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Guys, we got this!I've been reading through all your comments from yesterday and am so excited to learn more and try new activities with her.I am so appreciative to all of you who chimed in, gave your two (or more!) cents, and shared your own monster stories. It helps me see that we're not alone.#lailalaloca #lailaibecraycray #perremoto
I've been feeling quite frustrated with La Loca over the past couple of days.I don't feel like we will ever reach a point where she's chill, or that 7 mile run is enough, or there won't be cows or goats or sheep or poop or dogs or people or smells to explore and meet and that she'll actually choose us over them.I feel like we go in circles. All presented with a Catch 22.Yesterday, we went for a trail run, starting with her on leash. But she pulls so hard that she chokes herself out. We are running, and we need exercise, too, so we allow her pull. Sick of the pulling, we let her off leash. The smells are far more exciting than us, no matter how much I squeal and clap and play bow. She blows right past us and flat out ignores our calls. Not even a look in our direction.So we have this high energy dog who needs to run. But when we run on leash, she pulls, and thus we reinforce the pulling. Off-leash, she doesn't listen. If there are people she'll jump on them. Off leash tires her more, but we reinforce other behaviors we don't want. If we work on running politely around the block in small bursts, then she doesn't burn her energy. If we don't let her off leash it's not tiring enough for her.And we do lots of hide and seek and nosework games when we're not running.See where that catch 22 gets us?We're looking into getting a trainer, so hopefully that will help tame the beast.Tell me about your monsters. There's gotta be one that's more beast than Laila. #atleastshedoesnteatthefurniture
So, a few years ago, I gave the @myraddog Release N Run collar a try. Its designed for the "mostly off-leash dog." I was super skeptical because Sora was a mostly on-leash dog. One run and I was sold. I love.this.collar.If we saw a dog or people ahead, I'd just snatch the handle that's tucked inside the collar and take control as we passed. Then, well, I'd release n run!We're still working on Laila's um, trail running management. There are lots of goats in the mountains in Spain. Goats and milk duds. 🤦‍♀️ --- Through Monday only, you can snag one of your own and get $22 off the original price with code AMBASSADOG. If you fancy the BLACK and FUCHSIA collars type in the color code as you see here and get them for $18. As a bonus, @myraddog will throw in a pocket bowl!
When your Mammaz gets sea sick and makes you spend the ferry ride outside, at least you match the dock and have a comfy bed to stay warm and cozy.Anyone else get sea sick easily? It's really got to be the most awful form of motion sickness. 🤢
Corsica has such varied terrain. At times, I felt like we were in Utah with the rock formations, like this one pictured here. Other times, it felt like Colorado with jagged peaks. On one run, I would have sworn we were running through autumn trails in New England. All the green reminded me of the Pacific Northwest. And then there were all the Sandy beaches with turquoise waters. It was like a little world tour in just one small island! . Do you have travel plans this year yet? Where has caught your eye? . Adventure sponsored by @zukespets #LiveLifeOffLeash #ZukesPack #LetsGoZukes
Had the ferry from Barcelona direct to Sardinia allowed dogs on the boat, rather than only in a kennel, where they'd have to spend the entire 12-hour ride, we never would have discovered the French island of Corsica. Instead, we drove several additional full days and took two more ferries so Laila could have a more comfortable journey and be with us through the the ride.Mountains take up 2/3 of the island and forests 20%. It has one of the most difficult multi-day treks in Europe. And if you looks at a map, it's practically all green.Needless to say, we were thrilled with the abundant nature options. We ran, we hiked, Laila sprinted along Sandy beaches, barked at the wild cows and pigs, and we ate great food. We kinda fell smitten with Corsica.You never know where life will take you when you refuse to leave your dog behind.Adventure sponsored by @zukespets #ZukesPack #LiveLifeOffLeash #LetsGoZukes
Today, on the last day of 2018, most are reflecting on the year we're about to leave behind. I, however, can only think of this same day, one year ago. Last New Year's Eve, Sora joined us on a 17.5 mile trail run. It was meant to be only 14 miles, but we made a few wrong turns and acquired some bonus miles. The sun shone brightly on this winter morning, rays refracting through the trees. This was just 2.5 months after her third cancer surgery and six weeks after her electrochemotherapy treatments. I never thought she'd be able to run the same again. But she did. She constantly amazed me with her ability to bounce back. She was my super dog. We'd bring her along on our runs, starting at 8 miles, 10 miles. Surely she would max out at 12, given her age, but no. She stuck with us mile after mile, tail wagging, smile on her face. I thought she was invincible. I was sure she'd live to be 15, still running at our sides. A couple weeks later, she joined me for another 16-miler, her last long run with me in our favorite place: Forest Park in Portland. ... After knowing her for just a week when Dave and I started dating in 2012, I stole Sora and brought her along on my running club's annual Purge n Splurge NYE run. Eleven miles in Forest Park. I knew nothing about dogs, except that I had always, always, always wanted one who could join me on my long trail runs. As she sprinted back and forth along the trail, I knew I had finally found the dog I had been waiting for my entire life. Over the next six years, we ran thousands of miles together over dirt paths around the world. While she didn't make to 15, she still runs alongside on my trail runs, mile after mile, tail wagging, smile on her face. #sorasnextadventure #powerofsora
This is Claudia of @myadventuresacrosstheworld. She is the friend we visited in Sardinia this Christmas. I don't remember when exactly we became friends, but we determined that it was likely around the time Dave, Sora and I were cycling through Turkey. That was back in 2015. Claudia fell in love with Sora (who can blame her?) and she became my first Instagram and blogging friend. I never thought Instagram would be a place where I would meet so many wonderful, like-minded people. I never thought I'd drive days and thousands of miles to go meet complete strangers. I never this little app would foster some of my most cherished friendships. I have found mentors, friends, and work with amazing brands. I am an introvert. Very much so. I like being alone and talking to people I don't know can be agonizingly painful for me. But Instagram is this beautiful place where I feel safe and have found lovely people from all over this world. Traveling like we do can be lonely at times, however, we've discovered people and places we never otherwise would have were it not for this community. I appreciate all of you who join us on our journey and if we have never met, perhaps one day we will. And if we have, I hope to see you again, soon. . Christmas union in Sardinia sponsored by @zukespets #ZukesPack #LiveLifeOffLeash #LetsGoZukes
I am a mountain girl through and through, but I have to admit, I fell quite smitten with the Sardinian coastline. 😍Christmas adventure sponsored by our friend @zukespets #LiveLifeOffLeash #ZukesPack #LetsGoZukes