called. It's great to watch him run at full tilt. And thanks to nearly three weeks of taking his collar every time he gets a treat, he now has no aversion to having his collar taken, which makes him far easier to leash up.

Blue is her usual tried and true self. Chillin' with PJ and sniffing the grass.

Parker played fetch with Bonner and a pine cone.

And PJ as always is completely unmotivated by treats. He'll come for a belly rub or a chance to sit on my lap during shade and water breaks. But otherwise, especially if he's "getting to know" a new dog on the trail, my calls fall on deaf ears. So, back to leashed walks my little furry friend.

Damselflies to the Rescue

Well unfortunately I didn't get a decent pic of PJ yesterday. he was off leash for the first half of our walk and doing great about staying with the group. But then he got the scent of a couple of toy poodles and nearly followed them home, so back on lead he went for the rest of the walk. It is difficult to get a nice pic of a white furred dog. They blend in with the background a lot of the time.

There were millions of damselflies mating along the banks of the creek along the trail we were at yesterday afternoon. The dogs would run into the creek to cool off and the damselflies would lift into the air in clouds of sparkling blue and grey. It was really magical.

Parker played fetch as always. Blue got into the game of fetch around the middle of the walk but other wise enjoyed wading in the creek at hanging out with PJ, who wasn't interested in the water at all.

This afternoon

Today Bonner, Bandit, Murphy and I went to Pt. Isabel. We met up with many small dogs along our walk and had a great time.

Bonner and Murphy love to chase anyone and everyone around in circles. Bonner is getting much better at paying attention to where I am and coming when called.

Murphy as always is either shmoozing with the other canids or at my heels looking up at me adoringly.

Bandit did alright today. He's better at sticking close and playing well with others at Pt. I than other trails where the visibility is lower, but he's still muzzled, for the safety of more or less everybody, and he's on long lead, for those moments of *temporary deafness*.

Alliteration Wednesday!

Today Blue, Bonner and Bandit walked together and let me tell you it was quite a mouthful. I definitely said the wrong name for a dog a couple of times. It is quite a joy to watch Bonner leap through the grass. I'm looking forward to the day when he *knows* me as his pack leader, and always looks to me near me. For the moment, I'm befriending him with the help of sliced chicken :). Blue was playful with Bonner. Bonner was playful with Bandit. Bandit is adjusting to his new muzzle although he's still barking at nearly every dog we meet along the trail. I wish Pt. Isabel wasn't so far away, he does much better there.