These are the chronicles of two Shetland Sheepdogs and their adventures in rally-o, obedience, flyball, agility, tracking and therapy dog work.
Also including information on raw feeding, canine epilepsy, positive training, and lots and lots of Sheltie hair!




Thursday, September 11, 2008

Soaking Up the Last Days of Summer

This week is supposed to be nice and warm, temperatures all in the low 20's. But it is September and this is Saskatchewan. With that in mind, I decided to take the boys out running in the sun to take advantage of the little bit of warmth we have left.

Just out back of our house and down the back alley a short distance, are the sports fields of a nearby high school. This is a great place to take the boys running, as it is quite large and if you situate yourself right, there is a good long distance before you hit any roads. I know, not "technically" an off leash park, but I'm sure to be respectful of others that use the park. We only go when it is empty and if anyone else shows up, the boys have a great recall and I bring them straight back to me to leash up.

Today, though, the park was already occupied. While I remembered that the beginning of September often dictates the beginning of colder weather, I seemed to forget that it also brings with it the beginning of the new school year. The high school football team was having their practice, complete with rampaging testosterone, teen-staches and lots of yelling. As you enjoy this photograph, picture me ... donned in my sweatpants and an old pair of Dawgs shoes, two bouncing barking Shelties intent on a game of "catch the Flying Squirrel", sneakily hiding behind the large tree to take a picture of the "intruders" on our fetch field, trying my damnedest not too look like a creepy stalker taking peeps at the young teenage football players.

Now that you have had your laugh ... back to the dogs.

We wandered across the street to the other soccer field located behind an elementary school. It was sufficiently empty enough (and the boys were quite fed up with all this "walking" and "carrying of the Flying Squirrel").

"And they're off!"


"Many runs later ... "

"While Gio (caught in mid-bark) was still ready to go, I recognize that he will literally run until he falls over. So since Romeo (fiddling with the Flying Squirrel in the back ground) had given up at this point, I felt it was a good time to go home for a cool drink of water."
















"Mmmm! That's some GOOD water!"



















"You know it's been a good run when the tongues hang out like this!"

And just in appreciation of summer, a few snapshots from the back yard that I can look back on in January to remind myself what my garden will look like in another couple of months.




3 comments:

Chris and Ricky said...

Looks like fun! Gio seems to be doing well - we're happy to see that! We loved all the photos of the dogs and the flowers! It's so sad that summer is almost over.

Gussie said...

I love the pic of sheltie-bib flying in the breeze. (That doesn't even begin to read like English!)

Samantha ~ Holly and Zac ~ said...

Great pic's, looks like they were having a lot of fun.

We use our local villiage park a lot for our two for off lead running. It is not a proper dog park like your one but it is a great place to let them run as it is a good size. Our one is usually quite quiet during the week whilst children are at school so that is when we usually go.

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