Today was a lovely day. It was supposed to be incredibly hot today so early this morning we got the dogs together and went to our regular swimming hole. As always Maggie was walking like a freight train on the way to her favorite spot. My husband usually walks her and is usually not bothered by it (I grit my teeth and try not to ruin his "nice" walk!). Today he was not happy about it and actually took some advice to work on it. Maggie was doing better, but still strong.
As we got into the woods I saw a large loose Giant Schnauzer. We have passed this dog, one of a pair, in he past. They seem young and strong (and sadly on e-collars) and are just tentatively in control by a frail looking older woman. We stopped a good distance off as the woman called them back and got her dogs on leash. We walked a bit closer and then brought the dogs off to the side of the trail and asked them to sit as the others got closer. This is a situation where in the past they were likely to get very excited and over the top. I offered Etta a treat and she refused it, so I really thought we were in for a doozy! I kept stroking Etta's head and speaking to her quietly. She did not hold a sit but she did not lunge or bark at the dogs passing either. Both dogs maintained a calm manner, which I could not have been happier about.
We proceeded to the swimming hole and then finished up with a nice off leash hike so they could dry off. They fought to keep their eyes open on the ride home! They spent most of the hottest part of the afternoon lounging around and resting up.
After dinner we decided we would like to go get some ice cream. I suggested we take the dogs and my husband kept asking if that was such a good idea. I told him that some of all of my past dogs happiest times were accompanying us for ice cream and getting their own. So, we took them and they were fabulous! They split a small vanilla while we ate giant waffle cones! They practiced long sits and downs while the other ice cream eating patrons milled around. They did seem to have a hard time understanding why everyone wasn't coming over to pat them!
On the way home we decided that the next time we will be able to walk them there and that we will most definitely make this a new addition to our summer traditions!
