Non-training Progress
Today after waking up I figured "why not go for a walk". I hadn't planned on it really, but with it being so nice out (sun and cloud, but cool, brisk wind), I figured what the hell.
So got the dogs together and headed out to the High Marsh Road.
Last time we went there it was ick; mucky and wet. But lately with all the sun we've had it's dried out real nice (although there's serious spots that need grading over due to ruts), so I parked before the covered bridge (which will be photographed with the dogs for the Kennel webpage) hooked the dogs up, grabbed my walking poles and off we went.
Because it's, well, marshland, it's fairly flat out that way. Take a look here for info and some pic's. It also means you can walk a pretty good distance, and not really know how far you got.
So when we walked, I honestly didn't think we'd gone that far. But after returning to the car and driving the distance, I discovered we walked 2.3K, one way (4.6K total)! This is amazing since last weekend's excursion of doing just 4K I figured almost made me want to die, but after doing this, I feel sore but really good!
As for the performance of the dogs? Awesome! Shila is getting better and better in harness and being focused. Her walking beside Ri is almost sad though; he's almost twice her height, poor girl. But she makes up for it in focus and drive.
And Ri?
Still back and forth but not so bad this time. He does have a "mouthing" problem, ie he has to pick up feathers, clods of dirt, grab at sticks or grass and I have to constantly watch him to make sure he doesn't swallow any of it. Even rocks he'll go sniff over as if debating picking them up, and if there's garbage, that too.
And I officially get to call Shila "Shit Head" when she's doing something stupid. Because she is a literal shit head. Ri was going potty and she was standing RIGHT behind him and with him being so tall...
Yep.
Lots of "WTF?" and "Shila; eww!" for that.
Now we're home. Ri was so worn out he was leaning on the back separator for the truck and when I called him over he kind'a did this "oh god I gotta move?" thing and shoved his head into my chest tiredly. Neither dog wanted to stay out.
Right now they're BOTH laying down which is a bloody miracle since Ri made only one half-hearted attempt to play with Shi before deciding it was too much energy.
Now to feed them, and me, and then crawl into bed to die before work. I really, really need more days like this.
And here's the map for our route. Because there's fields out that way - hay and cattle pasture - it's a wide dirt road. The offshoot we went on a little bit heads out to the highway and the shortwave towers. This is also one of the roads I do plan to scooter on when I get my scooter.
So got the dogs together and headed out to the High Marsh Road.
Last time we went there it was ick; mucky and wet. But lately with all the sun we've had it's dried out real nice (although there's serious spots that need grading over due to ruts), so I parked before the covered bridge (which will be photographed with the dogs for the Kennel webpage) hooked the dogs up, grabbed my walking poles and off we went.
Because it's, well, marshland, it's fairly flat out that way. Take a look here for info and some pic's. It also means you can walk a pretty good distance, and not really know how far you got.
So when we walked, I honestly didn't think we'd gone that far. But after returning to the car and driving the distance, I discovered we walked 2.3K, one way (4.6K total)! This is amazing since last weekend's excursion of doing just 4K I figured almost made me want to die, but after doing this, I feel sore but really good!
As for the performance of the dogs? Awesome! Shila is getting better and better in harness and being focused. Her walking beside Ri is almost sad though; he's almost twice her height, poor girl. But she makes up for it in focus and drive.
And Ri?
Still back and forth but not so bad this time. He does have a "mouthing" problem, ie he has to pick up feathers, clods of dirt, grab at sticks or grass and I have to constantly watch him to make sure he doesn't swallow any of it. Even rocks he'll go sniff over as if debating picking them up, and if there's garbage, that too.
And I officially get to call Shila "Shit Head" when she's doing something stupid. Because she is a literal shit head. Ri was going potty and she was standing RIGHT behind him and with him being so tall...
Yep.
Lots of "WTF?" and "Shila; eww!" for that.
Now we're home. Ri was so worn out he was leaning on the back separator for the truck and when I called him over he kind'a did this "oh god I gotta move?" thing and shoved his head into my chest tiredly. Neither dog wanted to stay out.
Right now they're BOTH laying down which is a bloody miracle since Ri made only one half-hearted attempt to play with Shi before deciding it was too much energy.
Now to feed them, and me, and then crawl into bed to die before work. I really, really need more days like this.
And here's the map for our route. Because there's fields out that way - hay and cattle pasture - it's a wide dirt road. The offshoot we went on a little bit heads out to the highway and the shortwave towers. This is also one of the roads I do plan to scooter on when I get my scooter.