I'm tired of walking through town, so I decided to take a walk up Farmington Canyon on Friday afternoon.
I parked my car at the entrance to Farmington Pond, then Shady and I walked up the canyon for a while.
I was hoping that the gate on the bridge would be closed so we would have the road to ourselves, but my hope was in vain.
The road was plowed and we only encountered a few vehicles until we got to the point where the pavement ended. At that point the road was not plowed, and there were a bunch of people racing snowmobiles up and down the road. On our way back down the canyon we detoured on to the fire break road for a while.
Note the noble bluetick coonhound in her natural element. She was very excited about following deer tracks. I'm trying to decide what I could do to make hiking in the snow with her easier. I have some old cross country skis, and while it would be great to have her pull me up hill, I'm afraid that having her pull me down hill might be a disaster. I've been thinking about buying some snowshoes, but you all know how cheap I am. I'd like to find some at the DI, but I don't have much hope for that. Trucks had driven on the fire break road, so while the snow was packed down, it was also extremely slippery. What I really needed were cleats.
Eric recommended a head collar instead of a pinch collar to curb her pulling. It doesn't stop her from pulling, but it does take away some of her strength. When she catches a scent that she wants to follow I don't think anything could stop the pulling.
She absolutely hates the head collar, and she stops every couple of minutes to rub her face in the snow and try to get it off.It has snowed another 5 or 6 inches today. I know we're not as bad off as Erie, but I am really getting sick of this. I hate to be cooped up in my house. It looks like the snow has tapered off now, so I guess I should go shovel my driveway for the second time today
15 comments:
There really is nothing like a noble blue tick hound in her natural habitat! I wondered how well the head collars worked, we will have to see how Bella progresses... would it keep her snout shut enough to stop her from chewing my Baby????
The pictures are beautiful but I too am sick to death of this weather. We had finally melted down and now it has been snowing again the last few days and we are completely covered! Why is the groundhog torturing us!!!
Jen, you amaze me with all your walking and hiking. I wish I had that ambition. The pictures are beautiful. How we all love Farmington Canyon. Happy Valentine's day, and have a nice weekend.
The head collar only keeps the snout shut if you pull forward on the leash. You could get a muzzle, though!
Bella don't want a muzzle! I would like to spank her though, Baby's wound looked much better this morning but when we sat down for dinner I noticed Bella pawing at her leg and sure enough it is reopened!! Curses!
Ang, it looks like you've got a real ugly situation on your hands. Bad dog! Bad dog!
The Bellie do look like evil reincarnated! You need the dog whisper to teach her how to be a lady.
Jen, you should look at craigslist and KSL for snowshoes. There has to be someone trying to get rid of some for cheap.
I have been wondering how the noble bluetick would do on a nature hike. I assume you have to keep her on the leash so she doesn't fun off and get lost?
Fun off, or run off. Whatever works for you. ;-}
I have looked on both craigslist and ksl for snowshoes, and no luck. There are a couple of people selling them on ksl but they want full price.
In dog training last night, one of Belly's classmates (competition) was being unruly, so I asked the trainer if they still thought pinch collars were the way to go. She also said the head collars were a better alternative, but when they put one on the Siberian Husky; it did not work.
By the way, Belly is the the STAR of the class. She does everything she is supposed to. I have a theory that the Baby is knawing her own leg in an attemp to get sympathy from her mom. And it is working.
Don't blame that naughtiness on Baby!
Baby do not chew her own leg. Bellie does not know that Baby is another dog, she thinks that Baby is a cat, and is trying to eat her.
I love the picutres and envy you walks and hikes.
This may be a stupid question but is your dog the same as the coon dogs in Where the Red Fern Grows?
She looks so ridiculous with her whole body in the snow ha ha! I would have gone with you had I been home. Call me.
The dogs in Where the Red Fern Grows were Redbone Coonhounds. I think the only difference is the color.
Wow those pictures are beautiful. Even though I agree I am completely sick of the snow myself! I'm glad you have a hiking buddy with shady!
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