I'd forgotten how much I enjoy the Ridgeback walks we used to have in Alberta. I think the last one was in November 2008 and we had about 12 Ridgebacks able to attend. Today we rounded up my four and then Po and Kiki came up from Halifax again with their friend Mayla and her honorary Ridgeback buddy Cheeto - a cocker spaniel. It was a really nice day with brisk weather, no rain and little wind to brace against. There are a lot of photos to try to sift through but I'll put up the ones I think best describe the day from the dog's point of view. All of these photos were taken by Sara - Po and Kiki's mom - are in no particular order.
Halo, Leeloo, Mayla and Archer in hot pursuit of Raimi who's turns of speed are incredibly impressive - so much so he's out of the picture! 
The group, excepting me of course taking the photo, walking along on of the ATV paths just moments from my house. 
Raimi, demonstrating that while you may be the greatest in size you are gentle in soul. He *always* lays down for a belly rub of happiness at some point on our walks. Clearly he is the poster child for why Tough Guys should look at another breed for their macho issues. 
That cannot possibly be MY dogs all begging for a treat. 
Oh look, a couple aren't mine. Ahem. You can tell which are mine because they are standing(except Halo) - I don't teach sit to my show dogs. I use the show dog excuse but really I'm just lazy. 
Raimi was on cloud 9 because he was the only 'grown up' boy and had his harem of bitches to monitor. 
Here's little Cheeto doing his best Ridgeback impression. No really, see how he's bouncing though the grass. Totally Ridgeback. 
Archer and Kiki running to catch up. Archer was deeply suspicious of Cheeto for most of the walk - as in 'What hell IS that?' Kiki was very tolerant of a young boy's attention. She was stylin' again in her pink coat and Halloween collar. 
Po pretty much kept to herself, she got involved in a couple of tussles with the pack and bounced around a bit but mostly kept to herself. In the end she had no choice to remain solitary because we think she found some cat pooh to roll in and her company was not sought after that. 
Raimi was in lurv with Mayla - his little brain was ticking over with a constant 'gurl gurl gurl gurl'.
Leeloo and Mayla are close to the same age so they hit it off pretty much right away. Once Leeloo barked Mayla into playing with her of course. It was a riot to see them blasting around like maniacs with Archer in hot pursuit. I got the impression he was saying 'But that's MY friend!'
Weird little grouping of Ridgebacks. What could cause that? I wonder. 
Raimi looking his most smartest. And Mayla's dad Al - I'm not sure if this is his most smartest look since it was the first time we met. 
Kiki catching the scent of something interesting. I bet those grasses are chock a block full of good stories for dog noses. There's Po peeking through the grass ...
A rare moment of Leeloo and her new BFF Mayla standing still. Mayla has a stick and loves to retrieve - Leeloo thinks she's crazy. 
Raimi scenting the woods - he's an expert at twitching his nose to the wind. 
Mayla and another stick. I think it's a sort of obsession. 
The group, excepting me of course taking the photo, walking along on of the ATV paths just moments from my house. Raimi, demonstrating that while you may be the greatest in size you are gentle in soul. He *always* lays down for a belly rub of happiness at some point on our walks. Clearly he is the poster child for why Tough Guys should look at another breed for their macho issues. That cannot possibly be MY dogs all begging for a treat. Oh look, a couple aren't mine. Ahem. You can tell which are mine because they are standing(except Halo) - I don't teach sit to my show dogs. I use the show dog excuse but really I'm just lazy. Raimi was on cloud 9 because he was the only 'grown up' boy and had his harem of bitches to monitor. Here's little Cheeto doing his best Ridgeback impression. No really, see how he's bouncing though the grass. Totally Ridgeback. Archer and Kiki running to catch up. Archer was deeply suspicious of Cheeto for most of the walk - as in 'What hell IS that?' Kiki was very tolerant of a young boy's attention. She was stylin' again in her pink coat and Halloween collar. Po pretty much kept to herself, she got involved in a couple of tussles with the pack and bounced around a bit but mostly kept to herself. In the end she had no choice to remain solitary because we think she found some cat pooh to roll in and her company was not sought after that. Raimi was in lurv with Mayla - his little brain was ticking over with a constant 'gurl gurl gurl gurl'.Leeloo and Mayla are close to the same age so they hit it off pretty much right away. Once Leeloo barked Mayla into playing with her of course. It was a riot to see them blasting around like maniacs with Archer in hot pursuit. I got the impression he was saying 'But that's MY friend!'Weird little grouping of Ridgebacks. What could cause that? I wonder. Raimi looking his most smartest. And Mayla's dad Al - I'm not sure if this is his most smartest look since it was the first time we met. Kiki catching the scent of something interesting. I bet those grasses are chock a block full of good stories for dog noses. There's Po peeking through the grass ...A rare moment of Leeloo and her new BFF Mayla standing still. Mayla has a stick and loves to retrieve - Leeloo thinks she's crazy. Raimi scenting the woods - he's an expert at twitching his nose to the wind. Mayla and another stick. I think it's a sort of obsession. It's hard to capture the experience of walking several Ridgebacks at a time in one photo. Once the group dynamic is established everyone settles into an easy relationship and you rarely encounter any trouble between dogs. Without human interference they become a cohesive working group and they all know where they belong in the pack within moments of its establishment. I always marvel at the dogs, my own and other people's, and their willingness to get along and enjoy the time they have together without stress. It's something we hope to do more often and definitely something that, if you are in the area, you and your Ridgeback(or if you're thinking of getting one) are more than welcome to join.
1 comment:
Great pictures of the red pups. They are all so handsome each in his or her own way. Glad you found some Ridgebacks to walk with.
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