30.10.14

morning walk:
Alice
Ginger
Greta
Ernie
(4)

I took these four to the shirimpery intersection and then we screwed around for a bit so everyone had time to run around and have fun. I left with both Ernie and Greta on leashes so they didn't run like lunatics and hurt themselves. I let Greta off first after crossing the road and that was a mistake: she took off and I had to chase her almost the whole length of the first trail. Ginger's balance is still off from her continuing illness so I watched her closely. At a full run she tilts quit a bit around even small corners and was scaring me a little as she ran to catch up while I tracked The Gretalope. She managed, though, and once we were on the straight and narrow again she did well. I managed to confine Greta to the leash again and let Ernie off; he had blown off a steady column of steam the whole way and didn't seem quite as crazed. He ran around a bit and will probably have a limp but he had a really great time. Ginger was mischievous and funny and was glad to be out after being stuck at home for so long. This illness has really bothered her and us: she's coming to the end of her pills and she has definitely improved but still is not 100%. Alice did her usual bear-like screwing around the whole way. We arrived at the gate with only Greta on the leash and everyone was really good about it. Our pre-walk dog.kabuki performance was also exemplary, thanks mainly to heads-up play by Roni in the role of The General. At least we know now Ginger is fine for short walks. The bugs were bad and increased in intensity as they made our position in droves; they hounded us to the gate. I forget what walks are like so it's good to be reminded: running in the bugs is a hell of a lot easier than walking in them.
GRADE: A