Don't tell the surgeon...

...but we actually took a FRISBEE to the park today!

I only threw it a few times, because one throw caused him to try to jump, which is still sort of a new concept for his re-aligned tibias and healing stifles, but the look on his face when I pulled it out of my pocket, was PRICELESS.

Pocket? Yeah, it was the "indoor" frisbee, made out of nylon cloth - it folds down to pocket (and backpack) size. It also doesn't damage furniture, knock over lamps or break windows. We've been playing indoors for a couple of weeks now, but I could not resist bringing it today. The last day of winter feels more like mid-spring - sunny and breezy and trees blooming and field at park NOT (too) SOGGY!

We'll work on jogging and short sprinting for a while before we do any more outdoor frisbee, but it was indescribably wonderful to see his face when I pulled it out of my pocket and tossed a few to him!

Looking forward to some camping and long hikes!

This photo was taken last summer, when Bo and I accompanied Ann to a horse show in Yreka, CA.

It was triple-digit heat in the valley where the horse show was going on, so Bo and I explored up the Klamath River into the northern wilds of Del Norte County, where we crossed back into Oregon.

It was only in the high 80s, up in the woods.

We went on a few hikes together and had a blast.

I sure look forward to more trips like this with Bo this year!

Where do the weeks go?

24 weeks ago yesterday Bo ruptured the CCL in his left rear leg. That's the equivalent of the "ACL" in the human knee. In dogs, it cannot be repaired with any long-term success, but there is an osteotomy procedure that can help them regain the use of the leg.

In mid-December, on the eight-week anniversary of the TPLO surgery that allows him to use that leg again, he ruptured the same ligament in his right leg.

It's now been nearly 11 weeks since the TPLO surgery to repair the second leg, and he is doing GREAT. We walk at least a mile, once or twice every day. Some days we walk several miles.

We jog at least twice a day, too, and we also do hill work - walking up steeper and steeper slopes, at various angles, to further strengthen his leg muscles. Today was another oddly warm and sunny winter day here in Portland - we did an extended walk around the neighborhood and Ann took a lot of pictures of the blooming trees. At right, Bo and I pause in the shade of a magnolia.

In early April, we'll start running on leash, and by May (hopefully) he'll be able to run off-leash.

It's looking good to be back to ball thowing and possibly even frisbee by summer!

Bo Accompanied Me on a Site Visit, Then We Hiked Today

I took Bo out to the Columbia River Gorge today to do a site investigation, and then we enjoyed a quick hike along an abandoned stretch of the old Columbia River Highway. Much of this historic old highway, one of America's first publicly funded rural highways, has been converted to a hike 'n' bike trail.

In the photo at left, the viaduct we're on clings to a sheer cliff, and it's nearly 100 years old. Those three trees behind Bo are over 60' tall, that's how high up the viaduct is!

We walked about 2 miles, and jogged some of it in both directions.

He's resting here, on the way back.

He's still not very comfortable sitting, but we jogged more after this and he held up well. He slept in the back of the car all the way home, though.

A bit overcast, but over 60 degrees and dry. Great afternoon!