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.
Made in the Shade
It was a beautiful morning at Lake Erie Metropark.
Rocky poses under a shade tree at Cove Point in Lake Erie Metropark.
I returned to Lake Erie Metropark today, this time with Rocky. We had beautiful weather for our visit, with sunny blue skies and temps in the low seventies. We spent our time at Cove Point, an open and airy space with plenty of room to roam and expansive views of the water.
Rocky found some relief from the sun under a beautiful shade tree and it was the perfect place to capture this shot of him showing off his prosthetic leg. The leg makes it possible for Rocky to explore more of the park today, and has expanded his range since receiving it late last year.
Rocky has no trouble at all getting around on three legs, but in a scenario like ours today where there is a lot of ground to cover, the hopping motion he makes to get around becomes tiring. The leg provides some relief for that. The harness is easily removed in a situation where the leg interferes with climbing or resting, as he is doing in the shot below.
I’m looking forward to more exploring with Rocky as our weekly day trips continue every Thursday. ❤️
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. ❤️
Sunny Skies for Rocky
Rocky and I had beautiful weather for today’s day trip.
Rocky takes in the view on the shore of the North Lagoon at Sterling State Park.
Today was Rocky’s turn for a day trip, and he lucked out weather-wise, especially compared to Ringo’s rainy outing yesterday. We went to Sterling State Park which was much busier today because of the beautiful weather. We started at the south end of the park where I let Rocky burn off some of the excitement from the car ride, then made our way to the North Lagoon where Rocky found a sandy spot next to the water where he could take in the view.
This is the first time I’ve seen Rocky near water. I’ve always been curious about his desire and ability to swim since he only has one leg in front for paddling. He would need a life jacket and human assistance to be safe. Maybe one day we’ll find a place to safely test his swimming skills and interest. Until then, he seems content to enjoy the water from shore.
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!
Whoops
My first blooper.
I had my first blooper today and it was a doozie. I dropped my remote shutter release in the water, so this is the last shot of the day, and the last shot my old shutter release will ever take. But the great part is that the moment actually got captured by the camera! Now that’s a lucky shot. 😂
Free to Roam
A dog-less day trip.
A solo trip to Sterling State Park without a dog in tow gives me some time to linger.