There is one nice thing about this in-between, pre-spring time of year. The snow has mostly melted in the woods; anything left is not very deep. With no leaves on the trees and no underbrush to worry about, I just let Luke roam where he wants to on our walks, we don’t only stick to our regular trails. His only restriction is that it has to be someplace that I can at least get through! I will redirect him if he’s taking me through brush that is too thick or trees where the limbs are too low for me to easily get under. I can see where we’re going and know where we’re at since everything is open and bright. It’s still cold enough now that the ticks aren’t out yet; once they are out we have to stick to the more open trails without a lot of heavy brush.
Luke likes to just follow his nose! We are often following deer trails…..and often his choices are based mostly on where the next pile of poop is! Our mornings have been quite cold again, so we can walk on the solid roads again (we went on the soft, muddy road one day last week, and it was a big mistake because Luke got verrryy dirty).
We stay off them most of the winter since the snow narrows them up, and there is no place to get out of the way of traffic (not that we have a lot of that). Wildlife also often walks along the road at night, so Luke often chooses to go that way and follow the scents.
I think he really enjoys getting to choose where we go (though he doesn’t understand why he can’t stop and eat something he finds every two feet!), and I enjoy seeing some of our woods that we don’t get to when we have to stick to our trails. Things will be thawing even more soon enough, and those nasty bugs will be back out, so we’re going to enjoy our “freestyle” walks while they last!
Do you ever let your dog choose which way you walk?
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Luke must adore this time of year. He gets to follow his nose. What a lucky guy.
I follow Shyla when we’re tracking animals. She knows much more about where they went than I do!
He’s definitely a happy dog! I think he knows every trail that the deer use!
Trails this time of year must be sheer nirvana for Luke’s nose. Glad you were able to get in nsome trail work in the woods. Good luck finding that next delicious smelling pile of deer droppings. 😁
There is SO MUCH out there! I might as well just make a recording of my voice saying “leave it”. LOL
When I used to pet sit, the dogs definitely led. Then again, I’d never gone through obedience training or any kind of dog handling experience training. I kind of miss that now. Don’t tell my cats!
Our lips are sealed! Luke has had some training to walk nicely, but he seems to have forgotten it all lately!
Your nose must be so tantalized by all those yummy scents!
You so remind me of our MJF, he was like that too…he would follow the trails of wild turkeys and would place his schnozzle into every foot/hoof or paw print he could see/smell.
Enjoy your ‘pre-spring’!
Luckily since we’ve had beagles, I’m pretty used to this behavior! Luke has some hound dog in him, and he definitely has the nose!
Enjoy those freestyle walks while they last, yes, nice!!
Looks like it might be a while before anything starts sprouting out there!
Looks like Luke picked a good way to walk. And he looks so snazzy in his coat.
He’s not big on wearing things, but luckily his coat and harness are the exceptions!
We usually let the boys decide which way we walk. They are mostly interested in smelling and peeing on everything! LOL
Luke isn’t too bad on the peeing thing, he seems to be more selective about that. LOL
Oh Luke, you’re such a handsome boy! No wonder Ducky swoons when she sees photos of you! 😍
When we go to the park, I always try to give Ducky a choice.
Luke says thank you!! ♥
Nice walk, Luke wants to sniff out all the best scents.
Walks are not about the exercise for him!! 🙂
Our weekend walks are usually freestyle walks. Weekdays are more exercise and routine around the neighborhood.
That sounds like a good plan!!
I love Luke’s Gold Paw coat; River has the same one. I wish we could walk wherever, but here in the suburbs it isn’t safe. Thanks for letting me enjoy your walk vicariously!
It’s our absolute favorite coat, and we have it in two colors! 🙂
I’m about ready to buy another one, a little larger. I bought the first one when River was looking mature, but she has grown a little longer! I’ll e the way it keeps their neck warm!
Yes, and I like the belly coverage too. So many coats don’t have either of those features.
Yes, and in high snow, that belly coverage is pretty important. River’s above all but the worst snow, but my short pups hit “high” snow when it’s more than 5”, which happens regularly here.
You are quite the explorer Luke!
Maybe we should nickname him Ponce de Leon! 🙂
What a beautiful walk, thanks for taking us along cute Luke!
Any time!! 🙂
I would go for a walk with you anytime, Luke. Okay to the question. Our precious Little Bit often decided where she wanted to go. Hubby would ask her where she wanted to go and when she decided that’s where they went. What a fond memory.
Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday. Extra scritches and lovies to Mr. Luke. ♥
Little Bit sounds like a very happy dog! It’s so lovely to have memories like that. ♥
What a fabulous place to walk for you, Luke! The wild animals whig mom out so she chooses which way we go if it’s early.
That’s why my Mom talks incessantly when we’re walking….so all the wildlife knows we’re coming!! 🙂
we had to use our tick collars da furst time here… but we hope the night frost can manage that tick-problem…
Winter is lingering now, so it looks like the nasty little buggers might stay in hiding a while longer here!
we live in the city in Florida, our walks are on paved streets, so pretty much the same walk, but Big Boy does follow his nose. we have raccoons and coyotes in the neighborhood and he freezes on those smells. Luke you are one handsome pup.. and your woods are gorgeous.. exept the bugs of course
Thank you!! We’re glad the wildlife goes through your neighborhood so Big Boy has lots of smells to enjoy!
We sometimes get to choose where we walk, but we are always on leash and pretty much on the trails. Enjoy!
Luke is always on leash too, heaven knows what would happen if he wasn’t. All of you hound dogs are the same! 🙂