A Cold Ride for Ringo
It was really cold today, but Ringo and I still had a great time.
Winter just won’t let go this year and today’s cold weather limited our ground time during Ringo’s visit at Willow Metropark. We hopped out of the FJ for a couple of quick walks at different locations in the park, after learning that one of our favorite trails here is closed for construction. Of course we took a moment for Ringo’s signature shot with his head peeking out the back window of my FJ cruiser. I never get tired of this shot, and Ringo never disappoints, even in the cold weather.
A Rain Check for Ringo
Ringo and I took our first trip this year to Sterling State Park today.
Yesterday’s torrential rain forced Ringo to take a rain check for our weekly day trip. The weather improved today so we headed out to Sterling State Park, our first stop here this year. Our options were limited by a trail closure but we had a blast visiting one of our favorite day trip destinations. And once again, Ringo crushed his signature shot peeking his head out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser.
Happy Hour with Ringo
A great time for a walk, despite the rain.
A light rain didn’t deter Ringo and I from heading out for a happy hour walk at Willow Metropark. It’s a great time of day to squeeze one more fun activity in before the sun sets on the day. Of course, we took a few minutes for Ringo’s signature shot peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser.
On the Road Again
Ringo and I took advantage of the nice weather.
January’s weather has been brutal. Bitter cold temps combined with high winds have disrupted all aspects of my routine, from daily runs to the weekly outings with the dogs, and I’ve been planning around the weather all month.
Ringo and I usually follow a rain or shine policy with his training rides, but rain or shine becomes play it by ear in Michigan’s winter months. We started the year off right with a New Year’s Day ride, but have missed a number of rides due to severe weather and a week I lost to illness early in the month.
We finally caught a break today with temperatures in the forties and plenty of sunshine, so Ringo and I headed out for a make up ride. We may be out of practice but Ringo’s posing skills are still sharp. He turned out two great shots in his signature pose peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. ❤️
New Year’s Day Ride with Ringo
A new year begins with Ringo at my side.
I started the year off right with a fun day trip to Willow Metropark with my go-dog. A light snow set the mood for a winter walk, and of course, we took some time at the end for photos. Ringo aced his signature shot peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. He also turned out a few more fun shots, below.
Holiday Spirit with Ringo
Ringo crushed his training ride and his Christmas photo.
Ringo and I had a fantastic training ride today. It was a bit too cold for a long walk outdoors, so I decided to take Ringo for some retail visits. We got into the holiday spirit at Lowe’s, where we were surrounded by Christmas trees, wreaths and enormous inflatables of The Grinch and Snoopy. From there, we finally made it through Petsmart for the first time, which is a huge win for Ringo. Ringo’s stellar performance continued with today’s photo in his signature pose peeking out the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. ❤️
Morning Ride with Ringo
It was a beautiful morning at Willow Metropark.
Ringo and I took a ride to Willow Metropark this morning. We had beautiful weather as we hit the trails, the ground covered in a thick carpet of copper colored leaves. As usual, Ringo indulged me in a brief photo session before we headed home, adding another fabulous signature shot to the Ringo on the Go collection.
Fall Colors with Ringo
A beautiful day with my go-dog.
Ringo and I took a drive through Lower Huron Metropark and enjoyed the fall colors. In today’s photos, he poses for his signature shot surrounded by the beautiful shades of orange and yellow that could be seen throughout the park during our drive.
Afternoon Adventure with Ringo
Today's day trip with Ringo raised my sense of adventure.
Ringo and I took an afternoon drive today and had a blast just rolling along US-12 with no particular destination in mind. The point of today’s trip was to practice with a longer distance and unfamiliar stops. This was successful as a training exercise and also added a sense of adventure to our afternoon.
Ringo once again pulled off his signature pose with today’s beautiful shot taken at Hayes State Park. I think it’s one of the best Ringo on the Go captures yet.
Retail with Ringo
We took it up a notch on Ringo’s 25th training ride.
Today was Ringo’s 25th training ride since we began the Ringo on the Go weekly trips earlier this year. Rocky reached the same milestone last week. Ringo has been doing so well lately that I took it up a notch today by adding some retail visits to our trip.
After a perfect performance at Sterling State Park, we headed into town and hit a few dog-friendly locations. I’ve never taken Ringo into a retail establishment until today and was feeling a bit anxious about it. But it was finally go-time and Ringo didn’t disappoint.
I had three stops in mind, with increasing levels of difficulty, and we made our stops from easiest to hardest. Ringo aced the first two stops at Tractor Supply and Lowe’s, politely walking through the stores as if we did this everyday. I admit, I was stunned at his stellar performance in these stores, and apologized for underestimating him.
We found our limitations in the PetSmart parking lot, when Ringo lost his composure. He’s an excitement barker and gets overly excited when he encounters other dogs. While we didn’t make it inside PetSmart, today was a huge success.
We learned how important it is to keep challenging ourselves rather than resting on our wins. How rewarding it is to try something new, even if it makes us uncomfortable. And that failure is just a part of the process, and motivation to keep trying.
Not only did we hit a big PR with two successful retail stops, we also learned our limits and now have a very clear goal to work towards. I’m confident that one day I’ll be walking through PetSmart with a composed Ringo by my side. We just need to work up to it.
I noticed the Cinnabon food truck in the parking lot and figured Ringo had earned a celebration treat. I got a pack of four mini Cinnabons, one for Ringo to have on the spot, and then one each for Ringo, Rocky and Moose once we got home. ❤️
A Gold Star for Ringo
Ringo was perfect today!
Ringo performed flawlessly on his training ride today, walking nicely on leash, being polite (not barking at) other park visitors, and turning out this beauty of a shot. Today’s gold star performance took place at Crosswinds Marsh, a favorite stop not too far from home.
A 180 with Ringo
Ringo turned my day around.
Ringo and I head out on Wednesdays rain or shine, but the issue today wasn’t the weather, it was my mood. I didn’t feel like taking today’s trip but I pushed my bad attitude aside and headed to Sterling State Park with an always-ready Ringo. The beauty of the rain-or-shine policy is that I keep these dates no matter what is going on (including a bad mood) and the policy worked in my favor today as getting out of the house with Ringo is exactly what I needed. His happy attitude is contagious and before long I was out of my doldrum and feeling a really good vibration.
My Go Dog
A fun shot of me and my go-dog.
I love this shot of me with Ringo, perfectly capturing our fun adventures together. Ringo is the only dog I have who is comfortable in a car, and the only dog who poses like this from the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. Today’s photo is a new twist on Ringo’s signature shot, with me getting in on the shot. ❤️
This photo was captured at Sterling State Park, a favorite stop for Ringo and me on our Wednesday day trips. Not just fun outings, Wednesdays are also practice days, so Ringo can get more experience being out and about, while gaining exposure to new situations and settings. It’s all part of socializing him and getting him prepped for the ultimate road trip - a 1,500 mile cross country move.
For more shots of Ringo in his signature pose, click on the Ringo on the Go tag at the end of this post.
Ringo on a Roll
Practice leads to progress.
Today’s day trip to Lake Erie Metropark marks Ringo’s fifteenth outing since we started this weekly routine. The early trips were bumpy, and I wondered if I’d be able to keep them up. But I committed to the habit, and week after week, we headed out rain or shine.
The progress made has been well worth the effort. I’ve found that the most rewarding things in life typically come with hard work and slow results, and the efforts I’m putting into dog training now are a good example of that. While we still have work to do, Ringo’s improvement to date can be seen both during our day trips and at home in daily life.
Ringo was once the dog whose severe separation anxiety had me trapped at home, and now he is the dog who has me out and about again. He’s my go-dog, and that’s an amazing transition.
This began as preparation for the ultimate road trip - a cross country move I plan to make in a few years from Michigan to New Mexico. Having three well-behaved dogs who can tolerate a four day trek across country is going to be important for our safety and my sanity. But the benefits go well beyond being prepared for a future move. My bond with Ringo has grown closer, his trust in me as a guardian seems stronger, and we are just having a lot of fun together. ❤️
More Rain for Ringo
Ringo and I braved the rain again this week.
We had rain again for Ringo’s day trip today. But as I wrote before, we head out rain or shine on Wednesdays and make the best of the experience. We visited Sterling State Park today because it’s nice to be near the water when it’s raining.
There were a few breaks in the rain when it wasn’t pouring and we took some quick walks in the drizzle. Ringo spent this time with his nose glued to the ground, gathering up what is likely a cacophony of smells for him, but included at least one dead fish on the shore and a small black snake hanging out next to the water.
I got several great shots of Ringo in what has become his signature pose, peering out from the back window of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. He’s a fantastic model, and the range of poses and expressions he offers up keeps these photos fun and fresh despite the repetitive setting of the vehicle. I got soaked taking those shots but it was worth it!
Rain or Shine with Ringo
He’s my go-dog, rain or shine. ❤️
Ringo and I keep our date on Wednesdays regardless of weather, as long as it’s safe to be on the road. Since it’s practice for a future cross-country road trip, driving in all kinds of weather makes it more realistic. Today’s trip took us to Sterling State Park, a great place to wait out the afternoon storm before heading home.
Ringo on the Go
Ringo and I have a date every Wednesday.
Every Wednesday, Ringo and I take a break from the pack and head out for a day trip. This important one-on-one time doubles as training time in anticipation of a cross-country drive that will happen when I move back to New Mexico in a few years. Ringo is great in the car but his pit stops need work, so we practice every Wednesday while having a fun outing together. Of course, it’s also a great opportunity for photos. This photo was taken at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, another spot on my Detroit-area bucket list that I finally visited. ❤️