3 dog walks...

Crazy weather again all this week, making dog outings difficult. This afternoon, we went for three separate walks down the driveway (our driveway is 1500') but different distances, as the wind and blowing snow was terrible. Tank and Trust went on the first walk, next was Blast. After him, David and I spent some time near the plowed off area by the house (protected from wind) tossing the 'favorite' toy. They love chasing it up and over the plowed banks of snow and even Trust (not a 'toy' dog) was joining in for the most part.
Two against one - Blast gets the most purchase by lying down and hanging on tight until at least one lets go, and then he has a better chance at pulling it away and taking off!

Elle was the third walk, a bit shorter than the other two. After we returned, she discovered the toy right away, claimed it, and ran off over the snow hill with it. She brought it back to both of us a few times, and there was no hesitation racing up and over the snow hills again.

Her ears are changing every day, quite comical, both up, both down, one up, one down, one sideways on top....I remember when Blasts' were like this, I was worried the one would stay there! It didn't!!

Tough little cookie almost was able to yank it away from David. He was surprised at her strength.

So we're back to very cold again, then snow, then milder, then rain/snow...it is the strangest winter we've ever had (here) that I can remember. I feel sorry for the birds and wildlife trying to cope with these constant swings in temperature and conditions...hard to walk now also, sinking through hard crust on top of snow.

Introducing "Elle"

Elle has come to live with us, for a period of time, and train in some specialized scent work. I picked her up on Saturday (from Carmspack) and was so impressed with her work ethic for such a young pup...approx. 3 months of age. She's tenacious and focused and is going to be a joy to work with. This was her first 'daylight' outing, behind the house. Windy, and a couple of trees knocking together got her attention.

Elle reminds me so much of Blast in appearance, when he was this age. She's curious about everything right now.

She did a thorough exam of the snowblower, before moving on to other more interesting things...

...like the birds up in the trees by the feeders telling her to go away....

When she went around a snowbank, I hid behind another, and when she turned around, ran full tilt towards me. She is bonding to us very quickly. Full of get-up-and-go, she will quickly calm and relax.

Watching her reactions to articles and noises down the driveway, David had tossed a rubber hose out for her which she quickly claimed (between paws) and returned on her own.

I watched her work through a number of scenarios at her breeders, and you can almost see her little mind thinking through things.

David had his "best" work gloves on, but tossed one anyway. She was on it in a flash....

...grabbed it and shook it and then

returned it to him very willingly. Totally free and natural, nothing was said to her, before or during, but praise after returning it. Elles' main 'first' job will be major socializing. I have been entrusted with a great little pup and it will be so interesting to watch her progress.

Store Search for Blast.

I wish I had pictures for this, but I left my camera in the van and it all happened so fast, I would have needed someone else to take shots.
Something different for Blast, just so desperatre to keep 'working that nose' (still snowing)...I did a directed article search in a pet food store this morning.
I left 5 articles in various places, stuck between dog food bags, up on a treat shelf, etc. There was a plastic light switch, two very small pcs. leather, a small folded sock, plastic jar lid; I put no fresh scent on them, and took them into the store in a plastic bag.
Figured this was going to be tough in there with all the interesting and yummy (to a dog!) scents.
Very neat to watch him work his way through the store. He was distracted at the smoked bones hanging on a display, but one command put him on track again.
Have to admit, I was pretty impressed, the store clerks couldn't believe how fast he found them all!
What a good boy!!!

Days like this...

This afternoon was so gorgeous, if only every winter day could be like this. I would like to snowshoe every day, if that were possible. Went on two walks out back, first with Tank and Trust, second with Blast. Same route, trying to work on snowshoe trails.
Perfectly quiet out there, all the morning birds were gone, but were deer tracks everywhere. We're heading back in the picture above, Trust and Tank look worn out.

It was up to -16C, no wind in here, and sunny. Just lovely. I had bare feet inside my super -30C boots.

The dogs love this rock, Tank and Blast both always jump on top.

Blast had a deer apple that he had carried a long ways with him, and decided to lay down and chew off a piece of it here, while he waited for me. We're almost back at the house here. Both walks were wonderful, and in total took just over an hour. I just love our forest walks.

Another Rubber Hose/Walk

Lovely afternoon today for a walk down the driveway. Yesterday, the drifting was so bad, I couldn't get out the driveway, and my snowshoe trails are gone again...frustrating.
But, dogs didn't care, another old rubber hose was found!
Since David was coming with us, we decided to take all three at once and thought Blast and Tank could have a good tug session. You can see they did! The snow is from chasing the hose multi times out in the deep snow in the field and plunging through the 'banks' at the sides.
David can throw much further than I can, so I put him to work! Trust is intently watching and wishing she could jump like Blast does. Blast almost got the hose before David threw it.

Trust is getting very excited and trying to figure out how Blast goes straight up...let's see, is it this leg first?

And the final result! Got the hose...got the hose...run back...got the hose...get another throw...

Fun for all!

"Leaping Lizards, Batman!"

For those not as 'ancient' as me....that blurb was from the old Batman movies...in "our" case, Batman should be replaced with Blast!
And here he comes, through the snow, bringing the ball over to the snowpiles to play.

We've never had a dog that just loved to jump so high, often straight up, and catch anything. I was throwing snowballs, more than the ball, actually. This day it was snowing like crazy. Hence the blurry pictures, even though you don't really see the snow coming down, plus he is too fast for clear shots.

He has very solid landings as well, but we do this on the deep snow and only a few at a time.

He LOVES to jump!

If you feed them...they will come...

The birds are pretty amazing this winter; we seem to keep getting more all the time. I'm afraid we must be spending nearly as much feeding them, as we are on dog food...that's scary...
I was just heading out for the third time today when I saw this "assortment" cleaning up the remaining seed on one of the ground areas. We probably have more ground feeders than those that use the hanging feeders, although a lot feed in both areas. Above assortment: redpolls, male and female evening grosbeaks and pine grosbeaks.

At the back of the house at one feeder station, one withy nyger and other with oilseed...redpolls and mourning doves.

A male hairy woodpecker flits back and forth from pole to feeders.

This female downy woodpecker was continually chasing the male away...