Rufus Goes Camping

Good morning.
Today our subject is camping.
Rufus loves to go camping.  However it is not a lot of fun until we get unpacked. Both Dexter and Rufus have to be in the dog run until I get everything out of the trailer and car and get set up.  They just look at me
through the pen until it is done.

Once it is done though we have a nice lazy time of it after all isn't that what camping is all about?

We spend most of the day walking or just sitting and watching everyone go by.  Rufus does not let anyone walk by with out letting them know we are there either.  His huge bark is enough to scare most people.  The only time he is really really upset is when we get visitors that have been drinking.

Most of our "family" at the campground know Rufus and will call him by name and that is enough to quiet him down.  We wait for our friend Jocelyn to come around because she just loves Rufus.

This year we are going to try to do some different things because we have a new site.  We are further away from most of the campers but that gives us a chance to walk around more and see everyone.

Of Course with his nose to the ground all the time and all the smells from the colony just on the ridge around us... he does get that tough skin on the top of his nose all worn off.  Sometimes when we get back to the trailer he has a bloody nose from it being on the ground so much.  But that is what Bloodhounds do best.  Given a chance he would just keep going and going....  I have taught him him how to cross a cattle guard.  That took a little practice on my part too because it is kind of a balancing act when you you really look at it.

Dexter and Rufus look forward to our walk.  It usually takes us about 2 hours to complete the loop that we take.  We go up to the secondary highway. And then we walk down to the cattle guard and then usually turn around.  Once we cross the guard there are cattle that come close.  So... we try not to go too close.  But I would estimate that is about a mile or so from the entrance to the park.  Then we go back along the ridge and there are gofers and other creatures that he hunts out.  It takes us a while.  Sometimes depending on how many campers are out we will walk all through the campground looking for friends.

Once we finally get back from the walk it is time to just relax until someone comes by.


After a long walk this is his favorite spot.  Since the trailer is small and the bed is the best spot in the place this is where we just laze about.

We are looking forward to a nice camping season this year.  It will be a good one.










As you you must imagine.  Dexter's little legs are tired too.  It is a good time to just have a good nap.

Even Bella is excited to go with us.  We have a cage for her and she chases "bugs" or whatever else she wants to, until it gets too hot outside for her then she is back in the trailer with all the flaps open for a breeze.

She has even got a following at the campground.

For the most part it is the best part of the summer and early fall.

We are not able to get out as much as we would like to because that pesky thing called "work" gets in the way of it all.






Wilson loved to go camping too.  One time we went to a campground that had a lot of free range cattle around it.  Wilson of course was on the leash at all times.  When we were walking once we happened upon some of the cattle.  Most times, cows will just walk away from a human and dog but for some reason they were following us around. We tried walking straight toward them to get back to the trailer.  Instead of parting for us like they were supposed to they came straight for us.  Scared me silly.

After our trek of dodging cattle and trying to get back to the camper. Wilson was so tired that he just found a tree and had a good nap.  The next morning when I opened the door to head out to the out house what was there but about 4 cows.  I told Wilson then that the cows were asking him to come out and play.  Of course, when I tried to get a photo of that my camera died.  And all the cell phones were too low on power to get that award winning picture.




Come back again to see the progress we have with a whistle.  Also we will tell you of our grooming ritual that is a must for any dog with floppy ears.