family – Hiking Jack: Canine Explorer

Fowl Play

Hello friends and helllloooo summer! 😎

Summer has arrived and with it some BIG news. My pal Disco officially became family when my brother married my girlfriend. I know. I’ve sniffed around the family tree myself and still can’t explain it. Just know Disco and I are finally family, and it feels pretty doggone good.

May flew by in a blur of wedding celebrations, family gatherings, and welcoming Disco to the family. Now that the honeymoon is over and the hoomans are back to their regular routines, it’s time to tell you about a lesson I learned from my new nephew.

As part of my wedding responsibilities, I volunteered to keep an eye on Disco. Since the best way to supervise a young pup is on a trail, I took him down one of my favorite tree-lined paths to see what the ravine had in store for us.

This wasn’t Disco’s first adventure with me. Only a few short weeks ago, he learned a prickly lesson from a porcupine and realized he needs to keep his nose out of other critters’ business. Since he’d already had one ruff encounter this spring, I figured it was my duty to show him how an experienced explorer handles the forest. At least that was my plan…

At first, the trail was pretty uneventful. The usual birds were singing overhead, and the creek rippled from somewhere down below. Disco had trotted ahead of me and was taste-testing some tall grass while I kept a watchful eye.

Then out of nowhere, I heard a loud whooshing sound. I froze at the sight of the wingspan. For a moment, I thought it was an eagle. But as it swept through the trees, I could see it was a wild turkey. He must not have realized I was there because he landed only a few yards away. And that put me in the perfect position for a turkey chase!

I took off like a rocket. The turkey zigged. I zagged. The turkey clucked. I barked. The turkey darted through the woods. I followed. Surely I was gaining ground. At least that’s what I kept telling myself. But that bird was faster than me. Much faster. Eventually, he disappeared. All I had left to catch was my breath. The turkey was gone, leaving behind only a feather and a reminder that sometimes the things we chase lead us farther from the path than we ever intended to go.

As I looked around, I realized everything seemed different. There were fallen trees and rotting logs. Thick brush and strange smells. Nothing felt familiar. That’s when I realized…I had crossed the property line. And somehow, during all the excitement, I had lost Disco!

I stood there listening. Far off in the distance, I heard my hooman calling my name, “Jaaaaack!” Relief washed over me. Until I realized I wasn’t sure which direction her voice was coming from. I started trotting toward what I thought was home.

A few moments later, her voice sounded even farther away. I stopped. Turned around. Tried another direction. No matter which way I turned, it felt like I was headed in the wrong direction. Usually, I know these woods like the back of my paw. But suddenly, I felt completely lost.

Then I started replaying every decision I’d made. Why had I chased that turkey? Why hadn’t I paid attention to where I was going? Why didn’t I stay with Disco? In all my excitement, I never noticed I was running farther and farther away from the people who cared about me. The turkey was gone. The trail was gone. And I wasn’t nearly as confident as I had been a few minutes earlier. So I plopped down on a hillside to regroup.

That’s when I heard it – Bark! Woof! Bark! The sound echoed through the trees. At first, it was faint. Then it got louder. And louder. I lifted my head. And there, standing at the top of the hill, was Disco. His big tongue hanging out. Tail wagging. Standing tall and proud of his excellent sniffer skills.

I don’t know if he used those super sniffer skills to track me down or if he helped my hooman find me. All I know is that somehow my faithful sidekick was suddenly back in sight. Relief washed over me. Disco barked once more and turned down the trail.

Normally, I would have taken the lead. After all, I was the experienced explorer. But this time, I decided to trust him. So I followed. A few moments later, I caught sight of my hooman in the distance. I ran toward her as fast as my paws would carry me. Safe. Loved. Home.

Looking back, I was never going to catch that turkey. But I did find something much more important. My family. Sometimes we become so focused on what’s right in front of us that we forget to look up. We get caught chasing something exciting and convince ourselves it’s somehow more important. And before we know it, we’ve wandered farther from home than we ever intended. Thankfully, family has a way of helping us find our way back. Sometimes they call our name. Sometimes they wait patiently for us. And sometimes they show up on a hillside barking until we finally lift our heads and see them.

That day, I thought I was leading Disco on an adventure. Instead, Disco took the lead. And in doing so, he reminded me that sometimes the people who love us can see what we cannot. When we’re willing to listen, trust them, and follow their lead for a little while, they just might help us find our way home.

So friends, as we head into summer, let’s remember to look up from whatever has captured our attention. Take in the view. Notice those walking beside you. Listen to the people who love you because the things we’re chasing aren’t always as important as they seem. Sometimes we just need someone who loves us enough to call our name, point us in the right direction, and wait for us to catch up. Sometimes the best thing a friend can do isn’t help you catch what you’re chasing. Sometimes it’s helping you find your way home.

I’ll bark at you again next month. Until then, follow my path on Facebook and Instagram and keep exploring. I’ll see you out on the trail. 🌞🐾

Your friend,

Strolling Down Memory Lane

Hello friends!

March has been MADNESS in my neck of the woods! Not only are my hoomans glued to the boob-tube watching basketball, but they’ve also been racing in and out of the house bringing home boxes and books from my Grandpa’s place. The living room suddenly smells like old paper, sawdust, and a hundred memories I don’t quite understand. Something in the house feels different.

So I decided the best thing to do was flop on the couch and eavesdrop. That’s when I learned my sweet Grampa had taken his final walk over the rainbow bridge.

Now I know a thing or two about that bridge. Once you cross it, you can’t come back the same way. I knew my hooman would miss Grandpa’s hugs. And then I realized… I would miss his cookies. Grandpa always had cookies.

But it wasn’t just the cookies.

I would miss the belly rubs too. Grandpa had a way of scratching right in that perfect spot where my back leg starts doing its own little dance. And the way he talked to me… well, you’d think I was the only canine in the whole world. He’d lean down close and say my name in that soft voice like we were sharing a very important secret.

A dog never forgets that kind of thing. That twisted my heart up in a knot. For a moment, I wished the trail could lead me back to him. So I did what any good explorer does when things get confusing. I headed down my tree-lined trail to think.

*A pupper pic of me and Gramps after I got my licks in.*

The first stretch of the walk is a blur. My mind was spinning. When Grams left us, the hole in my heart felt big and lonely. Her love was fierce, and I couldn’t imagine a world without her in it (read A Grand Adventure).

Grandpa was different. He was a quiet old dog. He didn’t bark about much, but when he walked into a room, he had big dog energy. Everyone gathered close when he told a story. He had a way of making my hoomans laugh, the kind of laughter that fills a whole room.

I’ll miss the joy he brought them. It wrapped around everyone like a cozy blanket, making us feel safe and loved.

As I trotted farther down the trail, I started thinking about all the places I’ve explored with my hoomans and friends. Sometimes when you wander far enough down a trail, you realize some of the ones you love aren’t walking right beside you anymore.

So I plunked myself down on the hillside and thought about all my hoomans. The ones who walked the trail before me. The ones still walking it now. And as I replayed the memories of Grandpa, something surprising happened. The ache in my heart started to lift.

I remembered the way he laughed while scratching my special spot that makes my leg run in rhythm. The gentle way he talked to me, like I truly understood every word, always ending by telling me I was a “good boy.” Words that made me feel extra proud… because they must be true if Grandpa says so.

I remembered the sparkle in my hoomans’ eyes when they tell stories about him now. Hearing those stories almost makes me feel like I was there for all of them. Like maybe, in some small way, I’m part of Grandpa’s story too. That made me feel pretty special.

By the time I reached my thinking log, I realized something important. Grandpa paved a trail I hadn’t noticed before. Not through the woods, but through our lives. He created a whole world of lessons, advice, and stories. He built me a Memory Lane that I can walk anytime I want to see him again.

Sure, I can’t jump in his lap or lick his face anymore. But every laugh, every hug, every belly rub, and every cookie we shared has been tucked away along that trail. Whenever I need him, I can stroll back down Memory Lane and find him waiting for my visit. And as I sat there on my thinking log, I realized something else…

Even though Grandpa isn’t walking this trail beside me anymore, the path still feels full of him.

So friends, as spring begins to wake up the woods again, remember to make lots of memories. Tuck away those giggles and treats. Go on the walks. Sit together. Share the laughs. Maybe even sneak a cookie or two.

Because every moment you share helps build a beautiful trail down Memory Lane…and love has a funny way of leaving the path lit so we can always find our way back to the ones who walked it with us. 🐾

Bark at you soon – your friend,

Home for the Howlidays: When the Pack Comes Back

I can always tell when something big is about to happen. The house smells different — a sweetness in the air like cinnamon sugar mixed with a faint whiff of anticipation. My hooman makes many trips inside and out, bringing in bags and bags of groceries. So many snacks that she has to store some on the back porch. Luckily, Michigan is basically one giant refrigerator this time of year, so we have plenty of space — bring on the treats!

I take my position on my stool to monitor the driveway. I don’t need a tracker or pinging reminder — I can feel the joy filling the air. When the cars rumble down our drive, the vibration sends excitement all the way to my tail. And when that door finally swings open and I hear, “I’m hooooome!” the house explodes with noise. I leap as high as I can, trying to get a lick at my brothers. The once-empty mudroom fills instantly with coats, boots, and shoes — all carrying new scents from the places they’ve been. Boxes and bags pile up behind them, signaling something even better than treats: the pack is back!

Magically, the house transforms in an instant, and I’m surrounded by all my favorite hoomans — all barking at once. It’s my favorite sound in the world. Tail-wag mode flips to maximum power, and my whole body wiggles. I’m smiling so big I can’t keep my tongue from spilling out.

But this year, things are a bit different. The pack… has grown.

My old sweetheart came home with my brother. She looks cuddlier than ever — and with her comes Disco. He’s all legs, wiggles, and unstoppable enthusiasm. He zooms in like a giant snowstorm and makes a beeline for my toy basket. He always chooses my favorite bone first. I’m overjoyed he’s here… but that is still my bone. A slow growl bubbles up in my belly, but I swallow it down.

Soon, the living room is a swirl of fur and toys. The house feels smaller (in a good way), and I push the irritation of sharing aside. Before long, Disco and I are chasing each other around the dining room wall. We romp outside through the snow, and I take him down my favorite hiking trail. I teach him how to sneak extra treats, and he shows me how to give a paw for extra “awwww.” The hoomans cannot resist us, and honestly… it’s more fun melting their hearts with my buddy beside me.

Later, when the house finally quiets, I try to squeeze onto the couch. Between my brothers, my sweetheart, and Disco, there’s hardly any room left. Disco has claimed my favorite pillows. I flop onto the floor with a dramatic sigh, feeling a little forgotten.

Just then, my sweetheart notices. She scoots Disco over and pats a spot on the couch. “Come here, Jack Jack,” she whispers. I jump at the invitation — and instead of the arm of the couch, I choose her lap. She’s just as warm and snuggly as I remember.

As I drift off to the sound of holiday music and hooman laughter, I replay the day. My paws twitch as I dream of racing through the snow with my supersized pack. The chatter of my favorite hoomans fills the house, and I hear Disco snoring softly. That’s when I realize…family doesn’t just come home for the holidays. Sometimes… it grows.

So friends, as your pack reunites for the howlidays, you may find you have to give up some of the things you’re used to. Just scooch over and make a little space. I don’t love sharing my bone (or my couch), but when the family grows, we have to grow too. Things won’t stay exactly the same as before — and honestly, they might become even better.

Soon enough, the house will fall quiet again. The mudroom will return to order without all those extra coats and shoes. The pack will split up and wander down their individual trails. But the memories of squeezing together and making room for new love will warm your heart long after the twinkly lights fade.

When the pack gets bigger, the love gets louder.

I hope your couch is full this howliday season.
I’ll bark at you in the new year.

Your friend,

Get Packing!

Hello friends!

Fall is in full bloom in my woods! The salmon will begin swimming upstream soon and the leaves are starting to turn all kinds of beautiful colors. Fall is the most exicitng of all seasons in my Great Lakes State! The only issue I have with this season is that you have to pay careful attention. This one zips by the fastest of all, and once those gorgeous leaves fall…they are gone for good until next spring. And we all know that Old Man Winter is lurking in night air, just waiting to swoop in and blow his snow-filled icy blasts in our direction. Brrrr…I shiver at the thought!

Because this season moves so quickly, it is EXTRA important to surround yourself with those you love. Those who will celebrate the good times but also help you brace for whatever comes next. My pack does that for me. Last month we gathered together A LOT. Almost every week we were doing something. Sometimes we were celebrating and sometimes we were sad, but the best times were when we got together for no special reason at all.

My pack has the best time just being together. We do the things that are familiar to us – like zoomies around the yard, a game of chase, or just cuddlin on the couch. Sometimes when our bellies are full, we lay around listening to our hoomans chatter and laugh. That’s the thing about being part of a pack. We can have fun doing nothing special. It is our instinct to want to band together. We know we can always count on each other. We lean in and protect each other from danger. We know our pack only gets stronger and better when we are together.

Since we all live in different places, it can be tough to see each other – so we really have to make an effort. This month, my pack will split up and be far away from each other for awhile. Some will head South, others out West and my little nephew Disco lives a couple hours East of me. In the upcoming months, we may not see each other much, but when we do – I know it will be just like old times. I miss them when we are a part, but I know one day we will be together again. Just the idea of being reunited fills my heart with hope and joy.

So friends, it is time to get packing! Reach out to those you love and make an effort to spend time with each other – for no special reason at all. The leaves will be gone soon and winter will be barking at the door. So while the sun is still shining…spend time with those that love you the most. After all, we are all stronger and better together.

Bark at you in November!

Your friend,

P.S. In case you missed my September Canine Adventure check out Current Events. You can always subscribe to get my stories emailed everymonth too – that way you won’t miss a trick. 😉

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: