WE LOVE TO HIKE!!

GROUP HIKE NOVEMBER 21

ABOVE: Captain and Speckles

Below: Gigi

So it's like 65 degrees and the holidays are nearly upon us. Really. Potential upcoming stress, perhaps?
Well, a few of the adventurous dogs at Stray Rescue helped Rumi, Barbi and I realize that the STRESS STUFF is really just in our heads.
If we needed a pre-season pick-me-up, this hike was the answer.
Three PERFECT canines were our Sunday medication.
First, there's Gigi.
I say first mainly because, well, to put it bluntly, Gigi is aptly named. She is a runway model, a famous actress, a gregarious hostess of a gala event! AND she LOVES the LIMELIGHT, of course! So she MUST be numero uno, Daaaaling!
Though she looks so pensive in this photo, she really is more of a fun-loving, goofy, affectionate stuffed animal-comes-alive type. Gigi is downright jovial! (BTW, she thinks she is a LAP DOG!!) Her hiking buddy Barbi, a SR volunteer--who is just crazy about her--had suggested Gigi as one of the dogs eligible for a day out on the trail! And it is easy to see why!

The pensive look is one of her best model poses!

 in green (collar), no? (YES!)

Taking a break by the Meramec with Barbi

Gigi was a great part of our team. She adjusted so easily to everything. And she loved being outdoors. She loved this hole in a tree! She loved being with PEOPLE even more.

Not only is she all of the above, but she has some other key qualities:

* Rides well in the car

* Neither timid nor aggressive with any humans even total strangers (as well as canines)
* She seems to be ultra-social

* Well-behaved and willing to please her companion

* Energy level in the normal range--not too much and not too little! 

* Did I say adorable yet?
Click here to consider Rent-a-Pet with Gigi!! Fun way to have an adoptable dog for a couple days (usually weekends).
http://www.strayrescue.org/

Next: Captain!

Now, he wouldn't appreciate coming before any of the ladies here, but since he was our only male, I want to focus on him a bit. He truly is a gentleman. He displayed enough gentle strength and notable regard for all of us, that he reminded me of Gregory Peck in "To Kill a Mockingbird"--I AM SERIOUS!

He seemed to understand what the day was ABOUT--why we were there on a trail. He had a wise and confident air about him and a softness similar to a fleece blanket. His beauty reminded me of a lion.

He was also very attentive to the ladies, and was an easy partner for Rumi. Not much pulling, no trouble with control. He did lose some of his breakfast in the back of her car, but she thinks it may have been the long ride (35 mins one way) and somewhat bumpy action of her Jeep.

Strong and beautiful

Attentive and alert

Cooperative and gentle with Rumi

Need I tell you he is a fine looking guy?

Convinced, yet?

On the trail, Captain was agile and robust. He appeared to prefer being in back, letting all the ladies walk ahead, while he took the lookout position. A cautious and careful lab mix, he seemed to make observations before making decisions. Observant and watchful. Nice.
Now, Third, but NEVER last--SPECKLES!Not many faces have the features of this delightful lady! I had noticed her in the background in one of the apartments at Pine. She seemed a bit shy in her apartment, but curious,soft and warm. She was mine for the day and I loved the entire hike with her! All around steady. All around easy. All around funny! At the beginning of the hike, she found a soft pile of dirt, and gave us a sweet moment of hilarity!

OOPS! CAUGHT HAVIN FUN!

If you look at this lovely girl up close, you will find several dozen spots--mostly the size of coins--all over her skin. A few actually color the hair dark, but as you can see, she is primarily white. Lovely, short-haired coat of marshmallow white...with a tiny mustache (only female I know that looks just fine with one!). As we hiked, I loved watching her twisty-bent ears bounce up/down...up/down--it was fun to kind of pace myself with the little bloop-bloop-bloop of those dainty flaps!

She was ideal as a dog partner. Speckles was not a puller; she was quiet and composed and attentive to her human companion at all times. Like the others, she did not freak at passers-by, not even cyclists zooming around us. Though she was not as outgoing as Gigi (but then I can't imagine any dog as congenial as Gigi!!) she held her own with all of us--giving an adequate dose of tail wagging, smiling and kissing--and did it with grace. Since I have been using a bit of a Hollywood angle, Speckles comes real close to a Canine Grace Kelly!

 So sweet and soft, though a wee bit shy

 Introducing her to REAL water (vs. tap!)at the Meramec

Dignified and poised, Speckles is a beautiful terrier mix with a classy style. Guess what? She is available for adoption!
http://strayrescue.org/adopt/speckles

You can check out all of these awesome canine companions on the web or in person!!
http://www.strayrescue.org/
2320 Pine Street, near Jefferson, downtown
(And give them kisses from Rumi, Barbi and me!)<3 <3 <3

RETURN TO THE TRAIL

the boys were back outdoors

ROCK ^^ AND DANNY (below)

Sometimes special friends feel a need to get together.

Like a human-human relationship, it can be just as heart-warming

 to re-connect human to dog.

Well, it was time to do just that.

Danny and Rock

 have been two of our favorites, and are so awesome to hike with.

Anyway, they seemed to have been sending us

 some kind of telepathic messages

 (ya know, through the doggie bark system)

"take us out....we wanna hike again!"

So this week we took a little of our afternoon and spent time

with them, as well as a few of our own (and Radish the foster babe).

Pictures say alot, but the main things I can tell you about them is~~

Either one of these two boys is absolutely

perfect for someone-maybe you!

Danny: devoted, loyal, G.E.N.T.L.E.

Patient, intelligent, non-aggressive.

Rock: fun, oblivious to everything around him if his nose is turned ON,

great bark, soft and gentle with plenty of affection to give.

Danny is a lab-sheaprd mix, and Rock is a hound-terrier combo.

 So here's what they look like!

ROCK plus SNIFF equals HAPPY

DANNY plus RADISH equals HAPPY!

ROCK AND RADISH!

DANNY AND TWO OF MINE

DANNY SMILING AT THE LOVING HE's GETTING

These are the faces of some amazing dogs. Don't you agree?
There are separate blog postings on these guys
 back a few. Head back and get more details! 
Ask anyone who knows dogs: these two are lovely choices for adoption.
They currently are waiting for thier forever family to walk into the door
 at Stray Rescue on Pine, near Jefferson in downtown St. Lou.


http://strayrescue.org/adopt/rock

http://strayrescue.org/node/888

CONGRATULATIONS DAWNIE!

And to her new family--you have a beautiful friend! Enjoy!

Get Ready for a Monsoon?

Believe me with a name like that, at first  I was hesitant

 to take this guy hiking!

My son Andy had been asking for several weeks,

 "This is the weekend you take Monsoon, right?"

I would seriously just roll my eyes. I just wasn't going

 to alter my list of recommended hiking dogs

 for a guy who is way too busy to--HIKE? with his MOM?

He caught WIND of Monsoon on www.strayrescue.org one evening

and fell for that awesome face with the patch over the eye.

Big guy with big heart for a big patch-eyed pup.

So, I finally fit him into this weekend's plans-

-as long as ANDY was going hiking too!

So to Pine Street we went.....Monsoon had his usual expression

 which seemed to say---"What?" when we approached him.

 One glance at this brawny young man

 and he was at his door ready for a few hours of guy time!

BTW, they connected immediately.

I realized after seeing this fella willingly hop into my vehicle

with little coaxing and sit quietly in the truck camper,

 act fairly calm at the house,

show some politeness, and

get sweet and cozy with the guys

that he was just a soft, pleasant spring mist!

No major STORM here!

Monsoon seemed to have a 'thing' <3 for Miss Callie (and treats)



Hangin out with John (and watching Callie)

He semed drawn to our female hound <3 and connected with
 Max, Andy's one-year old heeler. In fact, these three were our hiking
 companions that day!

As soon as we started our trek,
Monsoon, Max and Andy
were inseparable.
 [I was basically the refreshment server and photo lady :-)]

On the trail with Andy, Max and Monsoon



To be honest, this guy was not a tugger or puller
 like I thought he might be!

Sure, he was excited and loved to explore, run, and jump over logs,

 (he was really cool to watch SAIL over log after log!),

but he seemed to understand he was

on a leash under the supervision of a human
and, most of the time, he was pretty easy to control!
(Remember: gentle spring mist.)

Monsoon wasn't  heavily into tracking scents like many dogs
 I've been on trails with (which by the way
 can slow you down to a dead stop frequently sniff..sniff..sniff!),
 but he sure loved to LISTEN to the sounds all around him.
So attentive! Snap of a branch to the west! Head quickly turned. 
 Woodpecker tapping in the valley below! Whoa!-still-shhhh-

--WHAT was THAT?!
As you can see, Monsoon is a beautiful terrier mix. Brindle patches.
Extremely sleek, muscular build.  Very agile with lively gait.
Persistent wind, heavy rain?
Well, persistent, yes. 
Persistently ADORABLE!!!!!!

I like this kind of MONSOON, doggone it!!!

Isn't he amazing? How about gorgeous?

Oh, and he's also a real clown!

Gee, I wonder what Andy saw in that photo

 on the Stray Rescue website? DUH!!!!!

Have I said enough?

 I mean, my son has been talking about him almost NONSTOP...

Oh, and he HAS A DOG already....

and he currently "RESIDES" WITH US....

Would someone please keep Andy from bringing home

yet another canine?

MAX-IMAL

THE FUTURE...oh PLEASE.

 NO absolutely NOT!

So here is what YOU can do-just check him out...click here...

only if you are looking for everything BUT a DOWNPOUR!

http://strayrescue.org/adopt?s=Monsoon&field_type_value_many_to_one=Dog&field_gender_value_many_to_one=All&field_status_value_many_to_one=All

Rainbow at the end of the storm.