Adventures with Bello are always worth it

Bello is a runner! He likes to run fast! Faster than my two legs can carry me, so I decided it was time to get back on the roller blades! I am horribly rusty since I haven't been on the roller blades in about 3 years but Bello needs to go fast and it's a good work out! I put them on made a few laps at the new soccer fields (smoothest surface in town) and decided it was time to leash Bello and see how we did!I was pleasantly surprised to see he wasn't afraid and he didn't immediately try to take off with me. It was as if he knew Mom was a little wobbly still! We did however do a few laps around the soccer fields at a nice trot! Looks like we will be adding a new type of activity to our bag of tricks! Bello seems to be up to anything I have introduced him to! I love that about him! Not to mention that all the new activity has helped me lose 14 lbs since he came home with me at the end of October! 

While roller blading I noticed all the water bottles laying on the ground around the fields......again (I have picked up numerous bottles previous times that Bello and I have gone to run on t he big open soccer fields). So I figured what a great opportunity to start trying to teach Bello to pick up things and put them away or at least in a designated spot! As you can see in the picture above he loved it! He had a reason to run and pick things up and carry them! 

and of course we made a nice little collection of discarded bottles left by the nasty humans who use the new soccer fields but do not pick up after them selves! It amazes me that when a dog park was proposed to our community people actually have been against it for various reasons: one being that dogs/dog owners would leave messes behind.....................I guess it's ok for humans to trash a local park though! Good thing my boy Bello doesn't seem to mind doing a little housekeeping of others messes and we can turn it into a game! 

Sometimes people and their uneducated, inexperienced opinions of animals just makes me so angry! They never stop to learn about the animal or any of the work that may have gone into training an animal to make them a great canine citizen! I know personally my dogs (NaNook passed in 2010, NaKoda passed July 2016 -both Rottweilers and now  Bello German Shepherd) have and are all being trained to be the best canine citizens  possible as well as ambassadors for their breeds! 

Bello's Obedience Class is completed!

I am proud to announce that on Sunday 12/11/16 Bello has officially completed his obedience class! He understands every command he has been introduced to but will continue his training one on one with me to make sure that his commands are not only understood but perfected and life long!

Plans are for Bello to continue with his obedience work and move on to service/modern convience skills and then search and rescue skills!  All of this will allow him to provide assistance to me as well as keep his mind healthy and stimulated to prevent bad behaviors!

Bello's first trip to Junction Tx

Junction Tx is a place where my "adoptive" family has their home place.  This place has been passed down in the family for generations. I started going here when I was 15 yrs old. It's nothing fancy but it is home.  It's about 150 acres of Texas hill country pasture land. There are 3 homes on it, each one sits on approximately 50 acres. The first home (where I go) is the original family home. This is a small two bedroom farmhouse (we've remodeled over the years; I believe it started out as an open floor plan home.  Currently our retired horses live here year round and my "adoptive mother" and I go here about every 2 weeks.  The other 2 sections of land have what use to be my great Uncle Jack's home and my great Uncle Tommy's home.  Jack passed about 10 yrs ago and Uncle Tommy is the current full time resident of the property and care taker of the barn cats and retired horses.

Bello has been with me approximately 5 weeks now and I decided it was time to take him to Junction to run free and get to know the property.  When we first arrived (after 1 hr 20 mins in the truck) he was ready to run and explore! We headed down the dirt roads on the property where he chased rabbits and scared up the deer.

 I was extremely proud at his off leash recall skills because he returned to me every time I called him! 

We played in the pasture for hours chasing each other and finding all the wild life that lives on our place.  We also practiced our basic obedience skills, come, sit, heel, lay down.  All of which he has been improving over the past 5 weeks! I am so proud of him and quickly he has been able to pick up skills! At the end of our day we were able to sit on the porch and relax without chasing the barn cats that live around our place thanks to last week's addition of the "leave it" command to our skill set! 

After Granny joined up that evening we all were able to enjoy a trip into town where we had dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the house to relax and enjoy Christmas movies for the rest of the night. Bello was so tired he went right to sleep and snored. Over all I would say his first trip to Junction was a great success and he felt right at home! Of course with Sunday morning arriving it was time to get ready to head back home (after a morning run, Granny's biscuts and gravy and another Christmas movie of course!) 

Bello has been learning to pick a seat and sit still in the truck making him an excellent road trip companion! Thank God because we have many adventures ahead of us! 

Of course upon returning home Bello was just exhausted and pretty much called it a night the rest of the evening! 

 I think Monkey and Bello missed each other while we were gone because after unpacking and cleaning up I found these two......

Bello and I check out the possible locations for Brownwood's Dog Park (supposed to be getting)

Recently, there was an article in the newspaper that Brownwood was going to be getting a dog park! That made me so happy! Ever since I moved back to Brownwood 6 yrs ago I have thought that Brownwood could benefit from a dog park!

A survey was in the paper that we completed stating several locations for the possible dog park. 1 of them was absolutely not good as it had no trees or vegetation of any kind what so ever.

A second location is on the way to the lake but is a primitive camping location. While this place has lots of trees and access to water I thought many people wouldn't use this location on a regular basis due to it being out at the lake.

A third location is Festival Park. This area would not be bad except it would not draw tourist as it is out of the way however it could be made into a very nice, shaded dog park with access to water features and areas to run!

I also suggested Riverside Park Nature trail would be a good location as a dog park as there wouldn't have to be a lot done to that area to make it an enjoyable and central location for residents and tourists to enjoy!

The only bad thing is I recently heard the council was being given a hard time by some people who didn't think we needed a dog park. Are these people out of their minds? A dog park would help dog owners have a place to exercise their animals helping to cut back on dogs getting loose around town because they were being properly exercised. Dog owners would be able to play with their animals off leash in a controlled environment.  For many people their dogs are their children/family. They get little no use out of the numerous park areas that are designated for children (soccer complex, baseball complex, swim center, and numerous city parks around town) Not to mention that the animal shelter could have adoption events in a location separate from the animal center.  There are many benefits to a community dog park but I guess people who aren't animal lovers or think leaving their dogs in their backyards for their entire lives is enough.........