Life at the lac http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com Most recent posts at Life at the lac posterous.com Tue, 15 May 2012 20:05:00 -0700 The art of sign design http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/the-art-of-sign-design http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/the-art-of-sign-design
"Follow the trail" would have worked just fine.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Fri, 04 May 2012 14:21:00 -0700 Sequence is important http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/sequence-is-important http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/sequence-is-important
Shouldn't the permanent injury come before death?

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Photo taken at Sidney Peer, BC

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Thu, 03 May 2012 08:57:00 -0700 Butt plant practice http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/butt-plant-practice http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/butt-plant-practice
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:51:00 -0700 Home away from home http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/home-away-from-home http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/home-away-from-home
I discovered this week that if I leave my car hatch open Maggie and Maxwell choose to hang out there during the day. Who knew my car would become a dog house!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:06:00 -0700 Follow the right sign http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/follow-the-right-sign http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/follow-the-right-sign
I chose not to follow this sign.

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 Ah, that's better.


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:21:00 -0700 Steep Hill http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/steep-hill http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/steep-hill
...if you can find it. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:06:02 -0700 Spring Skijor http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/spring-skijor http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/spring-skijor

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:03:48 -0700 Waiting for Quittin' Time http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/waiting-for-quittin-time http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/waiting-for-quittin-time
Friday afternoon in the office, with only an hour to go. Maggie is patient, but also very expressive. This is her 'bored' look.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:28:00 -0700 Do you deserve to be mud-bogged? http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/do-you-deserve-to-be-mud-bogged http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/do-you-deserve-to-be-mud-bogged
Is it just me, or does this sign make it sound like mud-bogging is something you do to people who don't follow the regulations...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:07:57 -0800 Ski Soccer http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/ski-soccer http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/ski-soccer
We managed to keep this ball in motion for several kilometres! 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:39:00 -0800 Meet Ginger! http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/meet-ginger http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/meet-ginger
On our morning walk we met up with neighbour, John, and his new dog, Ginger. Sir Maxwell and Ginger are both from Angel's Animal Rescue in Merritt. They had the best time!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:25:00 -0800 The joys and risks of outdoor fun http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/the-joys-and-risks-of-outdoor-fun http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/the-joys-and-risks-of-outdoor-fun
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This photo was taken one Sunday morning in December. We'd had fresh snow overnight, and my usual 1 - 1/2 hour morning romp with the dogs turned into a longer x-country ski outing. We ventured into new territory for Maxwell -- a trail that takes us to the very end of Lac Le Jeune. After a certain point there's no lake access from the trail, so it's either tough it out to the end, or backtrack. 

Minutes after I took this picture of the dogs doing their routine check-ins (usually in exchange for a piece of chicken or home-made pork meatballs) Maxwell disappeared. Poof. 

The advantage of fresh snow is that you can see evidence, and up ahead I found moose tracks, with dog tracks following. The moose tracks didn't appear to be fresh, but I knew they were recent because it had stopped snowing about 5pm the previous day. Then further along, moose tracks crossed the trail once more, and there were frozen droppings, again confirming for me that the moose travelled through much earlier. But never mind, Maxwell had clearly followed the tracks, and he wasn't coming when I called. And I couldn't hear any jingles from his collar. 

We continued along, and Maggie ventured off in to the trees a few times, then would come back to the trail, ears perked, nose in the air. Hmmmm, either she was trying to figure out where Maxwell had gone, or she was also interested in the scent of the moose. A few minutes passed and there was still no sign of Maxwell.

After waiting for a long time, and calling and calling, I decided to carry on down the trail. Sometimes if the dogs get sniffing in the trees they'll eventually pop back out. I kept looking back and all around, but still no sign of the little bugger (his new name at that moment). Even Maggie was starting to look concerned. 

We arrived at the lake -- finally out of the trees and into wide open space. Being on the lake also the advantage of sound carrying uphill, so I kept up with the MAAAAAAXWEEEEEEEL call. Still no sign of him. No jingle from his collar. Hmmmm. 

Next decision: carry on, or go back the way we came. At this point I was getting cold, Maggie was getting ice chunks in her paws, and we both needed some breakfast. I decided to continue on the lake instead of the trail back the house. That would take about 45 minutes instead of 90. I phoned Bob and told him to open the gate in case Maxwell arrived before us. I was pretty sure he would find his way home pretty quickly unless he was in some kind of trouble (like last time). Bob alerted neighbours that Maxwell was missing, and to keep an eye out. Several, in turn, alerted more neighbours. We have quite the supportive network in our community!

After I arrived home Bob set out in the truck to see if he could spot Maxwell on the lake or surrounding roads. He drove around, asking any passersby if they had spotted a black and white dog. During that time I warmed up and ate breakfast. Bob returned home with no good news. 

Bob was again on home duty -- thinking it would be good for one of us to stay by the phone and on the lookout. I put on my snowshoes and headed down the trail with my neighbour, Jim. 10 minutes later Jim's daughter, Corinne, called to say Maxwell had been spotted on Ridgemont Road. This is approximately a kilometre or so away, and a place where he had one been once before. Corinne reported that Maxwell looked spooked and wouldn't come anywhere near her. Nevertheless, this was GOOD news! 

Bob got back in his truck and drove up to Ridgemont. I assumed that would be the end of it. Maxwell would see Bob, and he would leap into the back seat as he always does. The truck is his favourite thing! But it seems Maxwell was moving too quickly -- making his way through a back yard and onto the trail again. Bob and Jim tracked Maxwell's route and saw that he hesitated when he got to a fence, but went right through it. After that point his tracks were lost in the many other boot and snowshoe stomps, including my own because I swept through the same area after Corinne's phone call. 

How strange that Maxwell could be so close to home, yet not be able to find it! Why had he ventured up to unfamiliar houses? Is his sense of direction and smell that bad? Couldn't he hear us calling him? We were really puzzled by this point.

Again we returned home. And again Bob went out looking for Maxwell, this time on snowshoes. I was layering on more clothes in preparation for my next shift when I got a call from friends, John and Colleen, who were part of the "Maxwell phone network". They had spotted a dog that looked like Maxwell out in the middle of the lake (don't worry, it's frozen!). John called him, but *surprise*! Maxwell looked spooked and wouldn't come. (And John is someone Maxwell sees every week at the dump, and gets amazing treats from him!) Bob and I connected by phone, and he set out on the trail in the direction of Maxwell. 

So almost 7 hours later, Maxwell had been found. He was SO EXCITED to see Bob. Maggie and I went out on the lake to meet them. Despite being completely exhausted, Maxwell had enough energy for kisses and a little tumble with Maggie on the way home. This was a route and routine that he had done MANY times before. 

I still think about that day and wonder why Maxwell wasn't able to find his way home. We've had a million off leash outings since then, and while he might disappear for a few minutes into the trees, he always comes back to me. 

Was he lost? Was he so freaked out that he couldn't think? We'll never know.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:12:00 -0800 Where do savvy dogs come from? http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/95384842 http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/95384842

I spend a good chunk of my time observing Maggie and Maxwell in different situations, trying to figure out what causes stress, frustration, and reactive behaviour, and what makes them relaxed and happy. I'm noticing that they have a lot in common. Both are:

Reactive in a room full of dogs on leash <<<>>> Happier than stink with a big gang of dogs running around like nutballs in the snow.

Tentative around certain people <<<>>> Oblivious to those same people when there's lots going on

Reactive if they see one person on a trail  <<<>>> Just fine walking down a busy street

On the way home from Maxwell's obedience class where he was all barky and lungey at the other dogs, and too nervous to work with Mary, the instructor, on a doggie zen demo, I stopped for a walk off Lac Le Jeune Road for a stroll. Maxwell had his ball, and Maggie was off sniffing in the bushes (she hauled out a deer carcus). No stress, just pure fun, exercise, and fresh air. 

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Then off in the distance I saw someone with too many dogs to count. I put Maggie on a leash and was trying to get Maxwell to come closer (not easy when he has a ball -- that's another story) and watched as the dogs approached. The dog walker looked very relaxed, and was probably amused as she watched me working on a plan.

They got closer. There were so many of them. I thought oh the heck with it, and let Maggie off the leash. When we met I watched all the dogs go through their rituals. Maxwell at one point had his tail down and crouched as 2 dogs sniffed around him. Maggie was her usual perky and whale-eyed self. But this only lasted a minute. Actually less than a minute. I asked the dog walker if I could tag along, and off we went for a few kilomometres. Maxwell and Maggie were showing all the signs of calm, happy, normal dogs -- wagging tails, chasing, rolling, laughing. They would check back then off they'd go again. 

I watched as dogs scolded Maggie for getting into herding mode, and as Maxwell got a little too pushy. At one point a rancher drove by and Maxwell started to chase the truck, then turned back as if to say "hey, isn't anybody going to join me?". Then he rejoined the gang, promptly forgetting about that bit of excitement. I loved the way the dogs were just working things out without any interventions from us humans.

The dog walker was Ashley from Urban Tailz in Kamloops. She offers a variety of services, from dog sitting to pet taxis, and dog walking. During the walk I had a chance to pick her brain about canine behaviour, and listen to her unsolicited observations. "Look, Maxwell's tail is now held very high. He's no longer worried. He's becoming quite confident." "Don't worry about Maggie. The others will let her know when they've had enough of her."

Ashley said something that really stuck with me. "It's amazing to watch how dogs learn from other dogs." We also talked about how some dogs have common sense, and that it comes from being exposed to a lot of different situations, and from having to figure out things for themselves. Sure some dogs can sit, stay, shake, etc but how are they out in the real world?

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This conversation made me think about Little Bob and Flower, dogs that have stayed at our house over the years. Their owner, Lynn, says that Little Bob learned everything from watching his mom, Flower. They seem to instinctively know what to do. They're those collarless, leash less type of dogs that will stay outside the store when you run in for milk. Lynn would drop the dogs off at our house, throw down a blanket, fill a bucket with water, then drive away. These dogs trusted that everything would be okay. This was even when there was nobody home and we had no fence. One time I ran into a bear walking with Little Bob and Flower. I told them to stay close and they did, one on either side of me as we marched down the road. A few times I put Little Bob on a leash because I was worried about traffic on a busy street, and he heeled like a show dog. Why are some dogs so savvy?

I was also thinking about a recent conversation with my sister, Juila, about dogs we owned when we were younger. I talked about the day I picked up Jesse, a golden retriever cross, from a dog resue place in Aldergrove. I was in my early 20s and renting a house in Chilliwack. I put her in the front seat and drove straight to my mom's house in Abbotsford. We jumped out of the truck -- no fence, no leash. I don't think it even occurred to me that I should have her on a leash. It must have been a long weekend because several of my sisters were there. Nothing bad happened. We played in the yard, Jesse came inside the house. We probably even left her outside unattended while we ate dinner. The weeks, and years that followed, Jesse came everywhere with me -- tenting, fishing, loud house parties… and never complained if she spent long hours at home while I was at work. She was one of those easy going savvy dogs. She just figured stuff out. Was it because I was so relaxed?

Fast forward to life at Lac Le Jeune. When we moved here 12 years ago there were many dogs in the neighbourhood and very few fences. We had regular visitors to our house -- Bailey the golden would make his evening rounds and would grin in exchange for a treat. Rubel the lab would join hikers for a walk around the lake. Benji the silken terrier would let out a big warning bark every time he exited the house in anticipation of a reappearance of the moose that chased him up the driveway one winter. Koda the big, loveable, and eventually deaf, mutt would wander down the street to hang out on our porch when her owners weren't at home. 

Our own little 3-legged Sheltie, Skippy, only left our property on his own 2 times during his 11 years of life -- each time in search of help during a thunder storm. We didn't teach him these boundaries. We left the dog door open so he could come inside for safety and comfort when he neded it. He simply made a choice to stay on our property. Very Sheltie like but also a good example of a dog with a lot of common sense.

I sometimes feel that Maggie and Maxwell would be much like these other savvy dogs if I would just let them make choices more often, and just be dogs.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:42:07 -0800 Lac Je Jeune Cinema http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/lac-je-jeune-cinema http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/lac-je-jeune-cinema
When does the movie start?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:48:32 -0800 Heading home http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/heading-home http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/heading-home
Flaked out in the back of the truck. That must have been some trip to town!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:19:26 -0800 Early morning lake ski http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/early-morning-lake-ski http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/early-morning-lake-ski
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 Practicing 'wait'. Maggie is pretty pleased with herself, as usual.


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 Notice the whip-around-recall tracks in the snow!


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Come on lil' doggies! Maggie trying to keep up with Maxwell, as usual.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:06:00 -0800 Wrong trail http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/wrong-trail http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/wrong-trail
I ended up on the wrong trail this morning. Fine for a snowshoe outing but I'd say it's a cycling trail to avoid!
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:56:34 -0800 Maggie wants to nap outside http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/maggie-wants-to-nap-outside http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/maggie-wants-to-nap-outside
Maggie attempted to drag her favourite quilt through the dog door. I found her on the other side curled up on the section she did manage to pull through!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:53:00 -0800 Hunting http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/hunting http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/hunting
I think Miss Maggie has been teaching Sir Maxwell all of her hunting tricks. These two can find voles under the snow! 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:29:41 -0800 Lunch Time Traffic Jam http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/lunch-time-traffic-jam http://sylviacurrie.posterous.com/lunch-time-traffic-jam
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1885303/steamhead.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5egWjhQ8wAs9 Sylvia Currie sylvia currie Sylvia Currie