Need Ideas

    • Gold Top Dog

    Need Ideas

    Well, I feel like a stick in the mud as of late...
     
     
    I can't think of anywhere to walk Maddi that isn't covered in mud or water or that we can't drive to right now and it's driving me mad! lol. We've only been going to one place... and I know at least I'm getting bored there (it's a park more geared towards sports than nature trails and whatnot). The park is nice enough, theres a fenced in tennis court I can let Maddi off lead in, but I don't want to do that too much because she's still only 15 months old and I don't like running her on hard surfaces.
     
    Anyway, I live in Rutland, VT and was wondering if anyone else in the area (or that knows the area) could give me suggestions on nice places to walk with Maddi. I don't want to drive too far because none of the 3 vehicles I have access to are not at all reliable. Here's a list of places I've taken her to at least once... most I have taken her repeatedly.
     
    Northwood Park (this is the one getting old [:D])
    Chittenden Resivoire (sp?)
    Glen Lake
    Bird Mountain
    Wheelerville Road
    Mendon Pony Track (I'm not going anymore because it makes me angry to go there).
    Some woodland trails in Mendon/Rutland Town that I grew up in
    Pico Mountain (have to wait until ski season is over)
    Shelburn Pass (I think... it's the only on the backside of Pico)
     
    Most of these places I can't get to right now because they are on snow covered or extremely muddy roads that I hesitate to bring any one of the our pathetic cars on :) .
     
    I currently live in the city, and I highly dislike walking her here. She doesn't like it, I don't like the city, so it's a no-win situation.
     
     
    I also have a question on food. I figured I'd put both my questions in the same post.
     
    I am currently feeding Maddi Eagle Pack's Holistic Fish formula. I feed her 2.5-3 cups of food twice a day (5-6 cups total) with 1/4 of a can on their holistic canned food (various formulas). I pay $38.99 for a 33lb (I think thats the size, not sure) bag, and $1.45 for a can. Maddi looks very nice, with an extremely shiny, silky coat, full of energy and spunk, appears to be in great health. I have no problem, really, with the food except it's expense. I am considering switching her back to Innova (something like $35.99 for a similiar size bag and I would feed quite a bit less), but I had a bad experience with one bag a couple months back and am hesitant. I also don't remember if her coat was nearly as nice while she was on it as it is right now. I was wondering what you guys would do in my situation. I can afford both, but the EP is kind of cutting it close and leaves no room for me to buy treats or a lot of new toys (she relies  mostly on my mom for her toy supplies :) )
     
    Oh yes, and she gets a raw lamb leg once a week as a meal and tooth brusher.
     
    Sorry this is so long, but any opinions are welcome!
     
    Becky
     
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    being in NH White Mtns. we are running into the same muddy problem. Luckily Molly cleans up well LOL
    My DH took Molly for an all-day hike yesterday since he's gone back to work full-time starting today [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif]. We feels bad cause Molly has had him around so much, and he's been able to get her out a lot, that he wanted her to have a day full of running around outside. They did tons of bushwhacking cause they went off trail, up a mountain, down a valley, and up again. They were gone all day and when she got home she was still raring to do. It's great having a dog, again, that can do that stuff physically.
    Do you have any quiet subdivisions around where no one is around much during the day?
    One of Molly's puppy friends mommy has a subdivision they've been developing and it's paved. We walk through there now and then. There are a couple of houses but Maria owns the bulk of the property - so whose gonna complain to her LOL
    • Gold Top Dog
    Unfortunately, there are no quiet places I know of. Only when you get out into the town does it start to get quiet.
     
    I guess I'll just have to suck it up and get my feet (and ankles, shins, and knees) dirty lol.
     
    Anybody have any more thoughts? And thoughts on the food?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Hey Pumaward...
    I don't have any suggestions, but I can commiserate :)
    I live just north of Mt. Washington in NH.
    It's been muddy and icy here. Luckily we have access to a lot of trails right off the road that we don't have to drive unmaintained roads to get to, but often crampons are still needed.
    My poor dog has been so neglected lately.... Snickers needs more hikes but I haven't been bringing her nearly as much as I should since my other dog is on crate rest for another month after surgery and I have a ton of grad classes going on right now... BAD mommy!

    I was feeding EP holistic chicken and rice, but they stopped carrying it in my pet store and I can't find it anywhere in the Valley. I've never used Innova for my dogs but I love it for my cats... I've had great success with it for them.