Enjoying the Colorado Mountains with My Dogs

The leaves are changing, the kids are going back to school...summer really is drawing to a close. These past few weekends I've been taking full advantage of the last of these long, warm days and enjoying the natural beauty of my home state. I have every other Friday off, giving me a great opportunity to take Ruby on hiking trails that would be too crowded on the weekend. I wanted to decrease the number of people we encountered as much as possible, so after perusing hiking books and trail websites I decided we would make the long drive on Highway 285 to the Lost Creek Wilderness area and hike for a ways on the Goose Creek Trail (a 24 mile backpacking loop if completed). 

My dad was able to come along as well, which I was grateful for because the road was more rugged than I expected and he ended up doing some of the driving. My little Impreza got a true Colorado Subaru initiation on the steep, washed out Forest Service road and we were certain we were lost no less than five times. Two and a half hours from the city on back roads and we still arrived to a fairly full parking lot, but my remote destination was successful in that we only met a few other hikers and two other dogs at the very end of our hike. They were taking a different fork of the trail so it was easy to pick Ruby up and turn her away until they were out of sight. 

Boca seemed much more comfortable than she did on her solo hike the previous weekend - she liked having her scrappy sister along. She was my dad's charge for most of the hike, although if we were in the lead she pulled to stay close, so I took both girls at times. We crossed back and forth over the creek six or seven times and Ruby was such a champ about scrambling over the log bridges or hopping from stone to stone. Everyone got their feet wet at one time or another. I had a hands-free leash system for Ruby (along with several back-up safety measures) which was really nice. It was a warm day and we didn't have a lot of shelter from the sun due to the area still recovering from the 2002 Hayman Fire - we drove through the burn scar for much of the way. 

Ruby and Boca were both wary of the other hikers we passed - most were carrying big frame-packs and/or walking sticks and they just didn't know what to think of those unusual silhouettes. One pair of hikers passed us as we were stopped for lunch and Ruby did the most barking at them, I think because they had a lot of equipment jangling which Ruby associates with dog tags. All in all it was very manageable and we were lucky that we didn't meet anyone at creek crossings or narrow places. I made the girls some doggie "trail mix," a combination of several different kinds of treats, and we also shared our string cheese and carrots with them. They had their own water bottle and I think next time I will have Boca pack out the poop bags in our Outward Hound pack. 

The Ginger Sisters seemed like they enjoyed themselves. We hiked for about two hours and even the Border Jack was slowing down slightly by the end. Ruby did some serious digging in the rich, black mountain soil and managed to coat the entire white side of her face with dirt. I thought it was well worth the long trip and would like to explore the area again sometime. Ruby rode wonderfully in her travel crate, although she was sick on the way up (the road was so bumpy and windy, I can hardly blame her!) - that was definitely one of the best dog purchases I've ever made. Boca slept the entire way home and didn't want to move the rest of the evening - little did she know there was another adventure in store for her the next day!

 

The next day Boca and I set out for Elk Meadow, an off-leash wonderland in Evergreen, about thirty minutes from Denver. I'm not a huge fan of dog parks in general - I think they can be recipes for disaster and there are too many unknowns for this control-freak; however, Elk Meadow is a true gem. I had been there once before for last year's Colorado Potcake Meetup, organized through a Facebook group that I started. We intend to get together more than once a year, but it's hard to coordinate with everyone's busy schedules. This time there was a great turnout, and Boca got to meet more of her friends and very possibly family from The Humane Society of Grand Bahama. She knew Ellie from last year, got to see Fig and her favorite person from Pints for Potcakes last month, and met several new faces: Kenna, Judah, Finn and Abby. It was amazing to see how they greeted the other potcakes as if they really did recognize one another.

The photo above is poor quality, but I had to include it because of the sheer joy in Boca's bounding leap. I let her off-leash next to the stream with the other dogs, and she took off in gleeful circles splashing in and out of the water. Then she demonstrated that her recall was not quite as good as I thought it was in such a fun environment, and considered taking off on a hike of her own. I re-attached her leash for part of our group hike, then let her off again once we were more of an established unit, and by that time she stayed close and checked in frequently, which I praised her immensely for. After our hike we returned to the fenced area to let the dogs rest and socialize more. The number of other dogs in the meadow area ebbed and flowed - at one point it was a little too chaotic for my taste, and Boca did get intimidated by a couple of large dogs. She has very good social skills overall - no doubt from living communally with so many other dogs at the shelter yard.

 

Boca looked at me like I was slightly crazy on Sunday morning when it was time to take a drive again - she was perfectly happy to sleep all day and recover from the Goose Creek Hike - but I think she had one of her best days yet. Elk Meadow has many different options, from fully fenced wooded areas to miles of off-leash hiking trails. The smallest fenced area is an open meadow on a hill, the perfect place to relax and wait for friends to arrive. Boca plopped down happily in the sun with her frog-legs splayed out behind her, much to everyone's amusement. Later she explored the perimeter in the tall grass with Ellie, engaged an adorable Bernese puppy in play, dug a giant hole, and chewed up a tiny stick that she found. I loved meeting the other potcakes - such a sweet, easygoing group of dogs - and a wonderful group of people. It's a beautiful thing that a group of formerly unwanted dogs from an island in the Atlantic can find loving homes and unite a bunch of strangers thousands of miles away.

My Dog's Summer as a Social Butterfly

Jessica, Chester and Gretel with Boca and I in downtown Denver

Boca has had a very busy summer with lots of social engagements. When I adopted Ruby, I was hoping that she would be a dog that could go everywhere with me, but due to her reactivity that did not turn out to be the case. We've found other ways to have fun together, such as trick training, and I feel so lucky to be able to take my placid potcake on doggie dates. When I learned that Jessica from You Did What With Your Wiener (my favorite blog name ever) would be traveling through Colorado, I was so excited at the opportunity to meet her, Doggie Daddy, and star adventure dachshunds Chester and Gretel.  We decided to rendezvous at Denver Beer Company, since it had high ratings on dog friendly destination sites. I'd never been there, and I think on a normal weeknight it would have been perfect, but there just so happened to be a race that evening so it was...overrun...with participants. We grabbed pizzas from a food truck and walked to a downtown park to eat and chat. Boca was great with Chester and Gretel, and I so enjoyed getting to know Jessica. All of the doggies got "pizza bones" - I couldn't resist Chester's stealth determination or Gretel's adorable face. The time passed too quickly, but the adventurers had to get back on the road toward their goal of tackling a Colorado 14er (spoiler alert: they did it!). Hopefully we will get to hang out again sometime.

Boca with our silent auction winnings

In mid-July, we attended Pints for Potcakes, a fundraiser set up by some local potcake fans to raise money for The Humane Society of Grand Bahama, the shelter who saved Boca from the streets. On the day of the event we had severe thunderstorms shortly before it was time to leave. I debated taking Boca after all, but I had been looking forward to it for months and knew some of Boca's fans were excited to meet her. I checked the radar and it seemed like we were headed for clear skies, so I put Boca's Thundershirt on for the trip and away we went. I felt like I was with a celebrity when we walked into the Ugly Dog Sports Cafe and I heard "It's Boca!" from several directions. That's the way it goes when your dog is cooler than you. We joined some lovely people at a table and met some of Boca's fellow HSGB alumni. The dogs were all friendly and mellow - it almost seemed like they recognized each other (and it's possible some of them did). Boca picked a favorite person and settled practically in her lap at a booth for the majority of the time. I placed some silent auction bids and ended up winning an awesome gift basket. The bar staff were all incredibly accommodating and they had a nice set-up with a fenced dog play area on the patio. It was delightful to connect with more Colorado potcake people!

Wendy and Boca at Meyer Ranch

One of the best parts of this summer has been reconnecting with my childhood friend, Wendy. We both grew up exploring nature and riding horses in southwestern Colorado, but had lost touch for over twenty years. Thanks to the wonders of technology (i.e. Facebook) we found each other again and we have been getting together several times a month. Our first hiking attempt was rained out, but we were determined to make it work this past weekend. We settled on Meyer Ranch Open Space, a short drive from the city. I knew it would be difficult to manage Ruby since our local trails can be extremely busy on the weekends, so she had to stay home again. Boca was still lounging on my bed when it was time to leave - not the picture of a dog ready to go hiking! She was quite nervous as we started out, which surprised me, but I realized she hasn't really been to the mountains without Ruby and I think some of her street dog survival skills were kicking in. She was very alert and somewhat hesitant - she definitely wanted someone else to be the trail blazer. I was happy to see her relax mid-way through the hike. Her tail came up from between her legs and she regained her merry amble that I love so much. We passed quite a few dogs and her greetings were polite and appropriate each time. I realized just out just how out of shape I am as I huffed and puffed up the hills, but so enjoyed being out among the aspens with my old friend and my good dog.

In the woods with my island girl

I feel bad leaving Ruby behind on these excursions, but my dad keeps her company and I always make sure she gets some extra attention such as a solo walk or play session when I get home. She is ever so glad to have us back and likes to jump on Boca and sniff her all over for the olfactory details of where we've been. Now that I'm familiar with a few more trails nearby, I plan to take her up on one of my upcoming Fridays off when it's less crowded and my dad can join us. This weekend we have another hike planned with the Colorado Potcake Meetup Group, where Boca will get to see some of her friends from the fundraiser again. It seems like the summer always goes by too quickly, but we've managed to fit in a lot of fun, and I'm especially proud of my Bahama girl for being game for almost anything and becoming a social butterfly.

Standing Up Against Puppy Mills

Last weekend I attended my first pet store protest organized by a local group called Puppy Mill Free Colorado. I had been following the group and meaning to join them for a while, but seeing the Dog by Dog documentary gave my procrastination a kick in the rump. While I knew that the protest group would provide signs, I thought that creating my own would both make the protest more personal for me, and solidify my determination. I hadn't been feeling well all week, but it was only an hour of my time, and I couldn't back out at the last minute if I put the effort into making a sign. Plus, I had the great resource of my artistic dad, so we made it into a family project. We stopped at a craft supply store and got foam board and adhesive letters, and all the way home I brainstormed my slogan. I was delighted to come with something rhyming and succinct.

My awesome dad drew the picture of the sorrowful caged dog and helped me with the lettering placement - straight lines are not my forte. My dad has always been on my side with my animal welfare projects, contributing his practical and creative sensibilities. We finished the sign just a little while before I needed to leave for the protest. I was a little nervous - I didn't know what to expect. My dad told me as I headed out the door that he was proud of me but that he would be embarrassed to do something like that. I responded that when it comes to animals and advocacy, I'm an extrovert. I may be a naturally shy and quiet person, but dogs help me find my voice, whether it's chatting about them with strangers or speaking up for their welfare.

As I parked my car and walked to the busy corner with my sign, I was welcomed by the other protesters. There were six of us in all, and we lined up with our signs facing the oncoming traffic and people that would be turning into the shopping center. I could see the puppies in their glass enclosures through the windows of the pet store. I spent some time reading online reviews of the store, and was horrified to see that even many of the "positive" reviews included tales of puppies sick with respiratory infections and parasites, as well as proof that the "reputable breeders" are in fact large-scale commercial operations. Perfect Pets is in Centennial, a suburb south of Denver. There have been legislative attempts to ban the sale of puppies in pet stores in Centennial but they have unfortunately failed, which is why it's imperative that education continue, so that enough people understand the reality behind the cute, instantly-obtainable puppy.

As the store opened a few cars pulled into the parking lot. The protest leader approached the would-be customers politely, asking if they'd like information about why they shouldn't buy from a pet store and adopt from a shelter instead. The reactions were mixed - some ignored her completely, one guy said he "didn't want to hear it," others said no thank you. A few took the handout, and best of all, two families actually got back in their cars and left Perfect Pets without going in after speaking with us. The most heartwarming of all was a young man with his kids, who were obviously excited to pick out a puppy. The young man was completely receptive to the information, and was especially concerned when he found out that pet store puppies often come from the unhealthy conditions of puppy mills. He actually said "Come on, let's go get a good dog from a shelter!" as they piled back into their car. I could have cried from happiness, and that fueled our enthusiasm for the rest of the morning.

It was one of the hottest weekends we've had this summer, and yet I didn't mind at all standing on the sidewalk in the sun, waving and gripping my sign. I felt an immediate camaraderie with these five other women who took time out of their weekend to effect change for animals. It's a message I deeply believe in, and every person that whooped or honked from their car meant another person that gets it. Some of the drivers that read our signs as they passed had never thought about it. Others may have thought we were "crazy animal rights activists" harassing a perfectly acceptable business. What mattered the most were those two families that made another choice that day, who didn't buy a puppy whose mother probably spends her life in a wire cage with no vet care, affection or shelter. That's the reason I'll be back with my sign another day, several times a month. No one left with a puppy from Perfect Pets during our protest, and I hope that little by little, these profit-driven commercial breeders will find fewer and fewer ways to peddle their shameful wares. In the meantime, I'll be out there aspiring to change just one more mind.

Dog By Dog: Puppy Mills and The Blackfish Effect

With Christopher E. Grimes, the director of Dog by Dog at the Mayan Theater in Denver, CO 

On Thursday night I attended the premiere of Dog by Dog, a documentary that seeks to reach the general public with information about the reality of puppy mills and the politics and pocketbooks that continue to support them. It was incredibly uplifting to see the support the documentary received in the local animal welfare community. Hosted by Colorado Citizens for Canine Welfare and attended by famous football players and state representatives, the turnout in my favorite historic theater in Denver warmed this advocate's heart.

While it had extremely emotional moments (and in fact I saw most men in the theater wiping their eyes at the end), this is not a film filled with graphic footage of abuse. The shots of the empty cages and the tough guy cradling a filthy rescued puppy against his chest are enough. The real impact of the documentary lies in its informed interviews and shocking statistics, as well as exposure of the ways in which corporate agribusiness and the AKC fight against legislation meant to improve conditions for commercially bred dogs. The film was well-researched and effectively delivered, including interviews with rescue volunteers, politicians and heads of animal welfare organizations.

I already knew much of the information presented, but what I was most surprised by was the widespread lack of knowledge. One of the women interviewed sincerely believed that the puppy she bought online was coming from a loving family home where the dogs were frolicking in fields of flowers. This could not be further from the truth - internet retailers with payment plans and immediate shipment are more than likely puppy mills. According to the film, between two and four million puppies are born in puppy mills every year, to parents who will never know grass beneath their paws, a kind hand on their head or even shelter from the elements.

For my own reasons, I will probably always adopt from rescue. I love potcakes and podencos, and don't have any purpose for my dogs outside of companionship; however, I understand the purpose-bred dog and the love of purebreds, and the movie does, too - it does not vilify all breeders. During the panel discussion after the film, one of the audience members asked why the director and filmmakers didn't take a stand against all dog breeding and the answer was that this was simply not realistic, too polarizing, and essentially shooting themselves in the foot when rescue groups and reputable breeders can and should be a united front against large, profit-driven commercial puppy mills.

The most inspiring part of Dog by Dog - much needed after the discouraging illustration of just how deeply embedded the politics and bureaucracy surrounding legislation of puppy mills are - was the story of Mindi Callison Long, founder of Bailing Out Benji. Since 2011, Mindi has been educating and organizing peaceful pet store protests in her hometown, rain or shine. For a while now I have been considering joining a local protest group, and I think this was exactly the push I needed to get my hands on a sign and my feet on the pavement. If any one of us can get just one person to turn around at the door of a pet store and head to their local shelter instead, or to sign up on the waiting list of a reputable breeder instead of clicking "Buy Now" on that cute picture at the commercial breeder website, then we are making a difference, person by person, dog by dog.

The goal of this documentary is to reach beyond those of us who already know about the horrors of puppy mills. The Mayan Theater was filled with people who were already deeply aware and passionately supportive of this cause. While in this early stage of screenings around the country, the ultimate hope is for Dog by Dog to have the same powerful impression as Blackfish did, for the general public's eyes to be opened to the injustice of keeping loving, intelligent dogs in wire cages for their entire lives, churning out puppies to be sold behind facades of storefronts and webpages, dressed in ribbons and lies. If one by one, our family members and co-workers - potential puppy-buyers whose lives don't revolve around dogs as ours do - abandon pet stores and wholesaler websites the way families and sponsors and stockholders have been abandoning Sea World, then we will see the world start to change the way it should. Please spread the word about this important film - follow Dog By Dog on Facebook, share the trailer, and watch for it in a theater near you.

Wisdom Panel 3.0 Tour On Its Way to Vail, Colorado

This post is sponsored by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the new version of the Wisdom Panel DNA testing kit and the Wisdom Panel 3.0 Tour, but Rubicon Days only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0 is not responsible for the content of this article.

Ruby's Wisdom Panel DNA test results have helped me immensely in understanding the breeds that contributed to her personality and understanding her exercise and training needs. The more I learn about Jack Russell terriers and border collies, the more confident I am that Ruby's test results were accurate. She has so many of the physical, behavioral and temperamental characteristics of both breeds. Since it's a product I am both familiar with and believe in, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Wisdom Panel to promote their new test kit and their summer "Swabathon" Tour, in which dogs can be DNA tested on-site at several events around the country for a discounted price, including the GoPRO Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. 

DNA testing is helpful for a variety of reasons, including size prediction, breed-specific health concerns and characteristics or just purely for fun. The Wisdom Panel 3.0 test adds one more extremely important element to their results, that of MDR1 mutation screening. The MDR1 mutation is found in some herding breeds, sighthounds and mixed breeds and can cause extreme sensitivity to some common drugs, including ivermectin. I learned about this mutation recently in a heartbreaking situation where a friend lost her collie due to accidental ingestion of horse deworming paste containing ivermectin. Since Ruby is part border collie, the MDR1 mutation screening is something I should strongly consider for her. 

Not only does Wisdom Panel 3.0 provide potentially lifesaving genetic information, but the expanded breed database can identify over 250 breeds, including all those recognized by the American Kennel Club. The testing is as easy as swabbing your dog's inner cheek and sending the swab back to the lab via regular mail. Results are available in 2-3 weeks and include a detailed profile with three generations of probably ancestry, predicted weight range and the MDR1 genetic mutation screening results.

This summer, Wisdom Panel 3.0 is on the road at several events around the country:

• June 4th-7th: GoPRO Mountain Games in Vail, CO
• August 1st: Amazing Pet Expo in Austin, TX
• TBD October: Mars Pet Adoption Fair in Franklin, TN
• Date TBD: Amazing Pet Expo Holiday in Los Angeles CA

At any of the above dog-friendly events, Wisdom Panel will be providing on-site DNA swab testing for $39.99 and take-home testing kits for $49.99. Kits can also be ordered directly from Wisdom Panel (MSRP $84.99). Boca is hoping to hitch a ride to the beautiful mountain town of Vail, Colorado, and find out what breeds might be present in her Bahamian ancestry! 

Please visit Wisdom Panel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest or at one of the stops on their "Swabathon" Tour this summer. If you decide to DNA test your dog, I'd love to hear about the results! 

Boca Participates in the Woof Pack Insight Group at Kyjen

After writing my trick training guest post for their blog,  Ruby and I were invited to a product testing event at the Kyjen offices here in Centennial, CO. Due to Ruby's reactivity, I had to regretfully decline. After adopting Boca I could tell that her temperament was suited to such social events, and let my contact there know that we would like to attend the next one. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for Boca to meet some other dogs and people before our group obedience class starts at the end of the month. 

Last Wednesday, Boca donned her palm tree collar and we joined about ten other dogs and their parents for a fun evening of toy testing, sizing demos and packaging input. Boca was a little nervous at first, but soon settled in and relaxed. She greeted all of the other dogs appropriately and was very focused on me if I asked her to sit or lie down. By the time we moved to our last station, she was wagging her tail excitedly, as if to say "Oh, boy - what are we going to do next?" I was so proud of her! 

We were placed in a small group with a massive yellow lab who was a dock dog, and a petite blue curly dog (maybe a Portuguese Water Dog mix?) and rotated through three stations. The first was size-testing for an Outward Hound day pack. Having just measured Boca, I chose a size medium and it fit perfectly. She didn't mind wearing it at all! Next we moved to some unreleased toys and puzzles and were asked to complete a survey. Boca seemed to enjoy the puzzle toy. Finally, we provided input for a packaging re-design. Even though I majored in science, my advertising elective in college was one of my favorite classes and so I loved this part. 

Kyjen sent everyone home with an awesome gift bag, and Ruby and Boca had a great time playing tug with their Invincibles frog when we got home. Both girls have also tried out the Slo Bowl - it is great for Boca to eat from if I'm doing training with Ruby, and Ruby seems to be more interested in her food if she has to work for it! 

Thanks so much to Kyjen for the opportunity to be involved with their great product line! Click the picture below if you are interested in signing up for the Woof Pack: