Long Distance Retrieve

We got a package from Ugly Dog Hunting Company today! Among other things (including two very high quality leads for the price) we got a couple of these puppy sized retrieving dummies. Here is her first go at it. I need to read that chapter again, but I believe there's part of the transaction she's a little iffy on...

Graceful.

I had to share this graceful dance down the stairs. I guess, if nobody told you otherwise, why wouldn't you step with all four feet at the same time? Seems efficient enough...

Swimmin'

We took the dogs to a lake today to see about the whole swimming thing. I can tell you for certain that Winnie can swim! However it does not seem to be on her top five favorite things to do list. (Currently: eating sticks, looking for sticks, sleeping in 2.5 hour increments, playing with Gromit and thinking about sticks.) But we didn't push it and we're running out of warm weather here in Virginia, so we'll probably just wait till Spring to try again.

C&O Canal Towpath

We are lucky to live about a mile from the Potomac River, and on the far side of the river is the C&O Canal towpath. This path originates in Washington, DC and extends west until, well, I don't know where it ends up but it's well west of here and we are on about the 55 mile mark from its origin. We have beautiful fall-like weather here today and enjoyed Winnie's first of many long walks along the river path.

Afield!

Today I took Winnie for her first long walk on a leash. She's been off and on with the leash thing, but as it turns out she walks much better on it when she's in unfamiliar territory.

So I walked her up the street where we came across several future home lots. Other than the corners staked out it was basically just a big field with tall grass and brush. It was fun to let her go and watch her bound around in the thick cover! I'd like to tell you that she's hunting in these photos where she looks like she's hunting. And, I suppose she is, if pointing deer poop and cattails counts as hunting. But it was really fun to see her in that environment.

We actually scared up several doves, but they were all too far away to even get her attention. But there are a lot of doves in that field. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing I don't yet know, that's all a part of the whole 'rookie gun dog owner' thing! Anyway, fun after work outing and I think running through that heavy cover will help her sleep well tonight.