Walking season 2021 is here! Yea!

I get confused sometimes. Mom and Dad said the weather has "broken." Huh? I didn't know we could break the weather? Humans can do that? That's freaky.

Whatever they did, I'm happy they did it. Today it's sunny and 66F outside with no wind. Apparently, that's what Mom's been waiting for. When she asked me if I wanted to go for a long walk, well of course I said yes! 

Really, Mom, you don't need to ask me if I want to go anywhere. If you're going, then I'm going. If you say okay. 

Mom has a new video camera so she took video of almost the entire walk so she could learn what she needs to do to get a good video of me. Well, me and everything else. I think she'd rather drop a cheap camera in the creek than her expensive phone, and I get that. 

The pond loop is a lot of fun. We get to cross three big creeks and a bunch of small run-offs from mountain springs. I'm not afraid to jump right in, but Mom likes to keep her hiking boots dry. She rock hops to get across. 

It's fun being out in the woods. There are lots of things to smell and hear but I never forget I have a job to do and that's to help protect Mom. We saw two joggers, three hikers, and two other dogs. It was all cool, though. I knew right away they wouldn't bother us. The other dogs were really good, but not quite as well-behaved as me. I walked right past them without stopping - Mom had put me on my leash - and I kept going. I didn't bark, whine, pull on the leash, or anything! Mom taught me that when I'm on the leash, I'm to walk beside her and stay there. So that's what I did. 

When we got home, Mom told me we walked almost three miles. It would have been more but we zipped across the woods in one place once Mom realized the creeks were running so deep. That was fun, too. 

Mom thinks I'm really good company for on a long walk, but I think SHE'S the best company I could have. She always takes a bunch of snackies along just for me and I get extra since I'm burning off the calories. 

I'm Deuce and I'm REALLY glad walking season is here!

Walking is good!

The rain is gone! I'm so happy that first thing this morning I could go outside and not get wet! I know I'm a Labrador Retriever and we like water, but rain is not water. Rain is rain. It falls from the sky. Water is in the creek. That's the fun stuff!

Mom was happy the rain was past, too. I knew when she got her straw hat, the one she sprays bug repellant on, we were going for a walk. I love to go for walks with Mom!

We live out in the country so we have lots of places to go where we don't see cars. Mom knows all the best roads and paths, and where the best spots in the creeks are. We were out for almost an hour and didn't see a car or a person until we got back to our road. I didn't have to go on the leash once and I think that's a good thing. Being more mature is starting to pay off with extra privileges. 

Mom took a video to show Dad how I keep an eye on her when we're out alone. I always look back to make sure Mom is where she's supposed to be. And when I go to her and sit, I get a treat! 

When we got back, Cousin Dave had Bella with him. I think I scared her because I got all excited and wanted to play. I ran around and around and she wouldn't join me. Maybe some day. She's younger than me, you know. 

I was pretty tuckered when I got home. I stretched out on the floor beside Dad's recliner and took a quick nap. I did earn it, after all. 

I'm Deuce. Helping Mom get all her steps in for the day is what I do. 

Snatch!

Sometimes a guy has to do what a guy has to do. 

Especially if Mom and Dad aren't ready to play. 

Was that a quick snatch, or what?!

A warm weekend in February

Mom, Dad and me have been enjoying a warm weekend. It's great to be outside in the sunshine. Sunshine means I get to play Frisbee for a long time and Mom will take me for a long walk. 

We took a walk a bit ago. Mom has a wristband gizmo that counts her steps. She took 6032 steps so I know I had to have run for 10,064. 

Mom took a short video of me and Dad playing Frisbee. We played for a long time but this is all the video Mom took. She said it was enough because I caught the Frisbee. 

Hey! I'm Deuce. If you throw the Frisbee correctly, I WILL catch it.