Even in the really cold weather (it was 14 degrees today, maybe) the dogs have to be exercised. Lately, it’s been walking up the driveway to the mailbox and back. We just can’t stand to be outside too long because it’s face-freezing weather. The other thing I do is throw balls for the dogs in the backyard. Here’s how it goes:

I sit down to put my boots on and Molly runs up and practically bowls me over in her excitement. I push her away and she turns in circles, whining, and nips at Sammy if he gets too close. Next. she starts to bark. When Molly barks, the windows vibrate. So do my eardrums. It’s actually a painful experience. I love the fact that she could intimidate someone with her bark, but when it’s used indoors on a calm day it’s quite overwhelming. Don’t even get me started on how loud she is in the car…

So next, I have to stop putting my cold weather gear on and escort Molly outside before her barking drives me crazy. Then I finish getting dressed while Sammy runs around trying to find a ball to play with. He keeps forgetting to hang onto the ball though and drops it in his excitement, so I have to keep telling him to get his ball. He understands me perfectly, but he just doesn’t remember to hang onto it. Finally, we’re ready to go out. Now Molly is standing outside the door waiting for Sammy to come out so she can steal the ball out of his mouth. Naturally, Sammy doesn’t want to go out. I have to devise elaborate distractions for Molly so Sammy can sneak out and get a head start on her. Some days Sammy manages to grab his ball and run out the dog door while Molly is accosting me in the putting-on-the-shoes phase. I always feel like I’m herding the dogs!

Once we’re outside the chase begins and if I’m lucky Molly keeps Sammy running for a few minutes. Then I have to throw a stick for Molly and the ball for Sammy. If Molly goes for the ball Sammy plays keep away and then they don’t get exercised. It gets complicated! Sammy usually stops dropping the ball anyway, and I end up chasing him around. This is his favorite thing. The picture at the right is Sammy in his safe zone, in a

Sammy safe at home base with his Kong.

little clump of bushes in the backyard. I don’t know why this place is designated as home plate, but he always goes back there until I or Molly chase him out.

Molly likes me to hold a stick up high so she can jump for it. She also likes to play tug-of-war and I learned to wear gloves no matter what the weather because she gets too excited and tends to grab my hand instead. If I don’t pay enough attention to her she’ll shake the stick at me and growl. For our other outdoor activity (walking to the mailbox) Sammy gets strapped into his harness and leash and Molly gets to run free. Molly will usually come when called so she has more freedom. We experimented the other day and took Sammy off his leash when we got back to the house, and he promptly ran off to the back of the property to eat deer poo and wouldn’t come when I called him. Needless to say, he’s still on the leash.