The multi purpose walk

All my dog walks have more than one purpose. Exercise for me is the major one, the dogs can get all the exercise they need running outdoors at home. For them it's more than exercise though, it's also an enrichment activity because they are experiencing sights, sounds, and smells that they wouldn't encounter at home. And there's also the training and socialization aspect, although we don't really socialize with the people we encounter any more than the deer. 

Today's walk with the Bailey and Elektra had one additional, very important, purpose. Although she's a very bold, outgoing, and confident pup, Elektra gets car sick when she travels. She has been known to pee, poop, and barf in the course of a short ride. We need to help her get over this fear because she has a potential adopter who likes to travel in an RV with their dog. And even if that doesn't happen, any dog should be able to travel in a car to the vet, to the park, or wherever without being so anxious that it makes them sick. 

At Erika's suggestion I've been feeding her in the crate in my van for the past several days. She will now hop in it on her own and I can shut the door and leave her for a few minutes without any problem. Previously she would always stay away from the van even when other dogs were trying to get in because they wanted to go along. My plan for this week is to take her on short trips, like today's drive to the park, where she will have a fun, positive experience, and hopefully help her get over her fear of travel. 

She loves Bailey almost as much as she loves Woody and was happy to go on today's three mile walk. I needed it badly myself. 

She remembered her "sit" command from yesterday and did it for me even without a treat.

She looks more like Bailey than she does her mother, Marvel.

Bailey was very patient with her.

It was a beautiful day and we had enough daylight for an even longer hike, 

but I decided that three miles felt like enough for today.