Two Years with Ringo
Ringo is a major influence in my life.
Today is Ringo’s two year anniversary with me. His anniversary comes on the heels of Rocky’s four year anniversary and Moose’s first, which both took place in August. We celebrated the occasion with donuts for everyone (including me). 😀
As I wrote about on his first anniversary, Ringo has had a significant influence on my photography and lifestyle, and that influence continues today. In the beginning, his separation anxiety kept me close to home, which is when and why I began to focus my camera on daily life.
Now, Ringo is the dog who has me on the go, once again influencing my photography and lifestyle. His weekly Ringo on the Go day trips have established him as my go-dog, and turned out a series of photos in what has become his signature shot.
Ringo has also had a big influence in the lives of the other dogs, gracefully occupying the role of the middle dog. He has somehow managed to remain best friends with Rocky while being an amazing big brother to Moose, embracing both of these roles whole heartedly.
So much has happened over the past two years, and Ringo’s influence is apparent on the blog, as he is featured here quite often. He’s in the middle of all of the action and activity, and he is so photogenic! But most of all, he is sensitive, attuned, and attentive, making him the best best friend a girl or dog could ask for.
Happy anniversary Ringo! I’m looking forward to more years, more memories, more photos and more changes with you at my side!
Rocky Unleashed
Rocky brightens up a cloudy day.
It’s a weekday, summer is over, and the skies are cloudy, which means fewer park visitors at Oakwoods Metropark today. We had the spacious Cedar Knoll area all to ourselves and I let Rocky explore off-leash. As he explored, I captured a few shots of him posing with some early fall colors in the background.
The fall colors add a little sparkle to the cloudy background, but nothing sparkles more brightly than Rocky who makes his own sunshine on cloudy days. It’s impossible to have a bad day with this happy go-getter at my side. ❤️
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.
Sleepless in September
Moose’s insomnia is keeping all of us awake at night.
The Mighty Moose has developed a mysterious case of insomnia and his nocturnal restlessness is keeping all of us awake at night. We’re working through the issue with our beloved veterinarian “Dr. J” but sleep deprivation has taken its toll this month. Heavy rain kept us inside today, presenting the perfect opportunity to catch up on some much-needed rest and to capture these beautiful indoor shots of the dogs.
Reliable Ringo
I can always count on Ringo for a beautiful portrait.
Nothing extraordinary going on today other than this shot of Ringo. I can always count on him for a beautiful portrait.
Action Oriented
Ringo and Moose could play all day.
Ringo and Moose have been enthusiastic playmates since the moment they met. I love capturing them in action.
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. ❤️
Blazing New Trails with Rocky
Rocky explores a new trail at Willow Metropark today.
Today’s day trip to Willow Metropark marks Rocky’s 25th day trip since we began this weekly routine. We’ve clocked many miles and steps since then and that practice has led to a lot of progress. Today we explored a new trail, which Rocky enjoyed on both three and four legs.
Say Goodbye to Summer
Another summer flies by.
It’s time to say goodbye to summer. Goodbye to short shorts, sunshine and longer days. The cooler temps have blown in, the leaves are falling, the seasons are changing. Summer flew by this year, but only because I was having so much fun. 😀
Rocky Shines at Sterling
Spreading positive vibes wherever he goes.
Rocky and I took a day trip to Sterling State Park today. I chose Sterling because the Rockstar needs to work on keeping it together in a moving vehicle, and a trip to Sterling gives him more time in the car. He tolerated the car ride well and then it was showtime!
Being the handsome hunk that he is, he turns a lot of heads. Most people have the same reaction to him. On the first look, they say, aww, what a cute dog. Then they realize he’s a three-legger and the fawning begins.
There is something about the underdog that reaches people on a deeper level. They want to know what happened to him, they want to punish the people who were responsible for it, and they love hearing that he got the ultimate revenge by overcoming it all and living his best life.
Just seeing him enjoy a summer afternoon in a beautiful park makes their day. It’s like he’s an official uncertified therapy dog.
While Rocky is unlikely to meet the incredibly high standards to become a legitimate therapy dog, he has a gift for lifting spirits and creating positive vibes everywhere he goes. My goal with Rocky is to get him to the point where he can visit dog-friendly retail establishments and interact with more people. I’m confident we’ll make that happen, it’s just a matter of practice.
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.
Four Years with Rocky
Rocky is a role model for gracefully adapting to change.
Four years ago, I was standing in line at the shelter waiting to meet Rocky. It was the height of the pandemic and pet adoptions were at an all time high. This particular shelter has a first come, first served policy on pets, and I was hoping to be the first one to get to Rocky, who had just been featured on their social media channels as available for adoption.
As fate would have it, I was first to see Rocky. He came bounding in, sixty pounds of joy filling the meeting room with his energy, love and readiness. It was love at first sight for everyone, that magical chemistry that removes any doubts or fears and opens up a brightly lit path for a new beginning.
Rocky’s front left leg had been amputated five days earlier, leaving only a gruesome row of stitches across the side of his shaved body. He had already adapted to the missing leg, and wanted nothing more than to play with his new big brother Charlie, despite the veterinarian’s orders that he rest for several weeks while his surgical wound healed.
Rocky found a sense of security in Charlie, a dog twelve years senior to him, and they began a two-year journey together, bonding quickly as if they knew their time together would be short. When Charlie passed, I was concerned about how Rocky would react, but he showed his characteristic adaptability as he gracefully transitioned from little brother to an only dog.
A month went by as I tried Rocky out as an only dog, a situation I wanted for myself. But a one-dog situation was not in the cards for me or for Rocky. I was being called to make room for another dog and Rocky was being called to take on another role, this time as big brother.
Enter Ringo, another dog with a rough start in life involving physical trauma, finding refuge in my home with the help of a more experienced dog. It would now be Rocky’s turn to provide a sense of security and leadership for a younger dog. Once again, Rocky adapted and became the capable big brother he was taught to be by Charlie.
The Rocky and Ringo chapter was meant to be, with a pairing so perfect, I felt the Universe’s magic in making it happen. It lasted about ten months before I had a temporary loss of sanity and adopted a puppy. I didn’t realize it at the time, but by bringing Moose home I was asking Rocky to become the leader of this newly formed pack.
Rocky approached this next step cautiously, observing Ringo and Moose from a distance while they chased one another around the backyard, playing rambunctiously, Ringo effortlessly taking on the role of big brother to Moose. While Ringo and Moose became playmates, it became evident that Rocky was the leader of this pack, and Rocky once again adapted to a new situation and a new role.
Watching Rocky gracefully evolve in his roles from little brother to only dog, big brother and leader of the pack in a matter of three years has been truly inspiring, especially following his ultimate act of adaptability after losing his leg and starting a whole new life here. Any time I feel self-doubt, fatigue or worry, I turn to Rocky and find the motivation I need to keep going, push harder, or try something new.
We were meant to be together. He needed me to provide a safe place to heal and blossom and I needed him as a guide and source of inspiration. We have grown so much together in these four years, and we continue to help each other grow as individuals while we grow closer as a pair.
Happy anniversary to my little go-getter, my daily inspiration, the one and only unsinkable Rocky!
A Rest Break for Ringo
Sometimes you've just got to sit down and take it all in.
Ringo takes a load off and enjoys some quiet time outside. It’s nice to fully experience the relaxing vibe of summer before the season slips away.
Happy Anniversary Moose
Once again, a dog changes my life.
A year ago today, I turned my life upside down by adopting Moose. He was eight weeks old at the time, an adorable blank slate with a horrible case of diarrhea.
An 8-week old Moose at the emergency vet seeking treatment for diarrhea.
My resident dogs, Rocky and Ringo, had conflicting opinions about his arrival, and a weeks-long hullabaloo began as they sorted out the pecking order for this newly formed pack. Three days into it, I broke my foot, as the Universe continued to test my patience and resolve.
As the stress mounted, I worried that I had bitten off more than I could chew. I was in a walking boot for several months, and this made it physically difficult to take photographs, especially of fast moving targets like my dogs. But I was determined to capture Moose’s puppyhood with my camera, and ultimately it was the amazing photos that got me through the rough days.
So much has changed because of Moose. I embraced dog training, completing over twenty-five weeks of obedience training with Moose and transferring those skills to Rocky and Ringo. I started spending more one-on-one time with each dog and now have a stronger relationship with each one. And I’ve established a habit of taking my dogs on weekly outings that have become a central part of our active lifestyle.
Big disruptions bring about changes we didn’t know we needed. I had no idea how much I needed Moose and the changes his presence created in my life. Happy anniversary mighty Moose! You changed my life in amazing ways. I owe you the same and so much more in return. ❤️
Feeling Grounded with Rocky
He's got a great ground game.
We all have strengths and weaknesses. While Rocky is not a fan of being in a moving vehicle, he is great on the ground. Once out of the vehicle, he’s ready to explore and is happy to lead or follow. In addition to being trustworthy while off-leash, as shown here posing for a photo, he’s polite to other park visitors that we encounter.
While the car time is a little hairy with Rocky, the time on the ground is good and continues to get better with each day trip. The impetus for these day trips is preparation for a cross-country road trip that I’ll be making when I move back to New Mexico. The dogs have different strengths and weaknesses related to traveling and I’m working individually with each dog to get them ready for the Ultimate Road Trip.
We visited Crosswinds Marsh today, a short car ride for Rocky and an easy place for him to get around. Afterwards, we got some training time in by making a practice stop at a rest stop on the highway and then taking the FJ Cruiser through the car wash.
It’s great that we can have fun during our training rides, and if we get our practice runs right, the Ultimate Road Trip will be a lot of fun too!
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.
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.
