Who's fastest?
Downriver, looking down from the ridge visible behind the puppies in the picture above. We train dogs along the lower left bank.
Looking upriver. We walked a few kilometers past the farm before turning around.
Nine puppies + Cilla.
Denali.
Break time.
Everest.
Snack time!
Getting dark.
Denali, ready to head home.
I took all nine of the puppies out today for the first time since I tied out the oldest litter, Denali, Everest, Kagua, and Elbrus, last week.*. We walked upriver for two hours, then turned around and came home when it started getting dark (around 4pm now).
It is so freeing to watch the puppies pound down the trail ahead of you at a million miles per hour. When they disappear out of my line of sight I call them back and laugh when they bicker and tumble over each other in their hurry to get back. Sometimes they get kibbles for coming. Other times, pats and hugs. It's not so funny though when they dig up rotting lemmings to crunch on and then come over to breath on you...! I love watching them lounge around in the moss and watching them race around in a big herd after whoever has found the newest treat on the forest floor. 3km+ walks every day is a task that is beneficial for us all, but especially the puppies, who have a head start on the conditioning needed to perform as top quality canine athletes. Race dogs in the making! I enjoy my time with them.
*These guys were quick learners...managing their chains like pros now. Kagua and Everest share a double house. Everest's company helps keeps Kagua quiet. She takes after her mother, Barkey..... They each have their own doghouse, but prefer to snuggle up together in one. Or together in a hole. Elbrus is a bully, so he gets to have a house to himself. Denali is a sweetheart but he gets his own house too. Maybe I'll try him with one of the two pups we got from Trine (Fiona + Couscous)...
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