Adventure Pack It was a pretty quiet morning at CU South with Griff, Sputnik, Racer, and Mamacita. The air was a bit chilly, so I mostly kept us on the move. When we did pause along the way, everybody would gather around to sniff the same spot together. Variety Pack Riley, Avo, and Zoey each had their own agenda at the Valmont Dog Park this afternoon. Riley was mostly interested in finding other dogs to play with and then racing them around the park. Avo found a beat up tennis ball to chew on, and enjoyed rolling around in the grass a bunch of times. Zoey chased tennis balls and then played keep-away for awhile when she snagged another dog's blue, rubber ball. The three of them came to

Adventure Pack The pack practiced coming back when called today, and were rewarded with treats when they did. We repeated the exercise several times in the area of the trail where Dylan has recently run off a couple times. There was no running off today, as he did not want to miss out on a snack. Sputnik and Ruby chased each other around for a bit while there were no other dogs nearby. Mamacita thought Ruby looked like a fun play partner, and she play-bowed to get her attention. Unfortunately, Mamacita can't be trusted off leash. This was reinforced when we passed by the horse ranch that borders one section of the trail, and Mamacita leapt around while staring intently at the horses wh

Adventure Pack Yoda lingered behind the pack to greet a little pup who was coming up the trail after us. After that, he wandered off to poke around in the ditch down beside the trail. Meanwhile, Griff stuck closer to Racer, Sputnik, and me on the trail. There were a lot of other dogs on the trail today. Many of them came by to sniff hello with Racer, Griff, and Yoda. I focused on holding Sputnik's attention and keeping him calm while giving him some love and offering him water to drink, which worked pretty well. Variety Pack Rey and Avo were in particularly mischievous moods today. Whenever we pulled over into the grass to let their packmates sniff around and relieve themselves, Avo sta

Adventure Pack Griff and Zoey were happy to join Monday Adventure Pack regulars Sputnik and Roger Roger for our trip to CU South this morning. The whole pack got to be off leash together for a little while, until we came by some other dogs and Sputnik had to be on the leash with me again. Griff and Roger Roger both ran around a bit, while Zoey and Sputnik just moseyed and sniffed around. Variety Pack Ruby and Riley bristled a bit at meeting each other today, but were fine once they started walking together. We walked around Wonderland Lake this afternoon. The pack pulled over to sniff around in the grass a few times, and everyone put their noses to work. It was a pretty mellow walk for

Adventure Pack Dylan and Roger Roger had lots of dogs to greet as we made our way around the trails at CU South this morning. Sputnik mostly stayed cool, but bristled a bit when the other dogs turned their attentions from greeting his packmates, and started to approach us. There was one stretch of trail where Dylan and Roger Roger chased each other, while there were no other dogs to draw their interests. Mamacita found two different spots to wiggle around in the grass today - one in the field where she has been wiggling lately, and one on a hill we ascended a little while later. Variety Pack Zoey and Poppy enjoyed a walk around Wonderland Lake this afternoon. We passed by the same yard w

Adventure Pack Griff, Racer, and Sputnik trekked the trails at CU South again this morning. It was a pretty mellow hike on the mostly-level terrain, with a few canine encounters along the way. Sputnik was relaxed around most of the dogs, but did get upset about a couple who came up and wanted to greet him. I had given Griff, Racer, and Sputnik all a treat at the beginning of our outing today. After that, they looked at me particularly intently every time I stopped and called them back to me, or put a hand in my pocket. Variety Pack Riley and Avo were a bit too interested in goose droppings that sprinkled the Boulder Creek Path at a couple points along our walk this afternoon. I pulled A

Adventure Pack Mamacita enjoyed her constitutional wiggle in the grassy field that we crossed early on during our walk at CU South this morning. When we looped back around to the trails, Sputnik got to wander off leash with Ruffers and Dylan because there were no other dogs in the vicinity. The three of them were sticking to the trail and sniffing at its edges until something in the distance caught Dylan's attention and he bolted down the hill. Ruffers and Sputnik were poised to join him, but responded when I called them back. Dylan met up with us a short way up the trail, less than a minute later. After that, we started encountering some other dogs, and Sputnik went back on the leash.

I am heartbroken to report that our beloved, long-time pack member, Isaac, suffered a stroke over the weekend and passed away at the age of 11 years and 9 months. He had been such a lively and influential presence in the pack for the past decade - keeping watch over his packmates, teaching pups the joys of fetching tennis balls and then splashing in pools, water bowls, or muck-filled puddles to cool off, providing an unmatched example of good on-leash manners, chasing and herding errant pups back to the group, and inserting himself whenever he saw another dog being harassed by an over-enthusiastic or pushy playmate. It is never easy to see a member of the pack pass on, and the sudden natur

Adventure Pack Rey joined the pack for the morning hike at CU South today. Griff was happy to have a playful pup to run with on the trail. Racer wanted to join in, and leapt at Rey when she ran by us. Sputnik was less interested in playing today, and just wanted to sniff around. Variety Pack Avo and Rey were full of energy at the Valmont Dog Park today, and spent much of their time chasing each other around. They both had some brief encounters with other dogs, but were mostly focused on each other. Meanwhile, Yoda was busy sniffing around the perimeter of the park and greeting dogs he came across along the way. Zoey chased tennis balls, and was especially proud of an over-sized Chuckit

Adventure Pack Racer, Sputnik, Griff, and Milo had a pretty mellow hike at the CU South trails this morning. We encountered a handful of other dogs along the way, but didn't linger to greet them. The pack wasn't as keen on sniffing around as they sometimes are, and mostly just trotted along. Variety Pack Riley and Avo buried their faces in some thatched, tall grass at the Settler's Park trail head this afternoon, as they tried to get a better whiff of the odors hiding beneath. They apparently had a disagreement over a bone last weekend, but they seemed to be on good terms today. Near the end of our hike, Avo started flopping around on the ground to try to entice Riley into playing with h

Adventure Pack Mamacita was first to start chomping on the snow from the dwindling snow bank beside one stretch of the trail at CU South, this morning. When Ruffers, Sputnik, and Dylan saw Mamacita was enjoying herself, they all checked it out for themselves. I didn't see Dylan eat any of the snow, and Ruffers only a couple licks. Even Sputnik passed after a cursory nibble. Ruffers and Dylan happily greeted the other dogs we encountered along the way, and Sputnik mostly kept his cool again today. Dylan ran off over a hill at one point, with a keen sense of purpose, ignoring my calls while his packmates watched him intently and then continued to stare in his direction after he disappeare

Adventure Pack Yoda, Griff, Racer, and Sputnik were all very interested in sniffing around in the grass when we first set out at CU South this morning. Once everyone seemed satisfied, we only took a few more steps before everyone's noses were back down. This process repeated several times before we started moving along the trail. Sputnik was less reactive to unfamiliar dogs today than he had been on recent pack outings, so we didn't have to veer off course so far while his packmates sniffed hello. Variety Pack Avo and Rey got very excited when we came by a squirrel in a nearby tree at the beginning of our walk around Wonderland Lake this afternoon. Rey settled down pretty quickly afterwa

Adventure Pack Mamacita and Sputnik chomped on a lot of snow from one of the waning snowbanks at CU South this morning. Roger Roger came over to check it out for himself, and partook in a couple bites as well. He and Ruffers ran with each other along some open stretches of trail, but they didn't break out into any all-out sprints as they sometimes do together. Variety Pack There was a light dusting of snow and a chill in the air when Milo, Zoey, Riley, and Rey headed to Boulder Creek for their afternoon pack walk. Riley, Rey, and Milo were all pretty restless, and got very excited at other dogs walking in the distance. When a young Golden Retriever ran up to us from the trail head at Set

Adventure Pack Roger Roger was in hot pursuit of Dylan after Dylan poked around in the ditch and then bolted up, out, and down the down trail. Mamacita leapt up and down with excitement at the chase, while Sputnik watched with interest but had no illusion that he was going to join in for that one. Roger Roger and Dylan happily greeted various dogs we encountered as we made our way around the big loop. Sputnik was in an especially testy mood today, and his demeanor rubbed off on Mamacita, so I kept them aside while their packmates were making friends. Variety Pack Zoey, Isaac, Poppy, and Ruffers headed to Wonderland Lake this afternoon, where we retrieved the bandana Riley wore yesterday.

Adventure Pack Racer and Griff were very concerned about a drone that was flying in the field beside the trail at CU South, and the group of people who were piloting it. They both perked up at the noise coming from the drone in flight. They then turned their attentions to the people, started grumbling, and let out a few woofs to make sure I was aware of the disturbance. Sputnik was less concerned, and just trotted by at my side. He got to spend some time off leash with Griff today when there weren't any other dogs around. Variety Pack Avo and Riley were in playful moods, and wrestled around with each other when we stopped at the house before our walk. Meanwhile, Zoey and Isaac took turn

Adventure Pack Dylan was first to roll around in the grass at the beginning of our pack outing at CU South this morning, but when Mamacita saw it was wiggle time, she was quick to follow suit. Sputnik and Ruffers looked on as their packmates indulged, and then we made a detour to the on-leash path that connects with the trail. Once we looped back to the trail, Dylan and Ruffers enjoyed roaming off leash and taking their time to sniff around. Sputnik was a bit more ornery towards dogs on the trail today, so I brought him and Mamacita off to the side while Dylan and Ruffers made friends. Dylan went down to the ditch and lay in the water for a moment before coming running back up to the tra

Adventure Pack Sputnik was a little more tolerant of the other dogs we saw on the trail today, and stayed calm while one came over and briefly sniffed hello. About halfway through our walk, he discovered a tennis ball and carried it along for a while. Racer stared at the tennis ball in his mouth and hopped around him with excitement for a minute before she realized he wasn't going to give it up. When he did eventually drop the ball, she had moved on and didn't notice, so it was left behind. Meanwhile, Griff and Yoda were wandering and sniffing around together. At first, they were doing a good job of coming back to me when called. When we came near a fence, on the other side of which we

Adventure Pack Roger Roger and Ruffers chased each other through the fields beside the trail at CU South this morning. We came across another group of playful dogs, and they all had some fun together. Sputnik was in one of his less friendly moods today, so we steered clear while Roger Roger and Ruffers greeted and played with the others. Sputnik and Mamacita investigated some smells together at the edge of the trail while their packmates were off running around. Variety Pack Rey was readily distracted by the geese and ducks along the Boulder Creek Path this afternoon. Riley and Zoey kept their cools around the water fowl, even when the ducks in the creek were quacking as we walked by. A

Adventure Pack The pack took their time at CU South this morning, as there was a lot of sniffing to be done. Dylan and Roger Roger play-bowed and rolled around on a snow bank while Sputnik and Mamacita munched on the snow. When we came by the ditch that runs beside the trail, Dylan and Roger Roger splashed in it and then raced each other up and down the trail. Sputnik was friendly when other dogs came by to say hello today. Dylan and Roger Roger had fun running around with a pair of dogs who were traveling on pace with us for a stretch. Variety Pack Sputnik was very happy to go on a walk with two of his favorite lady friends - Ruffers and Zoey. At one point, he started getting randy wit

Adventure Pack Sputnik and Racer chomped on some snow when we were traversing a shaded patch of the trail, where snow was still left on the ground. Griff and Racer greeted the dogs we passed, while Sputnik and Isaac hung out at my side. Sputnik got a bit antsy about a couple of the dogs who lingered and showed an interest in greeting him as well. When he started a shrill growl, they thought better of it and moved on. Variety Pack Avo, Isaac, Zoey, and Riley were all drawn to the trunk of a large tree at Eben G. Fine Park, and spent a while sniffing around it. Avo and Riley eventually had their fill, and started rolling and hopping around in the grassy field with each other while Zoey and