Where was Bella? We’ll be writing about it in an upcoming post!
Tag Archives: hiking
Life as a Country Song
So, for those of you who listen to country music you might be familiar with the song Ticks by Brad Paisley. Basically, a guy picks up a girl at a bar and wants to go out in the country and check her all over for the nasty little blood sucking bugs. Of course, Mr. Paisley makes this sounds like a fun and possibly romantic experience. I assure you, ticks in real life are nothing that I would describe as ‘fun and romantic’.
Now, I feel the need to assure my readers that I live in an area with almost no tick borne disease. So, for us, attached ticks are more a nuisance than a health hazard. For that, I am grateful. A couple weekends back the whole Royal Coonhound clan decided to go hiking. I found a nearby trail that would lead us through the woods (and since it is hot here-the shade was needed for hiking) to a spring run. Spring runs are pretty cool-nice clear water that is a balmy 72-74 degrees year round.
I chose this trail because it was only a couple of miles long and had a loop in the middle. Bella does not agree with backtracking. Once she has sniffed the trail, she does NOT feel the need to do it again. I also have learned I must use an easy walk on Bella when we are hiking in this type area. On the way out to the run Bella was of one mind. Some animal (probably possum or raccoon judging by the tracks) has used the rustic trail as a forest interstate highway. Bella completely lost her mind. Her nose was her master and every ounce of anxiety faded away once we started hiking. I really wanted to get video but it is hard! These dogs are so focused when they think they are hunting something down. Our hikes are almost jogs-especially in the beginning when the girls are still full of energy. Bella is methodical and thorough, even with her speed. Nose to the ground, back and forth, also checking up trees we pass on the trail. She makes sure no animal has turned off the trail. In fact, when she knows an animal went off the trail, suddenly she is trying to go off into the dense underbrush. At least now with the easy walk, I can let her sniff and pull without choking. Bella never has been a puller on walks-but out in nature she is a different dog.
We hiked down to the spring’s run. It ended in what was a wooden dock out near the water. I didn’t really realize it would be like this. I had hoped the girls could cool off in the water but there was just no way to get to it with the thick underbrush growth. So, we sat and rested a few minutes. I tried to get the girls to take pretty pictures but they were not having it! They were hot and tired and still amped up from the animal smells they had been tracking.
The humans were hot and tired too! The biting deer flies were terrible. It seemed to be a constant battle to keep them off of us, even though we were hiking a break-neck speed. The girls were much calmer on the way back. Bella was still tracking but had slowed a bit. At one point Daisy just stood at the edge of the trail and bayed into the forest. I think she was frustrated that we wouldn’t go out into the woods and follow one of the side smells they were finding.
Now, I am sure you are wondering where the country song comes into play. Grannie was sitting in the backseat with the girls on the way home…when she found one. Then another. Then another. Then I saw one on me, then one on dad. The ticks were crawling all over us!! We got home and brushed the girls really well. They both wear Preventic collars for ticks since we’ve had an issue with them just in the neighborhood. Bella has bad reactions to the topical stuff so the collars were the next best thing. We humans all threw our clothes into the washing machine and took showers. there were dozens and dozens of ticks around. Of course, even with us being extra careful most of the house fell victim to an attached tick. Daisy won with the most attacked ticks-two! I promise checking and removing each others ticks is not the experience the country song makes it out to be.
Pretty much everywhere has ticks so if you are going to hike with your dog make sure you know the proper way to remove a tick. Doing it the wrong way can introduce bacteria into you or your dogs system which could be bad based on what it is.
I’m joining the Saturday blog hop. I, in almost a year, have never been able to get the link thing to work. Below is what shows when I use the WordPress code I am supposed to use. I’d like to post like everyone else, but I am not tech savvy enough to understand it. In fact, it took a few weeks for me to figure out the new format they are using with the pictures instead of the links.
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Weekend on Wednesday
Yeah, I’m behind! I’ve been busy the last couple days! We had a very busy weekend of dog stuff…let me help you catch up.
Saturday dawned with a quick dog park trip. Nothing exciting happened though-in fact, Daisy was less enthusiastic than normal. I think Grannie tipped her off about the fun she was going to have that night so Daisy was saving up her energy.
Saturday night Grandpa, Daisy, and I drove to a nearby town for a Pups on the Patio event. It was the first one they have had, and it will be the first Saturday each month. It was more than one patio though. There were several businesses and restaurants along a street on a lake that opened their patios to everyone’s well behaved pooches. It was set up as a fundraiser for the local Humane Society. For 10 bucks you could get 1 adult or 1 non adult beverage at 4 or 5 different places. Well worth it if you want to do a pub crawl with your dog! LOL
So, Grandpa and I chose the Irish pub to eat at mostly because it is hot here and the patio was completely covered. The food was great and Daisy behaved like a lovely lady. No begging for food, and no pulling on the leash to meet other dogs. She even laid down for a bit and relaxed.
Although I’m living in a relatively rural area I was surprised at all the “rare” type dogs that were there. Chinese Crested, Wheaten Terriers, a Bull Terrier, an Akita, and although not a rare breed, it is rare to see 7 standard poodles all together!
Yes, you are seeing that right. Daisy got to take a horse and carriage ride Saturday! It was another fund raiser for the Humane Society. Really, it was just like riding in a car for her I think. I had been a tad worried- her only other previous experience with a horse was police horses and she did not want to be nice to them! She didn’t even really notice the horse at all this time. The driver recognized her right away! All night I had been being asked about my “bloodhound” but this lady knew a Black and Tan Coonhound right away. She had one once upon a time and hadn’t seen one in years. I am glad I could bring back some happy memories.
Sunday, I wanted to make sure to do something Bella would have fun doing. So hiking it was!! It is the first time we went hiking in this area and oh boy did we learn a lesson (Grannie and I). You see, in all the urban area hiking the girls and I have done we have yet to of encountered one type of prey. Deer. Well, I should say tracks of deer as there were no deer to be seen (thank goodness!).
Bella turned into a crazy hunting dog! I almost couldn’t believe she had it in her. There was no anxiety. Just a need to GO! She pulled so hard, without regard to her own safety. Her ears were turned off to us, or anything else. She even did this ‘whomp’ sound with her mouth on the trail. Grannie couldn’t keep a hold of her so we traded dogs. Its hard to believe Daisy was the better trail walker.
I loved seeing Bella so happy. Her tail did not stop wagging while we were out. It was funny when we turned around-Bella did NOT agree with our decision. For that matter, she didn’t like us staying on the trail instead of heading into the bush after the scent. I could really see her being a real hunting dog rather than some puppy mill cast off. I am so glad I bought her an easy walk harness long ago (which, she never used or needed). I will need it the next time we go to at least save herself from the choking. And there will be a next time-very soon I hope!
Due to the mighty huntress behavior of the girls-I forgot to take pics on the hiking trail. I tried at the trail head when we were finished but of course while Daisy has no issue hamming it up for the camera, Bella assumes the sign is part of the coming apocalypse and will fall on her at any moment. (and no, she isn’t looking toward anything in this picture-she is avoiding the sign-tail tucked) It’s like all that confidence she had while walking just washed away. *sigh*
Hiking Day!
So, I managed to get the girls out for a hike before I totally felt under the weather. They were very happy to get out and see something new in the world. Daisy, as always, carried our supplies. Bella thought for sure the sign was about fall on her-she did NOT like standing there.
This is one of several trails built around an old dam and mill. The mill isn’t in operation but the old covered bridge house is still standing.
The first part of the trail was HOT. There wasn’t any trees and the dirt was really sandy. And there were HILLS! Coming from an area where everything has always been flat the hills were hard for all of us! I think they would have been fine if they weren’t sandy. Then we got to the shaded area closer to the lake the hike was really nice. This was also the first trail that had tree hash marks to mark the way to go. Living in an urban area before-those just weren’t necessary.
The girls had a great time at this new park. All new scenery and new smells and new adventure. They also seem to have an innate understanding of trails. Or, they like to take the easy road. No going off into the brush-they stay right on track. It’s hard to hold leashes and film and try to walk, not trip, and hold the camera steady.
The girls are already wishing me better so they can go out again.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the pet mom’s out there! And Happy Mother’s Day to Grannie!
New Weekend Activity!
So this weekend I decided to try something new with the girls. We went hiking!
The girls and I do regularly go to a local park to walk around the lake there but I was hoping to go more onto a trail like hike. It was ‘interesting’ to say the least. We went to a park with a 7 mile paved loop. The plan was to start on the pavement, then cut through on one of the off road trails through the middle.
Bella had a so-so time. During the first 5 minutes of walking Bella needed to go to he bathroom and stepped off the path….right into a sand spur! For those of you who don’t have these they are little hard balls with thorns poking out in all directions. She jumped back on the path, got down on her elbow licking her paw. I managed to get it out but she didn’t want to get in the grass so she pooped in the middle of the paved trail. She was very uneasy in this new place.
Because of the sand spur I decided to stay on the trail. This trail attracts bikers. Not mountain bikers but Lance Armstrong type bikers. I kept Bella away form the side they were passing us on but then some schmuck and his friends decided to buzz us on both sides-one of them going off the trail to run by Bella. When we stopped for water her tail was tucked tight and she refused to drink which worried me (it’s still hot here). I did dump some cold water on her head (which just pissed her off I think). So we headed back.
Daisy was a champ and popular with everyone who saw her. She had on her backpack to carry our water and she walked right by me the whole time. I was lucky that the type of area this was isn’t conducive to squirrels. I could hear people talking about her as they rode up behind us. Some even slowed down to watch her walk. I think she likes having a job to do. I took her off the path 5 different times and she wouldn’t pee. Of course near the end she squats in the middle of the trail to pee!
