I went on another weekly hike with Bobbi and Loki today. The weather was sunny but cool, and as usual, we had a fabulous time. There were plenty of dogs running about, and this time, no coyotes!

Even though the coyotes are scary, they do make for some good stories. For example! Last week, Bobbi and I were walking right along when Loki's ears perked up. Before we could grab him, he was running towards a pretty big coyote! The two of them stood there, staring at each other. Loki seemed rather excited to have found a new dog to play with. Bobbi and I both started calling for Loki.

"Loki, here!"

"Loki, leave it!"

"Loki, wait!"

"Loki, NOOO!!!"

He knows so many commands, but the lure of the coyote was too much for him. THEN, the sneaky coyote did a play bow to Loki, and took of running. Of course, in typical dog play fashion, Loki then chased the coyote. At this, I really got nervous. I mean, I knew we were okay as long as Loki didn't go over the hill, but I didn't know how to get him back. Just then, I thought of it, and before I could say it, Bobbi shouted it out, "Loki! We're going this way!" Bobbi and I both turned and started running away from them as fast as we could.

In just a few moments, Loki was by our side, and we had him re-leashed. YIKES. That was really freaky! They say for every coyote you see, there are ten you don't. And that's how they hunt. They act all playful with the blissfully ignorant domestic dogs, lure them back to the pack, and then the coyotes all have dinner. It's a normal behavior, but it becomes horribly scary when it's a dog you KNOW AND LOVE.

Anyway, now we know how to get Loki back. He knows he's never supposed to be out of sight from us, and is really good about figuring out our tricks. Today, as usual, whenever he went around a bend in the trail without us, we'd turn around and go the other way. Bobbi and I don't even say anything anymore. It's just what we do. Sure enough, moments later, Loki is panting and by our side, as if to say, "You guys! Cut that out. You're supposed to stay with me, now come on!!!"

He is one cute dog!

The other dogs we met today were super adorable, too. There was Hansel, the female search and rescue training dog, Georgia and Rose, the two very playful Aussies, a border collie, a shepherd dog, a cutie pie little pitt bull girl, and there may have even been others. Rose was a really funny dog. We met her and her people by the big pond (the little pond was all dried up today!), and every time I pet her wet, wriggly body, she whined this high pitched noise that was actually cute and very funny. It was like she just couldn't even take it, the situation was so great!

Two other smaller "yikes" stories for the day...

1) A little fawn was standing on the side of the road where lots of cars were passing. A little baby deer! Bobbi and I were like, "Where is your mother??" Anyway, by driving slowly near it, and opening the car door, we were able to chase it up into the nearby brush a little ways. I hope he stays out of the street -- he almost got hit by a minivan!

2) I felt like such a dope. I spent all these last weeks learning how to fall in Self Defense class. So what do I do today when I lost my footing going down a hill? I put my HAND out to brace my fall. What was I thinking? I'm lucky I didn't hurt myself!

Okay, so those last two weren't that scary, but trust me, having a coyote trying to lure the dog away only thirty feet from you is a freaky situation! Next week, we're going to try a different set of trails. Let's hope the only stories I come away with are about the pretty scenery!