kpwlee
Posted : 7/17/2008 4:24:16 PM
AuroraLove
I love the "i'm free" his ears all floppin everywhere, LOL!
he was supposed to be staying next to me
was going to write a post in general chat but heck here is just as good
The cabin was great - small, very small - but had everything you'd need and a hot tub too! We all had a great time but I believe Bugsy had hte best time. He is a trail dog in a big way and there were glorious smells for his overactive nose everywhere. He is a slave to his nose.
He did fairly well about staying in contact with only a few scary moments. One such moment was when a huge deer visited the cabin grounds while he was out exploring, he took off and was out of sight instantly. Fortunately I had bought an emergency whistle from REI before we left and despite no training with it - it worked. He tested it again going after a rabbit. So if your dog zones out and will never have 100% recall get a whistle 
Overall though I was impressed that we could walk to the river with him dragging that red line and he still listened to commands - impressive stuff for him. Really!
We also discovered that he can indeed swim. He loves water but has only swam once. We made this discovery because he decided to chase a couple of canoes. 
Fortunately the man & sons in them thought it was funny. I did not nor did DH. They chatted to us as they went by and talked to him and he went after them full tilt. He became 100% deaf and just went and went. The guys in the canoes were trying to tell him to stay as a rapid approached and then the depth of the river increased significantly. He went over the rapid with them and now was a good distance off. When I finally got to him he was swimming, up stream, into a strong current. I was thrilled. I can be less worried near water now. This became a new game for him and the next canoe that came by I held him until they were about 25 yrds past us but when I let go he flew off galloping through the water, over the rapid, etc etc.
Never saw that coming. Very glad that all six people involved were OK with a giant goofy dog 
And even more glad that he swam!
On our last morning there we walked down to the river and a young collarless yellow lab joined us and Bugsy's world was complete. She was a real sweetie but followed us back to the cabin and hung out there, her sitting outside the screen door, him inside. LOVE! DH had to walk here home which was a trailer with about 5 other collarless dogs.
Only bad part was coming home and realizing he got fleas - from the lab, the cabin, the earth - who knows. But that has had me in a panic making sure every last remnant of them is gone.
Its a real pretty part of the world if you like rural and rustic. Cool temps and just chillin'