Today we decided to head back to Case Pond (where I took the puppies swimming yesterday) because Chet wanted to check it out. 

When we got to the area where I lost Delilah yesterday, there were two ducks swimming in the water.

Naturally these ducks were of great interest to my water-loving retriever.

I stepped out of my comfort zone of the little park at the top of the street this morning.

A couple of friends were taking their dogs to a local hiking area with a pond for swimming, they were going at the butt crack of ass 6:30 on a Saturday morning.

Originally I told them I didn’t think I could make it; but when I woke up at 6:00 am wide awake, I thought “What the heck.”

It was a lovely place to walk first thing in the morning.

There was a little bridge to walk across.

Some lovely little streams meandering through.

Sorry the flash wasn't bright enough to capture the beauty of the brook.

And a swampy, marshy area where I lost Delilah.

I could hear her splashing around in tall grasses, but I couldn’t see her and I was losing my shit freaking out.  I will probably never be invited to go with my friends again. 🙁

Eventually she came out, but then I kept her on leash until we got to a proper swimming area.

We played fetch for a bit, but my friend’s black lab Raleigh beat her every time. 🙁

My crazy friends decided to continue hiking but since it was now about 7:10 and the dogs hadn’t eaten yet, I decided to head back.  I was nervous to let Delilah off leash in an unfamiliar area, so I clipped Sampson’s leash to the end of hers and let her drag both leashes.

The leashes did get dirty, but it kept her close to me.  This is a great way to train your dog in off-leash walking.  You get a long leash or a long piece of rope and tie it to their collar and let them drag it.  This gives you the option of grabbing them should the need arise, but still allowing them freedom of not being tethered to you.  As they get better with recalling and staying close to you, you gradually shorten their leash/rope.

Today I did almost our entire walk with my camera in my hand, set to video mode.

Why you ask?

Because no matter how many times I have said, “I need to have my camera ready,” somehow I never do.

Today for instance, we had just entered the park; I was trying to adjust myself (put my bug band on, put Delilah’s leash over my shoulder, get the treats ready, make sure my pepper spray is in my front pocket…etc) the dogs ran ahead to the field.

Before Chet and I were half-way up the path, there goes Delilah chasing a deer through the woods!

Where was my camera?

In  my back pocket.

I admit I was tiny bit grateful I didn’t have the camera ready, because everyone would have heard the panic in my voice as I screamed for Delilah.

You also would have heard Chet say, “Shit, there she goes.”

So the camera came out of my pocket, I put it on video mode and I carried it for the rest of our walk.  Even though I had the camera in hand, I still had to remind myself when there was a photo opportunity.

Such as this one, when we tried to get the dogs to do an emergency “down.”

You can tell I wasn’t prepared by how dark the photo is; that’s because I was too far away and somehow forgot I write a blog about dogs.

I was slightly more prepared when we stopped to give them a water break.

But not quick enough to get both of them drinking.

Ah well, I guess there is always tomorrow.