Dog Diaries by Laurie Gayle

North Raleigh has a developing trail system that’s impressive for it’s
beauty, variety and distances.

Lil' Buddy distracted by some movement across the creek.

I can enjoy walking a variety of dogs from the dawdlers to the athletes on these trails. The dawdlers give me time to look around and identify plants and wildlife, do a little deep breathing and stretching, eat the wild blueberries, blackberries and grapes and enjoy relaxing by the Neuse River while my dawdler dogs are on their Great Expedition for the day:  exploring, scenting, marking and being on high alert to flush a bird or cottontail.

Stitch is ready to head out for some doggie exercise.

The athletic dogs help me burn those calories and get my muscles fired up, feel the air on my face and the ground under my feet as I race to keep up. We get our blood flowing and I clear my brain cobwebs. My athletes are in their “Release the Hounds” frame of mind, sprinting effortlessly, light on their feet with intent and focus in their eyes. The sun spatters on and off their coats as we cut in and out of the shade from the big oaks along the path. They are like well oiled machines, but alive with muscle and heart, doing what they love and were born to do.

Being with dogs in nature is such a great “way to be”. It’s a way to contemplate, work through issues, observe my canine partners that I’m with and it allows me to be a part of the landscape that I love so much.

I draw and paint animals and landscapes when I’m not working for All Breed Care. I have a passion for “the scene” that I’m in with my dogs. When I’m walking dogs in nature, watching them live their lives, observing their shape, color, light and shadow, anatomy and coat texture, I’m seeing compositions and painting with my eyes, trying to place these images in my mind so I can open the memories later when I’m staring at a blank canvas. www.lauriegayle.com

Did I mention in my previous entry how much I love being a dog walker? 

Whether I want to stroll, walk, jog or sprint, Jasmine is always up to the task. One of my athletes from our All Breed Care pack.