Thursday, January 20, 2011

MY CANYON DOG WALKER

MY DAUGHTER WITH SOME OF HER CANYON CANINES
 DURING A SNOW STORM -- BREAKING TRAIL.
My daughter loves dogs. About ten years ago she announced to her husband that she was going to become a dog walker. His response was, WHAT! But with a mind of her own she preceded to start her business and ten years later she has a busy, healthy enterprise -- one that she loves as well as her dogs love.

What does she do that is different from being the ordinary dog walker? Well, she takes the dogs into the canyons of the Uinta Mountains -- come rain or come shine. Let me explain, she lives up against the Uintas in Utah. It's a wild place and the dogs absolutely love it. Of course, she has had confrontations with mountain rattlers, dog and moose stand-offs, porcupine quill attacks, odoriferous skunks, and other critters big and small. She feels it's all in the game of doing what she loves. She carries all types of paraphernalia in her back pack to counter any attacks by critters. 

She calls her dogs her "clients." and some have been with her almost from the start of her business. She makes two trips a day to the canyon trails and walks each group of "clients" six miles off leash. Altogether that's twelve miles of steep ups and downs a day. Her legs have become like iron.

TREAT TIME

She drives an old SUV that she lugs the dogs around in. She details the car once a week but the in-between days produce a lot of hair and dog-wear. Her daughter is used to riding with a friend or two in a dog messy vehicle along with usually a few dogs on their way back to their individual homes. It has become all part of the game with daughter and friends.


But, husband drives his own car where dogs are not allowed. It's not all in the game with him. But after ten years of her dog business he rather tolerates it. He has progressed to giving out a few treats once in a while. Maybe in a few years her business will be all in the game for him -- perhaps? 

34 comments:

  1. Wow what fabulous photos! Thanks for the smiles.

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  2. Now that's a different kind of job! Good for her--those look like mighty happy dogs.

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  3. Tess -- Great that you got some smiles from the photos. Thanks for the "WoW" -- barbara

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  4. Granny Sue -- Yes, it is a bunch of happy dogs -- I've been around them quite a bit when I visit her. -- barbara

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  5. Lucky dogs! I saw a lot of dog walkers when I lived in NYC [dog herders, I called them, they were always on leash] Such a healthy pursuit for both daughter and dogs. This is a wonderful story. One of you should write it up for a magazine.

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  6. Good for her! What a happy healthy way of life!

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  7. Gee, she looks like she's struggling with an awful job there LOL.
    Not many people get to do what they love every day but your daughter is obviously one of the blessed :)

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  8. She's quite a girl. The dogs sure seem to enjoy themselves.

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  9. What an awesome young woman you have for a daughter! She reminds me of my own daughter. She has a mind of her own and willing to make things happen! You are so blessed Barbara! I love the dogs in the snow they look blissfully happy.

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  10. She is lovely and so are her clients!!! How nice that she has a career she loves!!!!!

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  11. June -- Y. People always ask her if the dogs ever run away as she doesn't leash them on the trails. So far, in all her years of doing this she has not lost a dog. They seem to realize that they are all like a pack when trailing.

    When she started walking the canyons I was concerned for her safety. but then when I saw the size and number of the dogs I felt assured.

    Thanks -- barbara

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  12. vicki -- She sure does love what she does and the side benefit is that it keeps her fit as a fiddle. -- barbara

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  13. Jayne -- Thanks for the comment. I believe she followed her bliss. -- barbara

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  14. Janet -- I don't know who enjoys themselves the most -- my daughter or the dogs? -- barbara

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  15. Mama-Bug -- Nice that you have a daughter with a mind of her own. I do like to observe women that follow their bliss and make a go out of it. Thanks for the nice comment -- barbara

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  16. Kay -- thanks for the generous comment. She works hard but I know she doesn't mind doing so as she thinks dogs are the greatest. -- barbara

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  17. Wonderful composition... she's got her hands full, I bet.

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  18. What great pictures of your daughter. Sounds like a very enjoyable business.

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  19. How delightful. I wish your daughter lived near me. My dogs only get small walks these days. Beautiful snapshots of your beautiful daughter by the way.

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  20. Birdman -- Thanks for the very nice comment. After ten years she has a system down that helps keep everything on the trail in check -- but there still can be surprises. My daughter benefits on the trail walks too as the mountain views are gorgeous at all times of the year. -- barbara

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  21. Farmchick -- Yes, she enjoys her business -- she knows the trails like the back of her hand -- barbara

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  22. Schmidleysscribbling -- It is a good thing that I have open land surrounding me -- this gives my two dogs a chance to run. I once was diligent about walking but have slacked off. At 70 I am content to watch them "run" themselves. -- barbara

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  23. Wow, what an awesome post and what an awesome daughter you've got! I got a chance to visit this post yesterday but had no time to leave a comment, but I thought about your daughter during my own comparatively wimpy, measly hike through the snow and a little bitty ravine with my own tiny pack of three dogs today, and felt inspired! :-) I love the photos you shared - your daughter and her cute canyon canine clients ALL look like they're having a wonderful time! The "Treat Time" photo is especially fun ~ look at all those joyful faces! (I love the beagle peeking around the bigger dog's butt. LOL)

    Please tell your daughter I think she totally rocks! She looks like a fun and delightful person who's created a fun and delightful life (and a super fit one, too!) :-)

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  24. Laloofah -- I too thought the little beagle was so cute. He was surrounded by all those big dogs! I will pass your comment along to my daughter. I think its wonderful that you walk your dogs in the snow -- I am sure they love it. Thank you for the very nice comments. Very glad you stopped by -- barbara

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  25. I thought you'd enjoy my 'shaker barns'.

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  26. I sure did -- always enjoy your photos -- barbara

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  27. Oh, Barbara! What a post! We have truly fallen in love with your daughter! She's awesome! The photos are so engaging and she is a woman to be admired by all! Spunky, courageous, adventuresome, determined...how many adjectives can we stack up to say, you're one fine young lady! You keep going, girl! You're simply wonderful!
    Thank you for sharing, Barbara!! A thousand times! (sorry to be so slow to comment, but your website is so totally rich in content that it takes awhile to load so I can comment. I've taken to doing so in the afternoon on a Saturday when most are watching sports on TV!!

    Elora

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  28. Elora -- Wait til you get your broadband -- it will open up a new life for you. You will have more time to do all the other projects you have in your life. I lived a short time in the Glorieta Mountains of New Mexico before I moved here. I did not have broadband at my abode so I traveled to a resort complex in the mountains that had broadband and set up shop in their coffee shop. Whatever works.

    Thanks for the generous complements about my daughter. She is a sweetheart. I will pass your comments along to her.

    I sometimes fall behind in getting around to everyone's posts but eventually try and catch up. There are so many folks that write wonderful posts.

    I read the post about your photography studies. You have many talents that I am slowly becoming aware of. You should teach some adult ed classes on photography. You certainly don't let any grass grow under your feet.

    Stay warm and cozy -- barbara

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  29. You know, I got to thinking (as we were out milking the cow and I was reflecting on the ho-hum calendar that Purina put out this year...and I was wondering if sending a copy of the photo to Purina's PR division, with a little commentary on her business might be fun....Who knows! She might get free dogfood for a year!!! (plus treats)

    Thank you sooo much girl! You are, yourself, awesome at 70.

    Love you,
    Elora

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  30. Elora -- Her pet stories would make for interesting reading. She herself should have a blog as there is always something fascinating everyday with her business. I've mentioned it to her but she says that she is too busy with family and business. That is why I decided to write about her on my blog. Not the full story but an inkling of her life with her clients. Thanks for the idea. I'll pass it along to her. -- barbara

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  31. What a wonderful story! It's truly marvelous that your daughter has made a success of doing what she loves...and all that exercise to boot; seems like the best of all possible worlds. All of them look like they're having a great time!

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  32. Rose -- My daughter has been attached to all manner of dogs since she was young. With her long dog-interest history she was bound to eventually work with them in some capacity. Thanks for the nice comments -- barbara

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  33. I love these photos of your beautiful daughter and her happy pack in the snow! All that hiking would be hard work on rough terrain. She must be very dedicated to her clients. It's clear they love her too.

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  34. Sheri -- Some children just have a sixth sense about what they want to do in life and isn't it grand to see it unfold. -- barbara

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