Check out the link above for a list of all the canyon parklands and maps of each.
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| You'd never know we're hiking right next to a freeway! |
Downsides include coyotes and rattlesnakes - oh, and ticks if you get off the trail, so stay on the trails!!
But now to Rita's hiking mischief...
Because Rita can be reactive to other dogs when she's on-leash, I like the hubs to go in front in spots where the trail is narrow and difficult to see what's coming. That way, he can spot any oncoming dogs and we can pull over with our cheese and get ready to talk very happily about the "nice doggies!" coming our way.*
Only, Rita likes to be in the lead!
She tries and tries to get around the hubs.
When I finally let her go ahead of him, she's a happy girl...
And then he passes us while she sniffs. And then she's got to jockey for position again.
This played out over and over again on our hike last week!
Luckily the trail is mostly nice and wide open with a good view of what's coming, so we didn't have to attempt to get the hubs out in the lead too often.
And, contrary to how it might look in the pics, she's not really a puller. She just likes to be a bit in front of us. Not sure if she thinks it's part of her guard-dog duties or what?
Does your dog like to be in front, to see what's coming?
* Luckily ALL the other dogs we saw were on leash. It's very important when hiking San Diego's canyons to keep your dog on leash! As mentioned above, there are many coyotes, rattlesnakes and ticks in our canyons! We've seen all three on our hikes, many times.
Thanks to Snoopy’s Dog Blog, Alfie’s Blog, and My Brown Newfies for hosting Monday Mischief!
We could deal with coyotes, we have them here too, but the snakes...Mom would never go there! I like to be the leader of our pack to. Sometimes Bailie and I jockey for the lead position and it makes Mom laugh.
ReplyDeleteLuckily we've only seen the snakes a time or two - but it's so awful!!
DeleteAnd, yes, I had to laugh at Rita too, jockeying for position around the hubs.
When it's a leash walk, I have the opposite problem. My guys lag behind walking at a snail's pace. I am constantly nagging them to hurry up, let's go, we're trying to get some exercise here! You would think they were exhausted or ancient, but unclip that leash and off they go at a nice brisk speed. They try to punish me for not letting them run free. I didn't know your dry climate had ticks. Those bastards are everywhere!
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny that they lag along on the leash! You torture-er you!
DeleteAnd, yes, ticks.... ugh! They're the worst. They're not as bad here as they were when we lived in Philly, but still.... eeeesh!
Both dogs like to be in front. When I am walking them together I keep them both at the same length! Happy hiking!
ReplyDeleteGood idea - that would probably make them both nuts (and you as well!) if you had 2 different length leashes!
DeleteLooks like a great place for a hike. Have a marvellous Monday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
It is a great place - we just wish the trails were a bit longer, but for a quick hike it's very nice and convenient!
DeleteAt least rattlesnakes are kind enough to let you know they're there. We've got some jerk snakes here in Florida that will bite you just on principle. And don't get me started on ticks. Those things are horrible. I love you running narrative on the photos. Jedi and Roxy are fine walking next to the humans, but are horrible about being in front of each other.
ReplyDeleteOoooo, I would not like the jerk snakes who sneak up on you! Shudder!
DeleteReminds me of Sugar, who always needed to be in front. But was way more insane with her high-pitched howl!
ReplyDeleteOh, she was SO nutty! So embarrassing to walk her - even if she wasn't howling, she'd be snorting and snuffling trying to move you along faster!
DeleteThat is totally Torrey! She has to be in front or she is not happy. If we are someplace she can be off leash, she is trilled!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's the Aussie shepherd in Rita then? I would have thought shepherds would want to walk with the "herd" and make sure we were all together, but not this shepherd girl!
DeleteSo much my life!!!!!! Harley is an in front doodle. Jax is an all around me doodle. So I'm just one tangled woman morning noon and night!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I'd like to see some video of that. :)
DeleteFun post! Looks like Rita likes to be leader of the pack (at least until there is an awesome smell that catches her attention)!
ReplyDeleteAnd there are always awesome smells around!
DeleteI think it may be the slowness of bi-peds, having only two peds, that makes dogs impatient to let us in front for very long. But the lure of the scent will distract all of them while I can only imagine what they are experiencing. They get so much more out of hiking that we do.
ReplyDeleteIt would definitely be interesting to experience a hike the way they do!
DeleteCoyotes and snakes...oh boy, be careful.
ReplyDeleteYes...the snakes are really worrisome! The coyotes can be scary too though. Once we saw several of them at one time (in broad daylight!). I swear, if our beagle had been off leash, she would have taken off after them, and then I'm sure they would have circled back and got her! So NOT a good idea to hike these canyons with a dog off leash!
DeleteMr. N likes to be in front too. Especially if we're walking with other dogs.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Rita's the same - when we walk with her BFF, she wants to be out front!
DeleteSigh, the wonderful San Diego hiking trails...one of our friends moved to San Diego with her 2 Aussies, and they love, love, love it there! So many outdoors activities.
ReplyDeleteOur pups stay mostly next to us on walks & hikes; only sometimes they're a head length or two ahead of us.
She's pretty good about staying next to me on a walk (at least after the initial thrill of going outside wears off!), but on a hike, she REALLY wants to be in the front. At least until one of those distracting smells comes by!
DeleteI always have to hike on a leash when we go anywhere cool, Mom says it is the polite thing to do.
ReplyDeleteBoomer
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
You're Mom's right, Boomer! Rita stays on her leash at all times too.
DeleteLOL that is funny. Rita just wants a full view. :)
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the hubs has nice legs and I'm always happy to walk behind him. :) But not Rita...
Deletewhat a great hike, yuck to the rattlesnakes.
ReplyDeleteYuck indeed!
DeleteJack's preferred spot is to my right, so it can be a challenge on a narrow trail. Luckily Maggie likes to walk directly behind me...that is when she isn't wandering right and left.
ReplyDeleteRita never walks behind us! You'd think she would, what with being a shepherd and all!
DeleteLeroy's the same way when we first start off on walks but then on the way back he's not as eager!
ReplyDeleteRita is always eager to head home. I trained her to want to go home by giving her a treat when we get home. Trained her a little too well!
DeleteDidn't you find out Rita didn't have any beagle in her? I can't believe it, because she sounds like she walks exactly like Kobi used to. He always had to be in the lead, except for when he wanted to sniff something! And now Cricket is the one that wants to lead the most.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a very nice hike!
Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
I know, right?! She acts SO beagle-y, it just makes me think they got that part of the test wrong!
DeleteLove the thought process. Rob and I were just wondering what goes through Mia's mind as she trots ahead of us so happily on her leash.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's something like that. :)
DeleteWe have both. Sometimes they like to be ahead (but mostly of each other) while other times one is ahead and one lags behind.
ReplyDeleteI am not afraid of the coyotes or ticks (grossed out by ticks, yes) but snakes. That really scares me.