A Day with the Dogs

I've gone on and on about how much I am enjoying the warmer weather this spring, but have talked less about how Achilles is enjoying it, too. Me wanting to get outside more and more during the day has a direct impact on him, because I generally bring him along. Sometimes we go sit in Central Park, where I have staked out a favorite spot to lay out my blanket and read while Achilles wanders around (on a leash), sniffing out squirrels and rolling around in the grass. It's a nice spot, up on a hill under a tree, near enough to a bridge to hear the saxophonist who is always playing there. Really good stuff.

If not Central Park, Achilles and I spend a lot of time at the dog park. Taking him to the dog park enables me to sit outside and enjoy the day, while he roams free and does what he wants to do. We usually go to the dog park just two blocks from our apartment, or sometimes we walk him down to the dog park next to the Intrepid. That one is usually hopping, so it makes for a good time.

This past weekend Eric and I took Achilles to the Intrepid dog park and took a few pictures. I thought I would share them with you to give you a look into Achilles' experiences at the dog park. His experiences don't tend to vary much from time to time, to be honest with you.

Ah, here we are at the dog park. Dogs everywhere! They're playing, they're sniffing, they're running amok. Looks like a great doggy time. But wait, where is Achilles?

Oh, there he is, about as far away from the action as he can get. This is pretty standard. He usually hangs out by me most of the time, venturing out for an occasional sniff or to bark at a particularly rowdy dog. It's not that he's scared of the other dogs, he just doesn't seem to be especially interested.

This basset seems to have wandered into Achilles' airspace. Let's watch what happens as he tries to sniff from a safe distance.

Oh. Well. This seems to be a little too close for comfort. (Also, that white one in the back just kept pacing back and forth on this ledge with all those balls in his mouth. He was kind of invading MY airspace.)

Okay, phew. That basset seems to have moved on with his life and headed back over to the SOCIABLE dogs. That wasn't so bad, was it, Achilles? He looks almost proud of himself, doesn't he?

Oh, another new friend! Achilles is downright welcoming now. This one is more his size. I think they'll get along swimmingly.

Okay, now he's getting into it. He's venturing out a bit and meeting his fellow dog-parkers. Way to go, Achilles!

Here it looks like he has accumulated quite a few friends. A fan club, maybe. Not so, though - actually, a bit of a ruckus broke out right by us and all the dogs of the park came to be involved. Achilles stood back and barked at it all. He's really helpful like that.

Really, he does okay. He's not anti-social. He just isn't really interested in wrestling and rough-housing with his fellow dogs. He's not really interested in doing that with us at home, either. So at the park, he's perfectly content to stick by me and meet whoever happens to wander by.

He's a good dog. Even though he doesn't play, I know he enjoys his time outside at the park. At the very least, he sure seems to enjoy the walk there!