They were beat for sure. Maybe a bit too long for them at this age, but we took it easy. Worst case is I put them in the back of my Civic coupe. Bought one of those seat cover things. Worked great, but definitely too small for both dogs. In a pinch, sure, but next time I take both, we'll be in our Sienna like usual.

I used to live in Santee, so I've been to Mission Trails park a couple of times. Been a while, though.

I remember that story. Scary. Being a backpacker, I've heard about and seen videos, etc of mountain lions. Don't want to meet one on the trail, that's for sure. Worst thing I've heard is that you won't hear them if they are going to attack you.

Off-leash dogs are a pet-peeve of mine. Sure enough, coming back to the car, someone didn't have their dog on a leash and it started coming over to us. Mika doesn't seem to get along with other dogs. Max seems ok, but I also don't generally have them around other dogs so who knows.

The owner was calling their dog multiple times.... nothing. Worst thing was that there is a road (the 79) right there. Multiple cars passing by at 30-50mph. No fence, no sidewalk. I was very worried her dog was going to run into the street.

I just shake my head. I have yet to come across a dog that minds their owners in a high distraction environment. Scratch that... actually had one the other day.

We've seen a guy and girl training their Malinois a few times at the park where we walk the dogs. He is off-leash chasing a ball. E-collar (assume it's got the trigger in his pocket). Dog retrieves the ball and comes right back. Open field with a few people here and there.

The other night, I was talking to the girl by our car and the guy brought the dog up behind us. Mika got a little aggressive and I turned around saw the Mal. I pulled Mika back and the guy yelled at the dog to "DOWN"... and he did. Amazing. Didn't even give Mika a thought.

Oh.. sorry, I got off on my off-leash tangent.

Harnesses work great. Have backpacks for them too. Didn't put them on yet. Will work up to packs, then packs with weight etc.

They do pull more with the harnesses. Going to take a lot of training and time to get them where I'm happy with them. Started private training lessons once a week for seven weeks. Not totally happy with the trainer so far. Not sure why exactly, but she just doesn't seem very organized on what we're going to do etc.

I think it's natural for dogs to pull more in harness, I just haven't noticed it in any of my huskies, past and present. Kohdi and Mishka are my first Huskies to be exclusively in harness, all my past Huskies wore collars for the most part. Kohdi is a dream to walk, Mishka is the nightmare, LOL. I exaggerate, she's not bad at all by herself, but with Kohdi she pulls to be lead dog and keeps pulling to keep that position, it really wouldn't matter if she was in a collar,min fact she'd probably choke herself in a collar. My past Huskies were 95% collar, and although a dream to walk, would pull relentlessly if on a walk and had other dogs in front of them, once ahead of them though, they immediately went to casual walking. It's just in their DNA. It can be trained out of them, of course. I've had enough Huskies in my life to be comfortable with Mishka's walking habits, I know she knows how to walk really good because she does it when she is by herself. Collar or harness, would make no difference, in my opinion. At least with my dogs. I think you will find though that the more your two get used to walking in harness, the better they will be. Age and the training you are doing will only help them along better.

Here in Big Bend a sure guarantee to be asked to leave is to have some yapper (or any dog for that matter) off leash. We've had enough dogs attacked that the Rangers aren't really even nice about it. "If you don't read the rules and don't follow them then you're endangering yourself and everyone else, bye!!"

Dental hygiene is important...

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

lol. that facial expression though. Can't decide if this is hated or liked too much.

Such a cute pic, reminds me of my two when one is looking what the other one has got. Max's fluff on his head reminds me of Tina Turner, LOLOL

ha ha ha..... Thunderdome, right?  

Max was having nothing to do with that electric toothbrush.  Was just a goofy thing to try (with a spare toothbrush ).

dvflyer wrote:

ha ha ha..... Thunderdome, right?  

Max was having nothing to do with that electric toothbrush.  Was just a goofy thing to try (with a spare toothbrush ).

Haha, exactly! It just stands out in that pic because it's so white and is framed by the dark, almost like a Mohawk look! He's a beautiful dog, they both are.

You may just wanna keep at it with the toothbrush. I've gotten mine used to it, they don't necessarily like it, LOL, but they put up with it. If they aren't eating bones regularly, a brushing can help.

My daughter saved up half for a new iPhone- we told her we'd pay the other half if she saved half.  She got a new Xs.  She's been snapping away. That thing takes really good pictures... straight out of the camera.

Max:

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

Mika:

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Dang, that phone takes some incredible pictures! Mine doesn't, lol. It does on occasion but for the most part, it sucks. I don't even use my iPad for pics anymore, I just can't take a decent pic with it.

They've grown so much! Just beautiful.

wow, those are amazing pics on your phone.

Quick hike with Mika to Lake Calavera Hiking Trail.  Tons of small trails leading off the larger trails.  I'm guessing they all end up at the same place eventually.  Very steep/ rocky hike up to the peak.  Otherwise nice smooth trail.  Even a boardwalk over the marshy areas.  Really nice.

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

Goofy summit pic.  Someone was nice enough to offer to take our picture with my phone.

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

Where is this trail? Really pretty pics, backpack looks great on Mika. It wasn't hot there? I took Kohdi on a long long walk, we went by the lake on our way home, and I was sweating, haha. He did ok though so it must not have been TOO hot for him, I left at 9:30 and was fine...got home at 12:30 and it felt like summer.

Was my first time there. It's in Carlsbad. Couple ways to get to the trail from what I've read. I parked at Oak Riperian Park. Directions/ description at this link:

https://modernhiker.com/hike/hiking-lake-calavera/

Trail starts at the back of the park marked by three palms trees planted together. Take a right after crossing the little bridge at the beginning of the trail to head toward the peak. I imagine turning left would take you clockwise around some loop ending back at that same point. There is also Lake Calavera to walk around,but we didn't end up going.

From the summit, I could see people coming from the other side of the mountain (I believe it is an extinct volcano, actually) and also a parking area in between where I parked and where I believe the people were coming from so there are lots of options.

We were there right about 11:30 so right at mid-day. Not sure what the temps were. It was warm, but did not seem too hot, even in the open spaces. Wouldn't have wanted to go if it was too much warmer, though. Will definitely go back to explore the rest of the trails. Watch for mountain bikers if you go since it's popular place for them also.

wow beautiful pics, nice summit pic lovely scenery.

dvflyer wrote:

Was my first time there.  It's in Carlsbad.  Couple ways to get to the trail from what I've read.  I parked at Oak Riperian Park.  Directions/ description at this link:

https://modernhiker.com/hike/hiking-lake-calavera/

Trail starts at the back of the park marked by three palms trees planted together.  Take a right after crossing the little bridge at the beginning of the trail to head toward the peak.  I imagine turning left would take you clockwise around some loop ending back at that same point.  There is also Lake Calavera to walk around,but we didn't end up going.

From the summit, I could see people coming from the other side of the mountain (I believe it is an extinct volcano, actually) and also a parking area in between where I parked and where I believe the people were coming from so there are lots of options.

We were there right about 11:30 so right at mid-day.  Not sure what the temps were.  It was warm, but did not seem too hot, even in the open spaces.  Wouldn't have wanted to go if it was too much warmer, though.  Will definitely go back to explore the rest of the trails.  Watch for mountain bikers if you go since it's popular place for them also.

Hmm, I may have been there at one time then. As a kid. I remember my dad picking up a few pieces of volcanic rock to bring home to my mom for her garden. How many volcanic areas could there be here? LOL.

Sounds like a great time! Looks beautiful too!

Another day-hike.  Took both puppies.  So much more stress walking both of them. ha ha.  Took them to Hellhole Canyon Preserve.  Lots of rutted/ rocky ascents/ descents.  Pretty rough hike.  With the cooler weather, I can try out some of the hikes I that are too hot to do in the summer.  Not sure I'd go back to this one.  

5 miles RT.

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

Road in the very back of the photo is wear we started.

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Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2018-12-03 at 8.15.54 AM by Mike H, on Flickr

beautiful pics, wow i wish Leo could do 5 miles haha.

Tried to take Christmas photos, with the dogs and family, in the garage and the backdrop set up. It was an exercise in futility if ever there was one... ha ha.

Got a couple good ones of just the pups, though.

DSC_9349 by Mike H, on Flickr

Musta been the human part of the family that misbehaved for pictures because the dogs look very well behaved to me that is an awesome picture of the two of them, love the coloring!

There WAS also some misbehaving humans too... ha ha.

Not part of the photoshoot, but laughed when I saw this. Took the screen off this window and..... :

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

haha that last one is cute.

Took Max to Lake Calavera Trail.  Glad I didn't take both of them.  We went up and down some really steep trails.  Didn't mean to, just happened since a lot of the trails split multiple times.  They would have been very hard to control for sure.

Couple quick pics:

Up at the peak

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Looking east from the peak out over a mostly flat area.  Probably take the mountain bike there some time.

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Back at the grass area by the car.

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

First pic is cute. Looks like he had some fun and got tired he reminds me a lot of Kohdi in some ways.