In The Netherlands I always used to run with the dogs. I don’t know how many miles I ran with Mullet our previous dog, but with 3 times a week at least 5k per time and for at least 10 years, it must at least been 7500k (appr 4700 miles). Because Mullet got old and his sight decreased, we stopped running together. And because I had to wait with Mojo until he was around one year before I could start, for 2 years I ran alone. But with Mojo I started again and when Mijne was old enough, he too was part of the running team. With those two strong dogs I didn’t run, but it felt like flying. Or more like ‘water skiing’. And then Jessie came along, and Jane. So I stopped running with the dogs, but again now that they are old enough I am picking it up again. First with Jessie, she is very easy to handle. Mojo I will take next time, together with Jessie. And when we get the hang of it I will take Jane also.

Because Mijne is such a big and strong dog, I’ll wait before I put him in a harnass again. Because whatever I do, it’s safety first.

Fall is just around the corner here in the South of Virginia and temperatures are dropping. So it’s time to pick up outside, ‘during the day activities’ with the dogs again.

One of these is driving around in town, across the lake into the Occeneechee State Park and over the highway and back. It’s a little chaotic and I still have to figure out how to make it as safe as possible, but it’s fun and the dogs love to see all what is going on. Even Jane, who used to be car sick all the time, has gotten used to car rides and she is enjoying it much better now.

Yesterday I asked Martijn to drive so that I could make some pictures. Mojo (black collar), Mijne (green collar) and Jane are in the back seat and Jessie is sitting with Martijn and me in the front.
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People ask me how we keep ‘order in the pack’. Especially with two un neutered males.

Good question because it’s not always easy. There is sometimes growling at each other and macho behavior, that we have to interfere and make sure it doesn’t escalate. But for 99% of te time the pack is relaxed and very forgiving toward each other.

​So what’s our secret? From day 1 we decided to get another WSS (aka Mijne), we agreed that Mojo would always be the ‘first’. The first one that gets a treat, his food, attention, etc, etc. Then Mijne, Jessie and the last is Jane.
But we also already had the rule ‘that nothing is for free in life’. So
if they want to have a treat they have to obey a cue like ‘look’, ‘sit’, etc. And that makes it all predictable, no need to be jealous
because everyone get’s something as long as they obey.

It also helps that Mojo is very easy and generous. He seldom really cares about toys and bones.
Unless it’s a ball. So we don’t bring them into the home.

One other aspect that I think is very important to keep it all peaceful is that when correcting one of the dogs, while the others are around, is to make sure that you praise the dog when doing the right thing. Like when Jessie is playing ‘mom’ over the rest and she is correcting the others even if it’s totally unnecessary. I tell her to stop and when she does (which she always does) I tell her she’s ‘a good girl’. If I would keep scolding at her, because ‘she must know by now that it’s not her task to correct the others’, it will make her very uncertain and give the other dogs a reason to ‘correct’ her. Not a good way if you want to keep the peace.
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And so this is how we keep the pack in balance.

This morning Jessie had an ultrasound and for the second time it turns out she is empty. How, why, what, I don’t have the answers and I have to think about ‘what now’?

Because she’s not pregnant and because it was partly cloudy today we took Jessie after the ultrasound running with us for the first time and she did great!

I am very proud of her, especially because having an ultra sound with all that ‘wet, cold stuff on your belly’ is pretty nerve racking.