tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79306516338308412782024-03-05T15:19:26.843-05:00Shale's TalesThe Adventures of My Busy Border CollieUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7930651633830841278.post-79245901584301271912013-12-19T14:26:00.000-05:002013-12-19T14:26:07.244-05:00Holiday Fun! Check out the Boston Globe's article, <a href="http://the%20dog%20days%20of%20christmas/" target="_blank">"<span style="font-family: 'Miller Headline Bold', 'Times New Roman', Times, Georgia, serif; font-size: small;">The dog days of Christmas</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Miller Headline Bold', 'Times New Roman', Times, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.04347826;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://the%20dog%20days%20of%20christmas/" target="_blank">"</a> </span></span>on busy dogs this holiday season. The article features me and Shale decorating ornaments. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqNFczSFOFvmrdvbgZ5hRlXkLhuwP5juxZnYDolmjzPHcxdEV1Yu-0m84jcpSUm19BFSVxNikCkSMMYYuJy8UlssEIIbwufZW-RMyg-8JUS-IRBe3gNq3McUFFifYpIhyGHiYE54aYq3N/s1600/131205holidaydogs0293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqNFczSFOFvmrdvbgZ5hRlXkLhuwP5juxZnYDolmjzPHcxdEV1Yu-0m84jcpSUm19BFSVxNikCkSMMYYuJy8UlssEIIbwufZW-RMyg-8JUS-IRBe3gNq3McUFFifYpIhyGHiYE54aYq3N/s320/131205holidaydogs0293.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7930651633830841278.post-62660212808863755542011-11-15T11:04:00.001-05:002011-11-15T12:07:48.196-05:00Find Your Place with The Trustees of ReservationsIt's been a while since I've posted. Shale and I have been super busy and I don't know where the summer went and I can hardly believe its almost Thanksgiving! We are spending a lot of time on the trails hiking, biking and swimming for Shale. In this blog entry I would like to tell you about our favorite place...<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Shale and I are proud to be members and on the volunteer staff for <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/" target="_blank">The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR)</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/" target="_blank">The Trustees of Reservations</a> is <span class="st1"><span style="color: #222222;">a member-supported, nonprofit, conservation organization with the mission of </span></span>“preserving, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">Massachusetts</state></place>." I am a trail steward at their <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank"><placename w:st="on">Ravenswood</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Park</placetype></a> property in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Gloucester</place></city> and Shale is one of their regular “dog ambassadors” who highlight the “green dog” way of enjoying the property. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/" target="_blank">The Trustee of Reservations</a> has a wonderful program on 5 of their 100 properties specifically for our canine friends, <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/before-you-visit/green-dogs.html" target="_blank">The Trustees Green Dogs Program.</a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErxVCTNjNvm7czldPoiGV7p-Qz5goNaO7ll-Z3UYEcRhRnkWoqWRyhSViLZApokZiTYGd0O9xaKI_4YoSZc_pxG_bDsT6p5omfRH51er7rdlQZSrrgjmvrnJEcxpbfMfRH0WCgWP6v0eM/s1600/600_63151152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErxVCTNjNvm7czldPoiGV7p-Qz5goNaO7ll-Z3UYEcRhRnkWoqWRyhSViLZApokZiTYGd0O9xaKI_4YoSZc_pxG_bDsT6p5omfRH51er7rdlQZSrrgjmvrnJEcxpbfMfRH0WCgWP6v0eM/s320/600_63151152.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shale and friends at Ravenswood </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have been to many of <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/" target="_blank">The Trustees of Reservations</a> properties throughout the area and by far <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank"><placename w:st="on">Ravenswood</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Park</placetype></a> in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Gloucester</place></city> is my absolute favorite. <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank">Ravenswoo</a>d is a fantastically magical property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not just the wonderful scenery and unique landscape that has captivated me but the warm welcome both Shale and I have always received from the Program Director, staff and the other volunteers at the Cape Ann Discovery Center on the property. It is the personal touches and feeling of inclusiveness they extend that makes this property such a special place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly feel as though Shale and I have “found our place” at <a href="http://ravenswood./">Ravenswood.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank">Ravenswood </a>is undoubtedly the most dog-friendly Trustees of Reservation venues I have found. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
I was so excited when I first visited <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank">Ravenswood</a> a few years ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so refreshing to find an accessible, safe, dog-friendly venue. I first visited with the <a href="http://www.meetup.com/NorthShoreActiveDogs/" target="_blank"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Meet-up</placename> <placename w:st="on">Group</placename> <placename w:st="on">North</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Shore</placetype></place> Active Dogs.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the organizers had heard that Ravenswood was a welcoming venue for dog-walkers with many miles of varied and interesting terrain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That assessment could not have been more on target. When I visited I was completely captivated by the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since that first visit I have shared this venue with many friends and regularly hike through <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/assets/documents/places-to-visit/trailmaps/Ravenswood-Park-Trail-Map.pdf" target="_blank">Ravenswood’s trail system</a> with many of my friends and their dogs from my favorite <a href="http://www.meetup.com/merrymutts/" target="_blank">Meet-up Group, Merry Mutts of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">North</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Shore</placetype></place></a> (I’m an Assistant Organizer with the group and plan a lot of events at <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank">Ravenswood</a>). We have spent innumerable hours on the property and we have always have been made to feel safe and incredibly welcome. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We especially love the Ledge Hill Trail – a 2-mile round-trip walk among magical-looking, fern-covered boulders with its scenic vista overlooking <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Gloucester</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Harbor</placetype></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another favorite is to traverse the boardwalk through the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Great</placename> <placename w:st="on">Magnolia</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Swamp</placetype></place>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html#t1" target="_blank">Ravenswood</a> is also home to many hidden <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/" target="_blank">Geocaches</a> and <a href="http://www.atlasquest.com/" target="_blank">Letterboxes.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also thrilled to have met countless other dog-walkers on the property and have made many new friends as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank">Ravenswood </a>demonstrates a successful balance of people sharing the trails in many ways in harmony. It is so refreshing to see how the well-maintained trails are shared by dog-walkers, families, hikers, bicyclists; those snow shoeing and cross country skiing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not an easy harmony to achieve – it takes leadership and commitment to ensure this equity and I directly attribute it to the direction the Program Director, staff and volunteers give this impressive property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I think <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html#t1" target="_blank">Ravenswood</a> has done a wonderful job on providing suggested guidelines for dog-walkers to help ensure safety for all and the best way to share the trails with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people as we all know are not comfortable with dogs and as a responsible dog owner I make it my priority to make sure that my dog is a “good citizen,” acts appropriately and is under my direct control at all times. I also am very conscientious of always picking-up dog waste and taking it with me off the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we all work together in this manner it helps to keep <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html#t1" target="_blank">Ravenswood</a> and other venues as the wonderful resources they are for everyone including dog-walkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many dog-friendly venues are disappearing and I consider it my personal duty to contribute in any ways I can to help preserve the ones available and to make sure they are used appropriately and with respect for all that wish to use these special places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/before-you-visit/green-dogs.html" target="_blank">The Trustees of Reservations “Green Dog Program”</a> provides wonderful etiquette suggestions for dog-walkers to follow when visiting any Trustees Property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that there are helpful suggestions and reminders at the trail head information board at <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html" target="_blank">Ravenswood</a> for dog-walkers and others to remind us all that we share this delightful property and that we must work together to ensure a safe and wonderful time for all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So if you are looking for a wonderful place to hike with you canine pal look no further than <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html#t1" target="_blank">Ravenswood Park.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t be disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shale and I hope to see you there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7930651633830841278.post-75359517324206194342011-08-18T15:15:00.010-04:002011-08-22T14:53:31.365-04:00Shale Takes the Plunge - My Little SwimmerExciting news last week about Shale… She finally took the plunge and got brave enough to swim outside!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shale has been swimming in an indoor pool for a while – more about that shortly – but she has been hesitant for the over the last year and half to swim outside. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When Shale first came home from her breeder I thought for sure she would be a water loving dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all her favorite game both inside and outside of the house was splashing and digging in her water bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it was really cute at first it was messy and luckily she outgrew this game pretty quickly. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YUQKnDQvlOAwFz7ebPQft6Yg2_eX4a-nBGY_Mul3L5Ancsh9vwiwputaYD_gd0jQ2_uiTAHR1-wq6Lk_XANl311r1RTtDbK0-jhiQYIlSDOhyphenhyphenQKFhJ28Av_TdYS_5MDDrnHcPhLHJuNI/s1600/highres_8111192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YUQKnDQvlOAwFz7ebPQft6Yg2_eX4a-nBGY_Mul3L5Ancsh9vwiwputaYD_gd0jQ2_uiTAHR1-wq6Lk_XANl311r1RTtDbK0-jhiQYIlSDOhyphenhyphenQKFhJ28Av_TdYS_5MDDrnHcPhLHJuNI/s320/highres_8111192.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shale's First Swim </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our first “hike” together was in early November of 2009 and Shale was about 3.5 months old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took her to one of my favorite <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/weir-hill.html">Trustees of Reservations properties, Weir Hill, in <place w:st="on">North Andover</place></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit I was a nervous wreck and judiciously used a leash and a long-line while we explored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My little explorer was a fearless and loved the wide open trails we traveled while playing recall games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had a terrific time exploring the more technical side trails and was fascinated by the large reservoir that the property abuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a cool fall day and Shale went right in for a swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started paddling immediately and was heading out pretty far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this day I don’t know if it was a hint of panic in my voice calling her in or the crisp autumn air giving her a chill that turned her off to swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even recognize at the time that she had suddenly developed a fear of going over her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess the fact that she came out of the water at full speed, and literally ran for the hills should have given me some indication that a problem was brewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not realizing I was just super excited to know I already had a natural swimmer and I was already looking forward to the late spring and early summer fun we would have playing at the beach and local ponds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured with it already so cold out there really wouldn’t be opportunities for her to swim again for a number of months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9MvzpCwKCU4ArqyTAG7aIP7qv03S6j3GylMFjrcH5CmycW8ElyMspBK5GDzSe8q0SOS9CHpyhyphenhyphenJOyo36U7-C1ZqTLxpHQw9kZ1lvt6oYgRkuolSTQklhvRwCo56CpET6W7IJ9i3-uNpx/s1600/highres_9777124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9MvzpCwKCU4ArqyTAG7aIP7qv03S6j3GylMFjrcH5CmycW8ElyMspBK5GDzSe8q0SOS9CHpyhyphenhyphenJOyo36U7-C1ZqTLxpHQw9kZ1lvt6oYgRkuolSTQklhvRwCo56CpET6W7IJ9i3-uNpx/s320/highres_9777124.jpg" width="288" /></a>That December I decided to enroll Shale in swimming for physical fitness at <a href="http://www.gooddogaquatic.com/">Good Dog Aquatic</a> in <place w:st="on">N. Andover</place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good Dog Aquatic has an above ground indoor hydrotherapy pool and offers physical therapy, canine massage and swim therapy as well as swimming for physical fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve known the owners for years and my dog, Meg; also a Border Collie swam there for physical fitness before I lost her to lymphoma a few years ago. I will be introducing Meg and telling some of “Meg’s Tales” soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured Shale would be a natural in the pool and would easily make the “Good Dog Aquatic Swim Team.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well Shale was a not huge fan of the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dogs at <a href="http://www.gooddogaquatic.com/">Good Dog Aquatic </a>are required to wear life jackets for safety and I promptly put Shale in Meg’s <a href="http://www.ruffwear.com/">Ruffwear </a>lifejacket only to find out it was a too large.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No worries <a href="http://www.gooddogaquatic.com/">Good Dog Aquatic </a>had plenty of jackets for Shale to use so we easily found on with a better fit for her frame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shale swam monthly at Good Dog for a while, made the swim team and I was confident she would be an expert swimmer come the late when we could swim outside with all of our doggie friends from the Merry Mutts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">After a great winter exploring and hiking the warm weather returned I was promptly tossed a favorite water toy into one of the nice ponds on one of our walks only to find that Shale was a champion wader but would not swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point I was lucky to get her to go up to her elbows in the water let alone over her head. I have to admit I was surprised and perplexed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the pool she was a pretty comfortable swimmer though not a big fan of getting into the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She needed a little lift by way of her life jacket’s handle to get her in the water but once she was in – she seemed focused on her swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toy of choice in the pool was an orange “boat bumper” that had belonged to Meg. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who knew Meg, you can probably guess her toy of choice - a Frisbee (that bumper really never got any use before Shale came along).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I tried all summer to get Shale to swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tried coaxing, going in the water with her, bribing her with favorite toys tossed just beyond her reach, every trick I could think that might resolve this fear of swimming outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly knew she could swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She demonstrated that in the <a href="http://www.gooddogaquatic.com/">Good Dog Aquatic</a> pool and a few times outside when she accidentally went in and had to swim.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I found out in the early fall that another dog swimming pool I had been to in Waltham, MA called Aqua Dog was bought by an acquaintance of mine and was now being called, <a href="http://www.flowdog.net/">Flow Dog</a>. <a href="http://www.flowdog.net/">Flow Dog</a> like Good Dog Aquatic offers physical therapy on land and in the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately called for an appointment to sign Shale up swimming for physical fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really like <a href="http://www.flowdog.net/">Flow Dog’s</a> approach with fitness swimmers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff works really hard to make the swim a ton of fun for the dog and after just a few sessions in the pool Shale was bounding in on her own – no need for assistance getting into the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long Shale was doing so terrifically and demonstrated such confidence swimming that she graduated to not using a life jacket in the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was ecstatic and completely sure that this summer Shale would swim outside without any issue especially since she was so great in the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The warm weather came and so did our outings to places with great swimming spots and yet no swimming for my little chicken of the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plenty of wading, going a little deeper each time but nothing was persuading her to go over her head or to start dog paddling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, she loves the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it’s hot Shale absolutely is the first dog in the group to head to the water, a champion wader I have been calling her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxeUiB6LumMc8kx3NnOJtvkVNi1tJQfY6CaOfYwyCDayyIQlDbWjBSIr4OSiu1LVblCNjogRm8NohcCp1iLnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
A major break through came last week. It was a fairly humid evening and after work I got my bike on and Shale in the Jeep and headed to Lynn Woods for ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shale loves running while I trail ride on my bike. I’ll be chronicling our adventures learning to ride together soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual we stopped at each of the swimming spots on our roundtrip ride between Great Woods and Pennybrook entrances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed that evening that Shale was venturing a little further past her usual wading comfort zone and was practically going over her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very encouraging and kept reminding Shale to swim like she does in the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something clicked and the next thing I knew she was paddling. I could not have been more excited and proud of my little swimmer.</div><br />
Shale is still a little cautious entering the water where there is an immediate drop over her head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, with gradual slopes where she is able to have her footing and walk out a bit before swimming she is doing fabulously!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so glad she has embraced swimming and I’m sure this is going to continue to be an activity she greatly enjoys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">Happy dog paddling!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7930651633830841278.post-33570510427565010272011-07-25T17:11:00.006-04:002011-07-28T15:41:33.689-04:00Letterboxing<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A couple of weeks ago on the trail, at <a href="http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/harp.htm">Harold Parker State Forest</a> Shale, I and our four and two-legged pack met a really nice couple who shared with us that they were “Letterboxing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ongoing joke with the group I hike with is that I talk to everybody, everywhere! So it was no surprise that this random encounter of two groups passing on a side-trail turned into a long conversation about Letterboxing, another idea for an activity to try with our dogs, and a couple of new friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lD8rh-JxX0DslLtrBdAcCSv440h0xt_qI_l6xOPRcfHRVRsXvxHE0yE6a16pphpkjOvX03S8PMBOdfV42G54GTwSYSTuVL73rc6CQWGhysmC53th_llLZfdRyQm9nm-owfW8PkRL7Gpo/s1600/il_fullxfull_259826536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lD8rh-JxX0DslLtrBdAcCSv440h0xt_qI_l6xOPRcfHRVRsXvxHE0yE6a16pphpkjOvX03S8PMBOdfV42G54GTwSYSTuVL73rc6CQWGhysmC53th_llLZfdRyQm9nm-owfW8PkRL7Gpo/s1600/il_fullxfull_259826536.jpg" t$="true" /></a>Letterboxing is an intriguing “treasure hunt” where participants follow clues to small hidden plastic containers which contain a rubber ink stamp (generally hand carved) and a log book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clue seekers carry and stamp their own log book with the discovered stamp and in turn stamp the cache’s log with their own signature stamp, again this is often hand carved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to what I’ve since learned, Letterboxing is an international game originating 150 years ago in <country-region w:st="on">England</country-region> and there are now over 23,000 Letterboxes hidden in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">United States</place></country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently Shale and I have been hiking past these hidden Letterboxes since she did her first “hike” at <a href="http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/weir-hill.html">Weir Hill</a> at 3.5 months old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I was aware of <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/">Geocaching</a>, an electronic "treasure hunt" using a hand held GPS or smart phone, but Letterboxing was new information to me.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More on Shale’s adventures <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/">Geocaching</a> on a future blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Our new friends have searched for and found nearly 800 Letterbox stamps in two years!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their logbook was filled with beautiful stamped images carefully colored with ink pens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We soon learned that there a number of websites dedicated to Letterboxing that direct seekers to the hides and have all kinds of information for those just starting out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two well-know sites in the Letterbox community are: <a href="http:///www.atlasquest.com/">Atlas Quest: A Letterboxing Community</a> and <a href="http://www.letterboxing.org/">Letterboxing North America</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course there’s an app for this too – check out <a href="http://cluetracker.pearlcrescent.com/">Clue Tracker </a>on your phone’s app store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I downloaded it for my iPhone and I like the feature that allows you to search for Letterboxes in your immediate area by using your phone’s GPS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Letterboxes can be found not just in the woods and parks but in suburban and urban areas too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDeylpFGrhCL0mXQoawHLc2wSaqP8vAIpoYy4hw-ca1Es9C58roRfaDt4mZTN_i_mZHPmyQPfsHry3TaoeyWS5xO-5gmObiGT2DjfZ_5Oi_7E_1pNc-N_I7bW4SbI4YD-TsOKjLsu44WU/s1600/il_570xN_210602690+Stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDeylpFGrhCL0mXQoawHLc2wSaqP8vAIpoYy4hw-ca1Es9C58roRfaDt4mZTN_i_mZHPmyQPfsHry3TaoeyWS5xO-5gmObiGT2DjfZ_5Oi_7E_1pNc-N_I7bW4SbI4YD-TsOKjLsu44WU/s200/il_570xN_210602690+Stamp.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Carved Border Collie Stamp </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Shale and I are now new Letterboxers having logged our first find on Saturday at <a href="http://www.ectaonline.org/trails/chebacco-woods">Chebacco Woods</a>. Getting started with Letterboxing is very easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clues to these hidden treasures are posted online and all you need to get started is your own stamp (many start with commercially produced store-bought stamps) a sketch book and an ink pad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first inclination was to carve my own stamp after reading instructions online but my artistic capabilities are not the strongest so I decided to compromise and buy a hand-carved stamp online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I would be Letterboxing with Shale (many Letterboxes are dog-friendly and <a href="http://www.atlasquest.com/">Atlas Quest’s</a> key shows the attributes for the individual boxes) I decided I needed a Border Collie stamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Google search for hand-carved Border Collie stamps led me right to<a href="http://www.etsy.com/?ref=so_home"> Etsy</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicolestrasburg?ref=top_trail">Nicole Strasburg’s wonderful online shop</a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">. Her Etsy shop hosts a variety of original oils, hand-pulled prints, hand carved stamps and reproductions of original work by the Santa Barbara-based landscape painter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Also check out her <a href="http://www.twodogstampede.blogspot.com/">blog.</a> </span>A couple of Nicole’s stamps looked so much like Shale I couldn’t believe it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nicole actually carved two of Shale for me from a few photos I provided. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrvs7hTxpUcSz-KDHRCZz1eBsx5y_sLbbqPXt3z8Ya0TaiVQPXlGSsipc_J0X8WbZM9daaKs5A9eixLeKf2pmPYK53qZ1dY5PN4Sxr8IHbB7guGGX2hEGjm_OtDgpG-1MjHjSXD9QgAo3/s1600/il_570xN_212358580+Stamp+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrvs7hTxpUcSz-KDHRCZz1eBsx5y_sLbbqPXt3z8Ya0TaiVQPXlGSsipc_J0X8WbZM9daaKs5A9eixLeKf2pmPYK53qZ1dY5PN4Sxr8IHbB7guGGX2hEGjm_OtDgpG-1MjHjSXD9QgAo3/s200/il_570xN_212358580+Stamp+2.jpg" t$="true" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Second Signature Stamp</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGgs7qzOcwXzptlXsDwePboif-ArziEO7julsMG1Y4BcPklm-uTeNYztkybRiODrbmrBfa0ZlAIcUp2QSwmxiPAkdNjEf-CSuZZGkYQTV8WyJO62KiFbhWXzcRsvM7vYiw2FgKbiDA4Dq/s1600/il_fullxfull_259833695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGgs7qzOcwXzptlXsDwePboif-ArziEO7julsMG1Y4BcPklm-uTeNYztkybRiODrbmrBfa0ZlAIcUp2QSwmxiPAkdNjEf-CSuZZGkYQTV8WyJO62KiFbhWXzcRsvM7vYiw2FgKbiDA4Dq/s1600/il_fullxfull_259833695.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">New stamps, an ink pad, the printed clues, Shale, a friend and her dog set out for Chebacco Woods for our inaugural Letterboxing adventure this past Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided <a href="http://www.ectaonline.org/trails/chebacco-woods">Chebacco Woods</a> would be a great place to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The friend I went with and I are both vey familiar with the property, it’s dog-friendly and has lots of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a matter of fact the Box is called, “The Four Ponds”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the recent heat-wave encompassing the Northeast we wanted to be sure to select a location with plenty of opportunities for dog paddling as the temperature was expected to be in the high 90’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Four Ponds” is a series of 4 interconnected stamps each hidden separately that should take about 1.5-2 hours on foot (about 45 - 60 minutes by bike) and would cover a distance of 4-5 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We easily found the first stamp a really nice hand-carved stamp which outlined all four ponds on the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name of the first pond was included on this stamp and the other 3 stamps allow finders to label each of the other ponds with its name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stamp 2 posed a big challenge for us new Letterboxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We followed the clues, decided we were at the right location, search and searched (while the dogs splashed in the pond) with no luck. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We back-tracked tried another spot and still no luck. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After about 2.5 hours we decided to revisit the clues on another visit to Chebacco Woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not discouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our next visit there Shale and I will track down those other stamps!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">We’re just starting out but so far I am really enjoying Letterboxing and I’m looking forward to seeking out more Letterboxes with Shale and friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Follow Shale's and my finds on <a href="http://www.atlasquest.com/">Atlas Quest</a> under our trail name: Shale’s Tales. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7930651633830841278.post-69532504189072578282011-07-19T17:06:00.001-04:002011-07-25T11:04:08.223-04:00Canine Cognition Lab at HarvardI was really excited to take Shale to <a href="http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~mnkylab/doglab.html"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Harvard</placename> <placetype w:st="on">University</placetype></place>’s Canine Cognition Lab,</a> last week where we volunteered for a study on Canine-Human Empathy and ran through short Canine IQ Battery. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Harvard’s Canine Cognition Lab in Cambridge, MA runs non-invasive engaging and fun behavioral experiments to better understand how dogs handle problem solving, recognize patterns of sound, reflect on what is known and unknown, and work out what we, their humans believe, desire, and intend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially liked that Shale and I would be working together in a fun environment that felt like a ‘game’ for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The particular tasks vary by study but typically involve problems where your dog will have the opportunity to make a choice among a set of options, and will receive a food treat for making a particular choice. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The first study we participated in was a section of the Canine IQ Battery tests that members of the lab ran for a previous study and needed a few more additional tasks to be quantified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shale loved playing “find the hidden treat game.” The debriefing material I received explained that the Canine IQ Battery examines the cognitive capacities that underlie canine intelligence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The full study consisted of a series of tasks that tapped into different domains of canine cognitive skills, including inhibition, number discrimination, memory, and problem solving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of the study was to determine whether success on certain tasks reliably predicts success on other (i.e. dogs with strong memories might also excel at problem solving).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <place w:st="on">Battery</place> also included contrasted tests that required the capacity to understand and use physical versus social cues to find hidden food, which will be of particular interest when comparing domestic dogs to other Canids such as wolves and dingoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The second study was on Canine-Human Empathy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this study the Lab is investigating dogs’ understanding of human emotions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As those with dogs know there is much anecdotal evidence that dogs are able to “tune in” to how people are feeling and respond to their emotional states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This phenomenon and the mechanisms that make it possible are yet to be scientifically demonstrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this study, I and a member of the lab alternated showing Shale visualization and vocalizations of human emotions to test and gauge her preference of emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When there was no emotional variance Shale came to me 100% of the time but when given a choice to “go to” a person displaying the emotion of sadness for example three-quarters of the time Shale went to ‘comfort’ that individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some dogs I was told as an example, 100% time would seek out person displaying happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very interesting to see Shale’s reactions to the range of human emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand the findings of this research may have implications for the use of dogs as therapy animals as well as improving medical diagnostic techniques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A past study of theirs on dog-human communicative actions was published in the journal, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behavioural Processes</i> recently (Behavioural Processes 86(2011)7-20). <a href="http://www.elsevier.com/locate/behavproc">www.elsevier.com/locate/behavproc</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We had a fun visit and Shale received a Canine Cognition Lab at Harvard leash and a certificate showing she had completed her Freshman Year at Harvard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t wait to participate again and eventually “graduate” and go on to Shale’s Masters of Dogology!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you would like more information or to register your dog to participate visit the <a href="http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~mnkylab/doglab.html">Canine Cognition Lab at Harvard's website.</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNkTcS0f6iQRNxy2hKiI4K3s_vo1Gg_lQBO3G0TqlGYftJyRRrcs7GGQtYrswPvi4Wg53eLtB4EUg4OQbZSRLSuB8Isyh6SY0Ts7HlgCcze33xM6BT6nMg0exSJmZErtTHdPTPKmPTOtK/s1600/CanineCogLab_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNkTcS0f6iQRNxy2hKiI4K3s_vo1Gg_lQBO3G0TqlGYftJyRRrcs7GGQtYrswPvi4Wg53eLtB4EUg4OQbZSRLSuB8Isyh6SY0Ts7HlgCcze33xM6BT6nMg0exSJmZErtTHdPTPKmPTOtK/s1600/CanineCogLab_Logo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7930651633830841278.post-2961179024366906742011-07-06T16:45:00.001-04:002011-07-20T09:06:56.630-04:00Camp Unleashed<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Since she was 8 weeks old I’ve been toying with the thought of starting a blog, Shale’s Tales about my Border Collie. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now a few weeks shy of her second birthday I’m actually following through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For my inaugural blog entry I’ve decided to write about <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> at: <a href="http://www.campunleashed.com/">http://www.campunleashed.com/</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shale and I attended <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> in June 2010 in the Berkshires of Massachusetts and I can’t wait to go back this September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename> also holds camps in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Ashville</city>, <state w:st="on">NC</state></place> and Sequoia, CA. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’d been hearing about dog “camps” for a number of years – they’ve bee<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>n increasingly getting a lot of press and attention with their number and popularity rising exponentially. For example in greater <place w:st="on">New England</place> I can easily think of half a dozen different camps for dogs and their people to get away “ruff” it and participate in all kinds of training and canine sports. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Last summer a friend with 4 dogs, yes that’s not a typo – 4 dogs - recommended <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> for me and Shale and I decided to check-it-out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly I was skeptical - what’s the big draw I thought?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is she raving about this place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could it be as much fun as she was claiming? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did the camp experience really make the drastic impact on her pack that she was claiming?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opportunity to take agility lessons, nose works and other canine activities – that seemed like things we were already doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for being off-leash and hiking in nature – that’s our regular weekends all year round I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when plans to take Shale camping with some friends fell through, I signed us up for <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> and off I went with Shale in tow hoping for nothing more than a few relaxing, activity filled days in the scenic Berkshires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very pleased to report <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> was far better than I had anticipated and Shale and I left as happy campers – hooked on the concept and ready to go back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A work commitment kept me from going to the June session in the Berkshires this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Let me tell you about our <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> experience last year and what I am hoping to get out of this year’s camp in September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that Shale would say <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> was a dog’s dream vacation where she could “Eat, Sniff, Play” to her heart’s content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My three words would be “Eat, Friends, Play”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I venture to say “sniff” translated from Doggish to English means find friends! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camp Unleashed Berkshires is held at the YMCA’s <placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Beckett</placename> in <city w:st="on">Beckett</city>, <state w:st="on">MA</state>, a delightful property encompassing <span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1400 beautiful lakeside acres in the Berkshires of western <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Massachusetts</place></state>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I choose for me and Shale to “ruff” it in one of the private cabins (no electricity) though they do have a dormitory style option with all the comforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food was really great and the days were filled with all kinds of activities. One of the nice things about <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> is you can choose to be as busy or as relaxed as you want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the people I met from other campers, to Camp Unleashed Staff were really terrific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone was really friendly, nice and we all had the common denominator of loving our dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meet a ton of people (camp is limited to 50 dogs and their people) and it was a great mix of people and really well-behaved dogs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A full day’s and evening’s schedule of activities is offered but you can choose to participate in as many or as few as you want. Since campers pick and choose their activities, the number of dogs at each activity is kept to a reasonable number and it is amazing how well it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff is very attentive, well-trained and experienced. The quality of instruction on the activities was very high. I was very impressed with how smooth the operations were and how comfortable I felt with that many dogs on the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also really cool to have that much space where there were no worries about cars or leash laws!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many dogs this was the first time they had the opportunity to hike in the woods and to safely run leash free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really made me appreciate the wonderful opportunities Shale and I have for recreation in our area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As we always are, Shale and I were constantly on the move – at Camp Unleashed - starting our day with Yappy Hour each morning, a vigorous hike, followed by dock diving, disc, agility, canoeing, and much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evenings included the traditional camp fire, movies and a number of speakers on important dog-related topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even took the massage class and met with a pet psychic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A camp friend took the opposite approach and spent a lot of time relaxing, reading and letting her dogs just be outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others found a happy medium between Shale and mine’s constant “go go go” and our new friend’s laid back approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really liked the flexibility <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> offers to pick and choose as many (in our case) or as few (in that of my friend) activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I made some wonderful connections and terrific new friends at Camp. Without doubt the most important part of Camp for me was my meeting my new friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over a year later I regularly get together with a core group of friends from Camp that all live in the greater <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Boston</place></city> area and we frequently hike and bike together with our dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Camp</span></placetype><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></span></place><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> was a wonderful experience for Shale and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We meet great new friends, got Shale’s CGC title, tried new activities, learned a lot, improved our communications and had a wonderful vacation together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shale went to her first camp as rough and tumble adolescent, she’ll go back this year with new found maturity and a higher level of training and more adept skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Shale will continue to get more and more out of going each year and I intend to make it our annual summer tradition. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will return this year with a better appreciation of all that the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> experience offers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I went from a skeptical first-time camper to raving about <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Camp</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Unleashed</placename></place> like my friend did last summer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This September I’ll be returning to camp and am so excited that I will be sharing the experience with many I already count as friends and I am equally excited to meet new ones as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you’re looking for a wonderful vacation for you and your canine pal check out Camp Unleashed </span><a href="http://www.campunleashed.com/">http://www.campunleashed.com/</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to tell them Shale recommended you go! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pY8JOhoYAUsyIeCAfOAoMFEtijYi7k3sa6vIcSWTAtkLjhwkVFG9wHQHh7DeNQL7iEVKy9mev7qfuMwSuSnW6C-ftt9bLStr60L3dyJO3EpFziToiaxHK38lpPUbrvhQPzoCmkfkrJmf/s1600/CU.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pY8JOhoYAUsyIeCAfOAoMFEtijYi7k3sa6vIcSWTAtkLjhwkVFG9wHQHh7DeNQL7iEVKy9mev7qfuMwSuSnW6C-ftt9bLStr60L3dyJO3EpFziToiaxHK38lpPUbrvhQPzoCmkfkrJmf/s320/CU.gif" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4