New Year Run

For January 1^st we decided to take another run out on the trail we ran the other day. Nemo the command-less lead dog lead us out again.

This run was a bit different than the last run, just two days before. Nemo made every turn without confusion except for one which he had to think about for a minute before he lead us the correct way. Either the little guy memorized the trail after only one run or he could still smell our scent from last time. I think I'll test this by waiting a good while before going back and see how he does.

The trail had a bit of fresh snow, but it was still icy and fast underneath. I nearly ran into trees again. And Nemo kept hearing, seeing or smelling things off in the woods. So I got to stop us from heading into the woods a couple of times and he even came back at me to head back down the trail the opposite way twice. If he hadn't done such a great job pulling and navigating the rest of the time I would demote him to wheel again.

Near the end of the trail we picked up our pace as the dogs could smell and then hear that wonderful lab we came across last time on this trail. This time lab lady had the dog tied to a tree along the trail and she was no where to be found. The dogs all barked or howled with excitement, but I didn't see the lady. I whistled and all the dogs stopped. I heard nothing.

I decided to inch our way over to the edge of the trail where there was enough snow to kind of use the snow hook. I got it in and went up to the dogs and grabbed Nemo's harness. I went back and pulled the snow hook and grabbed Blizzard and Flurry by the neckline. By this time the lady appeared and pulled her dog off to the side. Also with her was a man and two kids who where sledding down the hill on the trail.

I didn't want to tangle with her dog, who was still strapped to the tree just on the edge of the trail. So I walked the dogs past the dog and family and did an interesting maneuver on the hill to let the dogs go, jump on the sled and get my foot on the break quickly because it was a steep and big hill. I pulled it off and we again made it safely back to the parking lot.