crissy friends

Last week Friday on Papa's day off from work, Papa and Dash took a trip to Crissy Field.  While I was busy at a client meeting the boys were having fun in the great outdoors.

Here are a couple of "friends" Dash made at the beach.  Papa says our mini Aussie had dug a hole to hide his ball in, and these bullies kept pinning him down in it.  He had it on video, but I asked him to edit out the fight scenes and just keep the happy moments.  :)

Just when Papa was about to leave, he came across our mini Aussie friend Geordie.  We can never remember his owner's name (sorry!) but we've met him a few times now.  Dash and Geordie had a quick romp before it was really time to head home.

I love how Geordie has a really full, round head and a very substantial looking build.  From the first time I met him I thought he looked just like a full sized Aussie... but mini.  Dash definitely has more of a petite frame.

I couldn't help but laugh when I saw this picture.  On our computer it is saved as "bootylicious.jpg".  Those darn wigglebutts are just so irresistible.  Speaking of butts, Geordie's owner is actually the one who suggested I give Dash a puppy clip at the groomer to keep that crazy Aussie fur in check.  (He does it regularly and swears by it.)  As you know, I opted for the DIY version.

 Last time I saw Geordie's owner he told me he was getting a pretty little red merle girl to be Geordie's little sister.  Papa said she had stayed home during this particular outing, but hopefully we will get to meet her soon.  If she's anything like her big brother she will certainly be a head turner!

wordless wednesday

disc lesson

Papa and I have been back in town for about a week now, after going home to Hawaii for a two week wedding whirlwind.  I am excited to post pictures of our special day once we get them back from the photographer, but for now I will catch up with a few mini Aussie field trips from prior to the wedding...

Dash and Papa have started visiting the new park near our house for disc dog practice sessions.  Most of the time our mini Aussie chases down the disc, grabs it, then brings it back.  However, once in a while he masters the mid-air catch!

We enjoy taking turns tossing the disc for Dash and laughing at his clumsy antics.  He is so fast and accurate with the tennis ball...  Too bad that speed and skill doesn't translate into discs very well.  One of the primary reasons for getting a mini Aussie was for their intelligence and athleticism.  Maybe practice will make perfect?

lands end: part 2 of 2

Perhaps I will do my first Wordless Wednesday today...

lands end: part 1 of 2

A couple of weekends ago, it was a beautiful sunny day by San Francisco standards, so we decided to go on a long stroll as a family.  Lucky for us, there is a beautiful park/trail called Land's End just several blocks from our apartment.

Papa and Dash never miss an opportunity to walk off leash, although I'm pretty sure this is an on-leash park like most are.  Our mini Aussie is usually greeted by friendly dogs and people, but this time one of the first dogs he met were a grumpy pit bull and a grouchy jack russell.  It's a good thing the owners knew their dogs' personalities well enough to keep them on a leash.  That pair flashed some scary teeth and growled at Dash before he realized they were NOT in the mood for play time.

Sometimes I forget what a beautiful place the city can be, and how people travel from all over the world to see the Golden Gate Bridge.  It certainly is a sight to behold on a nice clear day like this one.

The Land's End trail is a relatively easy walk along the coast of the city.  There are spectacular ocean views along much of the trail, and the rest of it through forest trees and thick shrubs.  It's pretty surprising how distant this place seems from the city, even though it's within quick walking distance from our very "city" neighborhood.  I think we'd come here more often if not for the fact that most of the unfriendly dogs we've met were actually on this trail at one visit or another.

During this walk Papa was trying to get some mild training in for his upcoming nine mile trail race, so he ran up and down the stairs a few times with Dash to get some extra cardio in.  A few people along the way commented on how our mini Aussie just never seems to run out of life... and I always answered with, "You have no idea."

But I have to admit, no matter how exhausting life with our mini Aussie may be... he does have his shining moments.  Like this great picture with the bridge in the background.  He sat like a gentleman, put on a smile, and (almost) looked at the camera.  That'll do, Dash.

crissy field: part 1 of 1

One sunny weekend in mid-March we decided to take our mini Aussie pup to Crissy Field for some ball time.  (Yes, I realize at this point, this outing was almost two months ago.  Like I said, tax season and upcoming wedding on 7/3.)

This time since Dash's recall has sort of improved, instead of sticking to the grassy field area we ventured over to the beach where there were several dogs and children playing in the shallow stream running into the ocean.  I could only imagine Dash was looking at all the other dogs and people splashing around in the water and thinking, "I dunno guys, this water looks awfully cold and wet..."

Little by little Papa tossed the tennis ball in and made our mini Aussie puppy get his paws wet.  It seems like herding dogs don't have the same affinity for water as some of the other breeds.  For example, I've seen a lab at Fort Funston love water so much that he'd stick his paw into the little water dishes and kick up the water just to try to get himself wet.  The owner said the dog would do it repeatedly whenever anything with water was available to spill.

One day soon Dash will have to learn to love the water, because when we eventually move back home to Hawaii there will certainly be many beach outings in store for him.  For now we'll let him continue to stick his little paws in the water and get adjusted.  Maybe this spaniel in the background will inspire our landlocked mini Aussie puppy to jump in.

As the play session moved on Dash progressively became braver and moved into deeper water.  By this point he's went in far enough to have to shake his coat out...  Perhaps we may have a swimmer in the family after all!  LOL... although it may not be Dash.  Note Papa's shoes are on in this picture and his pants are not rolled.

fort funston: part 2 of 2

"Break time is over.  We're back in business..."

"Toss the ball!  Toss the ball!  Again!  Again..."

"Mama can I have some water, please?  Thank you..."

 "Look Mama!  We're pretending to be zebras.  Can you find me?"

"I love Fort Funston!!!  But I sure am pooped..."

fort funston: part 1 of 2

As Valentine's Day non-believers, Papa Dash and I were in no rush to get dressed up and fancy on Sunday and go anywhere special.  Instead, since the weather was nice we opted to go to Fort Funston and give Dash his first big day out since his injury.

Not only was it Dash's first big trip outside, but it was also a chance to socialize with tons of other dogs.  Basically Fort Funston is one huge dog park with all kinds of different terrain.  There are trails, hills, forested areas, sand dunes with low ground cover, paved walkways, and even beaches.  Oh, and don't forget the billions of off-leash dogs!!!  It's totally doggy heaven.

Once we parked at the large parking lot area and got away from the moving cars, we let our mini Aussie puppy off leash and he went flying.  Papa Dash spent the good part of the morning trailing after him as he literally dashed from dog to dog to person to person all over the creation.  When Dash is this excited he doesn't really have any recall skills, so we just have to be patient and wait it out.  Thankfully he's cute and small so people don't really mind his spazzy behavior.

After he focused a little more and had his initial fix of freedom, he was more than willing to play fetch with Papa Dash.  Pathetically, I still haven't gotten the hang of using the Chuckit!  My throws seem to just plunk the ball into the ground 20 feet away.

Here Papa Dash and our mini Aussie puppy are checking out the other dogs down the pathway.  Dash has been very fortunate to only meet friendly dogs at Fort Funston with equally friendly (and responsible) owners.

Looking back, I can't believe it was so sunny.  The weather was just perfect for our Valentine's Day out.  Of course, even crazy hyper dogs eventually get tired, even if just momentarily...

crissy field

One of our favorite dog friendly spots in all of San Francisco is Crissy Field.  Before I had a dog, this is where I would go to lovingly "dog stalk" people and their adorable companions.  Papa Dash and I would intentionally route our run along the coastline towards the Golden Gate Bridge just so I could see all the dogs playing on the beach and in the field.  It was heaven!  Even though I didn't own a dog it was almost like I was living vicariously through the joy of others.

Then when we got Dash, we transitioned into one of those couples who brings their puppy to Crissy Field!  It felt so awesome to share in the happiness this park brings to so many.

 

On a sunny day, being here is so picture perfect.  I mean, playing with your dog on the beach with a clear blue sky and the Golden Gate Bridge as your backdrop...  It's pretty awesome.  The only problem is that our mini Aussie puppy is still not 100% on his recall ability.  This means when there's another dog or other people around Dash sometimes gets distracted and runs off.  Then it becomes a dance to try to get his attention again.

 

 This is why I prefer to play fetch in the fields rather than the beach.  There is much more space per dog and I personally think the sight of Dash running through the green grass is so wonderful.

half moon bay

These are some of my favorite pictures of Dash when we went camping at Half Moon Bay State Beach Park in August.  They don't really need captions, since I think the progression is what most puppies go through when they have fun: crazy excitement and curiosity, then calm, then exhaustion!

mount diablo

After going to Yosemite for Papa Dash's birthday, we spent my birthday weekend in July going camping at Mount Diablo.  We booked a camp site at the highest camp grounds on the mountain, and although the sites were first come first served I think we found the prime spot.  It was on the corner on the edge of a cliff with a perfect view of the sunset.

Of course, Dash wasted no time getting REALLY dirty.  Papa Dash and I were so busy taking photos of the gorgeous views that we didn't notice the vast field of weeds Dash was rolling around in.  I personally know I was focused on learning to use my new birthday present, a cute red point-and-shoot.  (Papa Dash wanted to get me some big, fancy digital SLR but I declined and asked for something more convenient.)

Once we looked down at our mini Aussie puppy and let the image process it was waaay too late.  Dash was completely covered in burrs from head to toe!!  Our vet had warned us earlier about some weed called a fox tail (that we never had in Hawaii).  She said it could work its way through Dash's fur and eventually get lodged in his skin, requiring surgery to remove.  We sort of knew what it looked like from her sample, and this field was suddenly looking a lot like fox tails!!

I FREAKED out.  We immediately dropped what we were doing and brought Dash back to the picnic table at our camp site.  I spent the next two hours (no joke) picking burrs out of Dash's fur.  I did NOT want our puppy to have surgery.  Surprisingly, even though I thought I did a pretty thorough job, we continued to find burrs in Dash's fur throughout the night.

Anyway, back to enjoying the view...  It is sort of a tradition for Papa Dash and I to watch the sunset when "on vacation" and this night was no different... or so I thought.  As we sat there under the orange red sky, Papa Dash told me he hoped I was having a great birthday and asked me to close my eyes because he had one more birthday gift for me.  Keep in mind, he had already given me a digital camera for my birthday, so when I closed my eyes I fully expected to open them to a matching camera case.  I opened my eyes... and HOLY COW there's my perfect engagement ring staring me in the face!

Papa Dash kept it simple with "Will you marry me?" and I gave a quick yes then a big, long hug.  The scene was perfectly suited to our lifestyle, the timing was perfect, and even the ring was exactly what I always wanted!  :)

We spent our first morning as an engaged couple taking in the views with Dash at the lookout point at the peak of Mount Diablo.  The camping, the proposal, the views, everything.  The whole weekend was just breathtaking.  I will never forget this!!

yosemite: part 2 of 2

As I said in the previous Yosemite post, Papa Dash and I were born and raised in Hawai'i, so naturally we'd both grown up accustomed to the warm waters of our local beaches and rivers.  Going to Yosemite National Park with Dash was the first time we had actually experienced "mainland" swimming.  Before then we'd only stuck our fingers in the frigid Bay Area waters and gawked at how other people could brave the cold to take a dip.

At the Wowona campgrounds there was a beautiful, lazy river lined with the most beautiful river rocks I've ever seen.  The water was crystal clear and the perfect chilly temperature to swim in on such a hot summer day.  One spot was even deep enough to jump in from the bank!  How much more idyllic could it get?  Geez, Yosemite National Park was just gorgeous.  Even more than gorgeous.  There aren't even words.

Dash was clearly overheating under the baking summer sun, so we decided to bring him into the water to cool down a little.  He was a very brave mini Aussie as he was tossed into the water then paddled back to shore.  In an act of serendipity, a random floating mattress came down stream for us to play with too!  I think aside from cooling down aspect, Dash totally preferred floating like a king to swimming through the river.

It wasn't long before our puppy was all tuckered out.  He curled up in my lap to take a nap... except when he stretched out, he didn't quite fit any more.  Rather than wake him or move him I just held my hand out to support him.  Our friends thought I was crazy as I sat there patiently with my hand under Dash's head, but to me it was one of those special puppyhood moments I will never forget.  In retrospect, I'm very grateful someone thought to take a photo of it!

What a perfect day.  Our baby mini Aussie learned to dog paddle, Papa Dash and I had our first "mainland" swimming experience, and we all enjoyed the awesome beauty of the river.  I can't wait to go back again next summer!!

yosemite: part 1 of 2

Ever since Day One we'd been counting down the time until Dash could truly begin to share our love of nature!  To celebrate Papa Dash's birthday and to make Dash's first outdoor adventure a grand one, we took a long weekend off with our friends and drove all the way to Yosemite National Park.  I remember my Grandpa telling me long ago that Yosemite was one of the most beautiful places he'd ever seen (and he was far more well traveled than I will ever be) so I thought about this the whole way there. 

Once we finally stopped at a lookout... HOLY BANANAS!!!  It was the most incredible display of natural beauty I'd ever seen!!! (Even more breathtaking than anything in our home state of Hawai'i.)   Just staring into the infinite distance, blanketed in endless trees, surrounded by mammoth cliffs and waterfalls...  Words can't describe how moving the experience was.  I was even grateful there was no cell phone reception, since this way we were all completely immersed in nature.

 

Our friends had booked a campsite at the Wowona campgrounds, so after wiping our jaws off the floor we headed over there.  Being from Hawai'i, where there are no bears, Papa Dash and I paid very close attention to the ranger as he explained all the rules.  Would I be able to see a bear?  The possibility of glimpsing such a majestic wild animal was electrifying!

On the other hand, little Dash couldn't care less about bears and wasted no time getting thoroughly dirty as we set up camp.  As we settled in we were definitely glad we chose to stay out of the crowded, main village area of the park.  It was so warm and beautiful out that our roommate didn't even set up his tent.  He simply hooked up his hammock and slept under the stars.

I guess we should have researched Yosemite more before we got there, because the rangers quickly pointed out that although leashed dogs were allowed in the campgrounds, there weren't really any dog friendly hiking trails or activities.  No problem, we thought.  We'll just go check out the giant Sequoia trees for now (especially the one with the hole through the bottom).

Yosemite was ridiculously big, so we all had to drive over to the Mariposa Grove to see the giant Sequoia trees.  Unfortunately it was only once we got there and saw the signs that we realized there were no dogs allowed on the trail.  We were heartbroken!  What to do, what to do...

Hey!  Let's just carry Dash!  Our logic was that if we carried him, he wouldn't be making any impact on the natural surroundings and it would almost be like he was never there.  I'm a stickler for following the rules of the trail, so this was a very difficult choice for me to live with.  To make it even harder, we got quite a few stares as we walked the busy trail holding a puppy in our arms.  But, it was worth it.  Being in the presence of so many ancient, towering trees was again, just moving.

Okay.  You caught us.  We did let Dash walk on this one log when no one was looking.  I love seeing him experience new things.  He took to balancing along the round surface with ease, and soaked in all the smells for the few moments he was allowed to touch the log.

I think everyone should see Yosemite once in their life, and I am so happy to have shared this first with young Dash and some of the closest people in my life!