A new sparring partner

We've recently found a comfortable place to stay here in Yakima. I'm really happy cause the owner has some kind of beagle mix named Barney, who, after a little persuasion on Bud's part, has become a new friend and sparring partner for Bud.

Homeward bound

It’s 6 am. Brrrrrrh! The first morning of autumn is certainly a brisk one. We’ve just arrived at a Hertz Rental Car location, but since it’s not due to open for at least another hour, Buddy can take a little snooze off to the side of the office. Neither of us got much sleep during the night, but Bud’s an opportunist, that is, he’s able to sleep just about anywhere we stop to take a break. I leave him to his dreams and wander across the highway to a Hess Station to get some coffee.

Soon after returning I make the arrangements to rent a Toyota Yaris to get us back to the Pacific Northwest. Buddy doesn’t hesitate but jumps right up into the front seat as if to confirm that he approves of this idea. So with little sleep and a lot of caffeine (for me) we set out for home, a country to cross yet again but this time just 72 hours in which to do it.

 

 

 

Though Bud slept for much of the trip, this bison in North Dakota definitely got his attention.

Where's a ride when you need it?

We sit quietly for most of the night beside an on-ramp for interstate 80. Up to this point our day has seen us exit New York City, crossing both the Queensboro and George Washington bridges. I'd come into Jersey with the hope that someone heading west might want to pick up a couple of weather worn strays, but by morning my romanticized notion of how things would play out is pretty much gone. Though someone had kindly offered a Dunkin Donut's sandwich and a hot cup of joe to take the the chill off, there really wasn't the slightest hint that we might find a ride. So with the arrival of dawn we move off toward Newark, hoping to find some other place where a hitchhiker might get a ride.

'Man,' I exclaim to Bud, 'I'm spent. How 'bout a rest 'long side this here river?' Buddy looks back at me with the starry-eyed wonder of a child enraptured by the thought of Christmas, and after receiving permission, plunges into the water. The swim does him good, bringing back some of the youthful zeal that so quickly fades with hard travelin'.

We continue to follow the Passaic River to the town of Rutherford where I see a sign that says 'dog park.' I try pointing it out to Bud.

'What da ya say, my friend? Are you up for a bit of social interaction?'

He's not paying much attention to my query as his gaze has fallen upon a squirrel collecting its nuts.

'Let's go see if we can't find you a play mate,' I suggest, and with that, we head off in the direction of the sign as Bud's spasmodic dashes continue to alternate between geese and squirrels.

The canine area is full of friends for Buddy, so many, in fact, that he appears a bit shy in the beginning, but he soon starts to warm up to the others. As we're about to leave a guy named John offers to give us a ride.

'Where ya going?' he says.

I explain that Buddy needs a kennel in the event that the hitchhiking idea doesn't pan out and we're forced to fly back. John seems to have a pretty good idea of where we need to go, and even though we've got to visit a few different places, in the end, I find a large carrier that meets Delta's guidelines. So, by mid-afternoon, it would seem that the decision to fly back is made. John hospitably offers to take us to the Newark airport where we part ways.

Next, Bud and I enter EWR and approach the ticket counter with excitement. I don't think he's ever been in an airport before cause he appears fully astonished by the volume of travelers with suitcases in hand. I'm just about to book tickets for both of us when the lady behind the counter asks for a letter from Buddy's vet. I give her his immunization papers, but that's not what she wants. I'm told that a specific letter must be issued to verify that Buddy is able to fly.

'Are you serious!' I respond with surprise. 'I don't recall anything about that in the What You Need to Know section of the pet transportation rules.' But admittedly, I had skipped some parts of the tedious reading. 'Is it the same for all flights?' I ask. 'Pretty much,' the lady replies.

So, with dismay, we leave the queue and take a seat near one of the windows. 'It would seem,' I say, 'that we're back on the streets, at least until some other mode of transportation becomes available.'

We start out of the airport, and an hour later find ourselves right back where we were. This happens several times until I finaly stop in the shade of an overpass.

'I'm not sure there's any way to walk out of this airport,' I say turning to Bud. 'Every road seems to just go in a circle.'

It's obvious from the bewildered expression on Buddy's face that he's just as confused as me, what with passing the same towers and parking lots over and over.

'And this kennel isn't the easiest thing to lug around.' I've got half a mind to leave it right here,' I declare with an exaggerated emphasis on 'RIGHT HERE.'

Buddy just rolls over and bellows a dull moan that I take to mean, 'It's time for a belly rub.'

A little more perseverance and we finally find our way. Moving out of Newark and toward the town of Union, we have negligible success in locating anyone who might want to transport us westward, although, the sight of a three legged dog and a guy carrying a kennel around on his back certainly turns a few heads.

By night time there's little hope of finding a ride, and the temperature's dropping rapidly so Bud and I hunker down in a parking lot behind some buildings. Unfortunately, I'd given away my sleeping bag and a good deal of my gear the day before so to stay warm, Buddy and I snuggle up together in his new house.

It looks like we'll be renting a car tomorrow.

Buddy in the Big Apple

My friend Upendra had some things to do today, so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to take Buddy on a tour of the city. We left Rego Park in Queens, walking along Metropolitan Ave for a while until reaching the Williamsburg Bridge which Crosses the Hudson. Such marvelous pedestrian walkways--nothing like most of the bridges we had to hazard during our continental crossing.
Once in Manhattan, we got on the esplanade that follows the river and proceeded past several other notable places, among them, The Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, and  The Freedom Tower. I doubt Bud was impressed with any of that; however, he was thrilled to go in the canine gymnasium in one of the parks and play with a bunch of other dogs.
When we arrived in Battery Park I took a picture of Bud with Lady Freedom in the background, and then, we napped in the shade of a tree before returning the nine miles back uptown. Buddy's gonna sleep well tonight.

Buddy at the beach

As soon as his paws hit the sand he's off like a bolt, chasing seagulls, discovering that salt water isn't good for drinking and finding all sorts of new smells. It's almost as if he knows that we're there, that the long and difficult walk is finally over. So now there's cause to celebrate. The inner puppy comes out, and in a display that I have only witnessed one other time during the journey, Bud totally lets loose.

Dogs in Delaware

Well, this walk may be coming to an end, but the flow of treats certainly is not. Since entering the last State on route to the ocean, Buddy's been blessed with more good stuff. Here, at a coffee break in Middletown, an attendant at the Valero station provides one of his favorite afternoon snacks.

Bud and Abe

As you can see, there's no partiality with Bud. Whether dignitaries, presidents or folks on the street, the bottom line is always food. Give him a treat and he'll be your best friend. No goodies, and he'll usually show he's uninterested.

Climbing the Allegheny hills

Buddy's ascended to the heights of another pass this week. Bald Knob wasn't quite as high as some of the other passes earlier in the journey, but with only three legs it was probably just as much effort for him. We've also found this cool statue to snap a photo next to.

Bud: 'Salami definitely rates at the top of my favorite things.'

Buddys new friend Pierce treats him to half a pound of delicatessen Salami in Wheeling city centre.

Over the last 24 hours this lovable guy has made off with a lb of lean mince, a bowl of chicken, a pork chop and now this lovely lunch meat.

I don't know how he'll ever be satisfied with an average stay-at-home life after this is all done.

Still living the doggy dream

Rabbits have been a bit scarce for the past week, but no matter. Bud has found a new creature to chase. I'm not quite sure what they are, but they're in rivers, trees, and under ground.

Buddy's music videos

Always happy for handouts

We stopped for a breather in the town of Stuartsville this afternoon and the lady in Sinclair's Churches Chicken made a donation to Bud's stomach: about five lbs of yesterday's chicken fingers. Break time has taken on a whole new level of excitement.

Cornfields, camping and prime rib

It's been heating up recently. I think it was about 90 degrees today, but fortunately there are lots of dirty mud holes to soak in, and the nearly endless corn fields provide a shady alternative to the blistering hot pavements.

Since we've been on the WT trail, there've been plenty of things to sniff. Why today Bud even came across a pair of foxes at play, though they didn't seem very eager to play with him.

We camped for two evenings in the park at Malvern, and on the evening of the Fourth there were lots of noisy aerial festivities to accompany the ambience of our roaring fire, neither of which suited Bud very well. He was content to remain sprawled out on the blanket by the tent.

The fireworks were later trumped by deafening crashes from a thunderstorm that rolled its way through in the early morning, and strangely, I think the pooch was more at easy with nature's display.

Today we stopped in the Irish town of Imogene and had a delicious meal at the Emerald Isle Restaurant and Pub. As a rare treat, the bar keeper, Mike Olson, found some prime rib scraps in his fridge (close to 3 lbs) for Buddy. As you can imagine, he became quite the glutton when faced with the prospect of such fine food.

One more day, and we'll have come to the end of this lovely trail. Then, it's back to the noise of the road once again.

Puppies like a nice bed too

What a softy I've turned out to be. When I got Bud, it was all about rules and discipline, but now I'm just as happy as he is to have him up on the bed. This morning he put his paw on my face and moaned a contented 'good morning,' Following it with a long, low bellowing that I understood to mean: I much prefer this mattress to the hard ground.'

Then again, it was probably just me transferring my own thoughts to a dog.
Thanks again for that shampoo, Cindy. He's a lot nicer to sleep by when not reeking of sewage and carrion.

The wanderer

Cross off one more state for Buddy. He's successfully made it across the Dakotas and now looks forward to the new scents of Iowa. Already in the first couple of hours, he's spotted several rabbits and a deer. Not sure when he's gonna be up to the task of pushing me around, but there's always hope.

Crossing into Iowa

Buddy's life would make a good children's book

As I was going through pictures today, it occurred to me that Buddy's typical routines would make a great ESL reading book for young learners:

Buddy can swim

And Buddy can run.

Buddy likes to blow bubbles

And have lots of fun.

Though this probably isn't his idea of it.

Deer valley

Seems like everywhere you turn out here there's some kind of John Deer equipment. We took a break next to this tractor and Bud crawled right in.

A new lease on life

The pup's back at it, finding new and interesting things to put in his mouth.

Initially I was a bit hesitant about making these videos available, but since there's been a marked improvement in Bud's attitude after each encounter, and because he seems elated to still be able to catch prey, I figure he ought to have his interests represented on his own blog.

As a disclaimer, bird enthusiasts probably won't enjoy watching the following. However, as one who likes to see his dog happy, I'm thrilled Bud's got himself a hobby.

Antibiotic backlash

Well, Bud's finished both courses of medication and the incision seam is coming together nicely. However, he's been fighting what appears to be a viral bug for the past five days which means he spends most of the time sleeping. There's a white mucus like discharge coming from his nose and he's become quite listless, probably due to fever.

Buddy's Bed

So, I'm getting some extra exercise carting him around. I'm not too worried about it since it's pretty common to come down with secondary infections when your immune system has been demolished by antibiotics.

I'm just hoping he'll be able to get over this soon. We're spending a day of rest in Jordan toay at the Garfield Motel. Then tomorrow we'll be back on 200 moving farther east.

Sometimes it's as if he's laughing at me, like he's thinking, 'Ha, ha! Look who's smiling now.'

A thrilling step toward recovery

We're getting back to it tomorrow, but before leaving Lewistown, I wanted to post this.
I never figured he'd do this again, but yesterday evening he put my doubts to rest.

A little physical therapy in the park

Nothing a big ol' bone won't make better

Well, they certainly didn't take Bud's hollow leg. After eating his normal breakfast he proceeded to eat half a chicken and then polished off this knee bone in 40 minutes flat.

We walked into town this morning and Buddy didn't miss a step. This afternoon he's been considerably more tired than usual, but that's to be expected after such a big operation. Also, I'm not sure if one of his meds might cause him to feel sleepy.

Amazingly resilient creature! Three legs and five miles, and he's still much faster than me.

A new dog is born

So, I arrive at the clinic at about nine, the ladies take me directly back to see Bud, and his tail is waggin' and he's got a big oil' smile on his face--yes, I know that dogs can't actually smile, but let me imagine. The minute I open the cage Buddy's on all three paws. He walks straight out as if nothing had happened, and starts mingling with the staff and other patients.

What an awesome guy!

Dr. Greg gives us some instructions and leaves little doubt that this fella's gonna be just fine. From me and my pup, thank you Horizon team for your wonderful care and support. You've gone the extra mile, providing an exceptional example for the veterinary field.

I'm having problems loading videos onto the blog but if you want to see more you can go to the following link.

https://plus.google.com/112847431158911205441/posts/XbJbHd5MTTo

Loosing a leg

This is not a decision I'm making lightly. I don't see much of an alternative considering the severity of Buddy's injury. So, I've given doctor Greg the go ahead.

Buddy looked reasonably comfortable when I visited him this morning. He's due for the amputation around 11:00. They're going to take the leg off mid femur, but try to leave all the hip mussel intact.  I've been told that he may be released this evening, or tomorrow morning.

Obviously, we're going to be here in Lewistown for a little while. I guess it all depends on Bud and how well he adapts to this change.

The makings of a champion

We hiked off the highway the other day and climbed a ridge to look back on the continental divide. Buddy stood tall at the top so I took this shot thinking: 'You pedigree dogs can eat your heart out. Bud's got you all beat.'

Prime beef country

Today Bud tried his paw at herding cows. I'd say he'll make a great cattle dog if the life of a long distance traveller doesn't end up suiting him.

Harassing Horses

They don't seem to be too put off. But for some reason Bud had to let them know who's boss--at least in his mind.

New Shoes

Buddy's got himself some stylish new trainers courtesy of my seamstress mother. Thinking of the miles of inhospitable pavement, she'd recommended some protective wear a couple weeks ago. So, we found some heavy canvas material and copied a template for doggie shoes. After some modifications she finally came up with a design that works well. Although, it'll take some getting used to, Buddy will definitely be happy to have them on hot days.

Experimenting with a Surger

 

'Something feels a bit different.'



Not a very happy fellow

Poor guy! Buddy's had a little cut on his ear that's increasingly getting worse due to his violent head shaking. I sort of botched the bandage today in an attempt to keep the ear stationary long enough for the medicine to work and the ear to heal a bit. It seems he may also be suffering from some ear mites. I guess we'll have to make another trip to the vet. :(

On a brighter note, he's been really good about letting me clean his ears (something he absolutely hated when I first got him). Sometimes he actually seems to be enjoying it.

Elation found in scraps

And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.

This scene has troubled me for years. Given the context and the potentially derogatory implications which could have been perceived through the reference to 'dogs,' the picture painted in my mind had been one of a bigoted and harsh man whose heart was only toward his own people. However, in watching Buddy this morning as he devoured the T-bone saved from last night's dinner, it occurred to me that the scraps that fall from the Master's table are so far superior to a bone. And yet, Buddy may have demonstrated more alacrity and gratitude for an inferior blessing than I often do for the superior ones.

Another canyon, another camp

Monday morning we woke up early and welcomed the brisk air with enthusiasm as we walked north on 1st street. Upon reaching our favorite coffee house on the other side of town I felt a bit let down that my barista had evidently forgotten to set her clock ahead, but nevertheless, we continued to saunter down the road with a 'spring in our step' since today our destination would be the Yakima Canyon.

Buddy seemed elated to be (once again) out on the road where so many new scents are just waiting to be discovered--I wonder how the world is interpreted through a dog's olfactory system. Anyway, about 20 miles and we made it to our first spot, a BLM site called Roza Recreational Park. The camping was free and the area was clean and beautiful. I began by locating fire wood, a resource which was abundantly available quite nearby, while Buddy's priority (as always) was locating something interesting to eat. He scavenged for a while and eventually found what looked like the knee joint of a deer. We stayed up late around the fire, feasting upon donuts and drinking pine needle tea. The breeze brought to our ears the morose call of an old owl; every hoot seemed to bemoan its nocturnal lot.

The next day we went two miles further up the canyon to Big Pines BLM Recreation Area. This was a more spacious place with much larger pines under which to pitch tent. Again, the place was well-kept and rivaled any state park I've yet visited. On the eastern slope, a trail winds up between a ravine and goes quite high to the top of the canyon wall. Buddy brimmed with alacrity for the hike, stopping and pointing in a ridged fashion each time he encountered a new animal. He spotted a group of White Tail far before I ever laid eyes on them. That night the wind blew fiercely and saw the sides of the tent kiss the ground more than once. Buddy did well to stay calm, though later in the night, some obnoxious yelping from a pack of coyotes caused him to become a bit restless.

We broke camp around 6 am and made a quick 7 hour return to Yakima. Buddy hardly required a leash the whole time and stayed precisely where I want him to walk: just beyond the shoulder of the highway. I could see that my dog was worn out, so I left him at his place with a big bowl of kibble.

The big hike is fast approaching. But I'm becoming increasingly confident in Buddy's ability to handle it.

Camping in the canyon

Hey folks. It's been a couple marvelous days out amongst the beauty of nature. Without a doubt, Buddy was having the time of his life, that is, when I wasn't pushing him to go on down areas of the highway that he wasn't comfortable with. We've got lots of photos and videos to share. So check 'em out and enjoy.

 

In our first few hours in the wild, Buddy got in   

 touch with his inner carnivore. I believe this was 

 a rabbit and since he'd already eaten a lot of it,  

 there didn't seem to be any point in scolding him.

 

 

 

    A little fun on the banks of the Naches River 

 

 

Hangin' out at camp
 

At home in the wild
 

Wonder Dog
 

 

 

 

   

  This is the area we camped at: Tim's Pond.     

 

 

Buddy having a bit of trouble finding his footing.

 

 



 

          

Camping

Buddy and I will be camping out near Tim's pond for the next couple of days. I'll be sure to post updates when we return, along with videos of the trip.

So far...

Hey everyone,

There's not a lot to share at the moment. Buddy and I did about fifteen miles yesterday before going back to my place to take a rest. Amazingly, when he got back to his home, he still had the energy to spin circles around Camie for an hour. He doesn't seem nearly as distressed when I leave him for the night, and when I come in the morning, he's right there at the gate, ready to go.

He totally crashed after we finished our walk yesterday.

I let him off his leash on the Greenway for the first time this morning, and apart from getting a little distracted by a female, he stayed around and always returned when I called. So, I thought I'd add this short video of our training exercises so you can check out what we've been doing.

 

All in all, things are going well. His eye seems to be on the mend, so perhaps it's true that good things come in small packages. And yes, there has been enough in the tube for more than 2 doses. He actually appears to enjoy getting the ear cleanings now (quite a different story from the first attempt), and his appetite is improving.

One week down

Well, we've completed a week together, and things appear to be going pretty well. Buddy and I walked a few miles this morning, but then spent the afternoon lounging at home, watching Star Trek. Buddy was happy to shred the bone from the steak I had. I've never seen a dog consume a T bone quite so fast. I don't think it took him more than five minutes.

Anyway, his eye is looking a little better today and he's not fighting me anymore when it comes to applying the ointment to his ear. I'm hoping he'll be at his peak this week as I'd like to do a proper hike and test him in a tent overnight.

Vets aren't cheap

Buddy had a check up today. Ostensibly, he has a spot of conjunctivitis in his right eye, probably from a cat scratch, and a slight infection in the left ear. So, we got some outrageously expensive ointments (38.50$ for 3 grams)  which will hopefully solve the problem, that is if there's enough for more than a couple doses.

The vet was quite impressed by his demeanor and said that he ought to make a fine companion for the upcoming trek. We'll have to keep on top of the yeast build up in his ears to prevent any further problems there, but that's a simple solution with a bit of vinegar.

We only walked around five miles today, but I'd say that Buddy had earned a little rest. We spent the afternoon and evening at my folks, and the pooch was treated to a beef hip bone which he appeared to enjoy immensely as he watched me BBQ.

Learning to trust

Today Buddy hit a big mile marker in his training when he remained laying in a docile state for ten minutes while I was in a store. Unbenounced to him, I was able to watch him through the window the whole time. He didn't get anxious or bark at people coming in. So I guess we're learning to trust each other more.

On a slightly sad note, this morning I found that his left eye was producing quite a lot of puss signifying that some infection has set in. It may have been from a scratch or perhaps contracted from another dog. In any case, by the end of the day it seemed to be pretty much the same. So, if it's still oozing tomorrow, we'll run by the vet to get some drops. Hopefully, that'll clear up any problem.

These kinds of things will probably happen many times if Buddy accompanies me across the country. With any luck, he'll be able to handle the stresses and havoc that long distances wreak on the body. So far, he's doing remarkably well.

Here are a couple videos from walking today. Funny little quirk... since Wednesday, every time we pass a picnic table, he wants to climb on top of it. So, we're using that as his comfort zone.

Notice that the leash is usually quite slack, whereas two days ago, it would have been tight enough to play a note. The more we walk together, the more in pace with my step he walks. I'm sure there's a spiritual parallel in there somewhere but I'll leave that one alone.

Howling at the train

We started off the day in the usual way, a cup of coffee and the morning news. Interestingly, Buddy has a peculiar thing for trains. I've noticed two mornings in a row that when the 8 o'clock comes through and blows its whistle, he always responds with a long, resonating howl. It's quite a thing to behold.

Anyway, I took him south on the Greenway today, and we stopped in the arboretum for a couple hours to play ball. There's also a dog park there where Buddy was able to make a few friends and run free, though the husky he was playing with certainly gave him a run for his money.

I was so happy to find that when I let up on the leash later in the day, Buddy was staying completely in step. We must have gone a good three miles without him tugging or pulling me one bit. In passing, several people commented on what a well-behaved dog he was. This thing with the leash was a huge victory, since my right hand was starting to get a big blister. However, I'd determined not to use any sort of pain inflicting collar as it seemed counter productive to building a rapport, regardless of what some experts might say.

A zen moment on a picnic table

 

Training at Franklin Park

 

 

 

Buddy's doing so well. He's already mastered the table and is quite disciplined here considering that there were two other dogs walking right behind me. 

Discipline

Day 2

 

Arriving a little earlier this morning, I found Buddy waiting at the gate. He looked ready to hit the road, so after hanging out a little while in the carriage house, we got his new blanket and headed out. I was happy to see Camie, one of Dawn's canine friends, in the yard--she and Buddy didn't hit it off too well in the beginning--and though Buddy was there, she didn't seem perturbed by his presence.

 

Anyway, we first stopped off for a cup of coffee since I still hadn't completely woken up. It's funny, everywhere we go people say, "That's one good-looking dog." Hopefully, he won't let it go to his head. I wanted to see how Buddy would react to a lot of different stimuli, so we got back on the road and walked a few miles to a PetCo (not sure if he'd been there before). Man, he was all over that place, sniffing everything he possibly could. He sampled some treats and found one kind (garlic and onion) that he particularly liked.

 

After that I got some breakfast and Buddy basked in the sun. He's displayed remarkable control when I tell him to submit and stay. Now that he doesn't seem quite so under the weather, I keep him on a tight leash. I've noticed that if he has his way, he'll drag me in every direction--that wouldn't do at all on a trek across the country. Consequently, for the next few days, I won't be giving him any extra slack. The plan is to get him accustomed to walking right by my side, tuned to my steps and responsive to my every prompt. He's already stopped pulling, and obeys immediately when I say "stop," "sit" and "let's go" at zebra crossings.

 

Back at my house, he crashed on the floor almost immediately. We spent a couple hours there recharging the batteries; then, headed off to pick up my last month's pay cheque. It's neat to see how personable he is. Everywhere we go he's looking to make a friend.

 

Taking five at Sonic

Restin' the paws

 

An introduction to walking



Day 1

Catching his breath

Buddy and I did about 10 miles today. After introducing him to my local Barista, I took him down to the Greenway trail. You could tell after a few miles that he was feeling a bit uncertain about the duration of the trip. When it started snowing, he began to look back repeatedly as if to say, "That's enough for one day. Let's head back." Sorry Buddy. No such luck. We've got to get you in shape for the long haul.

We arrived in Selah to meet my little nephew who adores dogs. Buddy was either especially well behaved, or just too exhausted to make a fuss. He spent most of the visit just resting on the floor.

Back on the Greenway, we worked on his response to verbal command. Buddy sits on cue which is a great start. Now the challenge will be getting him to walk properly by my side. Being a pup, he's all wound up. Every bird and squirrel sends him into an elated frenzy. But I intend to temper that energy so that he will exercise more restraint.
When we arrived back at Dawn's home in the evening, I got him situated in the carriage house and he laid down as if to sleep. But as I got up to leave, there were a few whines of protest. So he's obviously still feeling a little sad and maybe a bit lonely.

Taking a rest while Elias has some breakfast.

I think he'll be alright, since he's pretty tired. All in all, it was a cold, but pretty good day. Buddy's full of potential. I look forward to seeing how he'll do tomorrow.