19 April 2011

{18april2011: jump!}

This never ending winter (slow coming spring) may be having an effect on Darwin's energy level (or maybe it's her grain free kibble she's been on). She's always been a pretty high energy Dane, but lately has been even more crazy. Besides day care, play dates, 1 hour walks, and weekend dog park visits (it hasn't quite reached the point where we can get to a dog park after work with sun left), we went with our other option of giant (not legal off leash) park visit to Discovery Park. Even though it's not an off-leash park, you can usually find one or two dogs there running off leash (it's such a huge park you really can avoid running into other people/dogs).
So we headed to the park to run off some of Darwin's craziness. As usual, we split up in the giant field and had her running back and forth between us.



{boing!}
Darwin impressed us with her longest run between us yet, at least a football field length run.
After all that running we took a break and went for a longer than usual walk around the park (if you follow the trail around the whole park its a little over 2 miles, we usually end up cutting through the park). I got her to hop up on this table for a photoshoot.
As we walked around we came across a viewpoint with a log rail/barrier that Darwin promptly jumped over. We were shocked. We've tried to get her to jump over a hanging chain and she never would. This time we just walked up to the area and she quickly hopped over. She was so proud of herself.
We tried to get her to do it again on command, but I think she realized what she had done and was a little hesitant.
{braaaakkkeee!!}
We had Jason jump over with her, and then she finally did it again.
After a few jumps with her dad she built up the courage to do it on her own.
Once the jumps were conquered we moved on to Darwin's favorite part of the park, the sand pit. Here's her ostrich impersonation.
We found a stick in the sand to throw, but Darwin is such a little princess she wouldn't pick it up because of the sand on it. She would very carefully bite down on it trying to not get sand in her mouth. She eventually figured out if she stepped on one end and propped it up a bit she could get to it with out a mouthful of sand.
After all that we ended the walk with synchronized water fountain drinking.

p.s. Sorry I've been behind visiting blogs! My google reader's getting out of control. (We have seen our littlest friend Twinkie isn't feeling well, so if you haven't yet, stop by and let her and her family know you're thinking about her speedy recovery!) We just got an ipad and Im trying to figure out the best way to view my reader feed (so far I've tried the flipboard app and in Safari). Anyone have recommendations?

17 comments:

  1. You certainly are in great shape....and now I know why! Great shots, my friend.

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  2. She looks so beautiful when she runs and jumps!
    I love the water fountain pic:)

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  3. I hope this is not a never ending winter!

    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

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  4. We think you're very clever, as well as energetic, to do all that! We sure hope you're going to enter Honey's contest. We can't wait to see your video.

    Jed & Abby

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  5. I totally love the synchronized drinking picture! You got some great shots!

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  6. DANG! Me thinks Darwin's a small hyperactive dog in the wrong body!!! Gosh, she really burned so much energy till she had bags under eyes. BOL! And look at that huge expended tongue of hers. I'm sure it's the very cold weather that is making her have tons of energy. It's good that she's having a lot of exercise. But be sure she does not eat & drink too much too soon after a heavy exercise.

    Hope you all had fun!

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  7. Log jumping...Fun! If Dad attempts to get you to try log rolling you may want to pass ;)

    Waggin at ya,
    Roo

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  8. OMD, what a great idea to run between 2 humans. great idea! i never would have thought of that.

    great job on the log hop. one other thing (you probably tried) is to walk OVER the log yourself leaving darwin on the other side then "recall" or call her (if she has a recall). but you have to walk over the log first and leave her in a sitstay. but she did it so who cares now? great job!

    who wants sand in their mouth? this makes her a "princess" becaaaauuuussssse? she's a princess just for being sweet! doy!

    she looks great! good high energy and its so good for a big doggie to run like that. keeps the joints moving nicely!

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  9. We like Discovery Park too. What a great way to burn off excess energy. And learn some new tricks too.
    Ernie,Sasha,Chica,Lucas

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  10. those are such great pictures! i wish we had better dog parks here, and that ollie wasn't so small!!!

    i love the jumping over the log pics! yay for darwin!

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  11. Oh man. Whenever I start thinking that our Chick is all legs (because of his very stubby foster brother, Mr. Ears), I have a little visit with Darwin, and I realize that I was way, way off.
    She is a beauty.

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  12. Nice jumping Darwin :)
    All those photo's were great, looks like you had a fabulous time!

    You do a good impersonation of an ostrich!

    Licks and lots of slobber,
    Lexi and Jasper the Danes

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  13. Oh Darwin! What a fantastic time you had! Gorgeous photos - although I liked the jumping ones best! Funny - I was just going to suggest doing a few training type games (getting you to do things on command) to help tire you out...and then I got to your jumping bit! Well done!

    Slobbers,
    Honey the Great Dane

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  14. What a lovely park! It looks like a great place to play. Darwin is adorable and she seems so smart!

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  15. Your humans like you a lot eh?
    Day care, walks, long walks, they do take good care of you!
    That is why you are in such good shape eh?
    Like your jumps!!!
    Nice park you have! (I know, same for me, no nice dog parks so we have to be naughty unluckily...)
    Ciao Lucille

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  16. Way to go, Darwin! That's really cool that you were able to do that jump - and what great action shots!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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