Embarking on Kita’s First Hike

In the midst of the scorching summer heat that had embraced the southwestern region of America, the opportunity for a refreshing hike had been long overdue since Kita, our spirited companion, joined our family. The extended summer days had us yearning for the great outdoors, as the sweltering temperatures kept us cooped up inside. We kept our minds as busy as possible with training, but there’s no denying the allure of the open trails that beckoned to both Kai and I. I realized a couple of weeks earlier that when I got Kai we hiked every weekend, the difference being he joined our family in the Winter, while Kita joined us at the beginning of Summer. Though it’s already September, it’s still over 90 degrees daily and the humidity hasn’t helped. The slight differences in how the two grew up are now obvious, and the main factor was the weather. Something I, or no one else could control.

The weather gave us a small break, a cloudy day (the skies thinking about rain), and the temperature in the low 80s. The humidity of course was still there, but I couldn’t not take advantage of the break, and it so happened to be my day off. Packing some basics we set out on an adventure that held the promise of newfound memories.

Considering the overcast sky and Kita’s relative inexperience, I decided that our destination for this maiden hiking expedition would be the familiar Monolith Garden trail. Although not exotic or groundbreaking, this trail had become a reliable favorite due to its proximity. In our town Cowboys are a common sight and so horse riders and free-range cattle are not uncommon on the trail. That being said, remember I have Border Collies which are very intelligent though typically reactive herding dogs.

Kai and I had been on this trail off-leash countless times, he has a keen ear always facing my direction so I don’t worry. Kita, she’s was still learning. As a conscientious owner, my priority lay in ensuring her comfort and safety. It is with this understanding that I opted to keep both Kai and Kita leashed by my side, providing them with the secure familiarity of my presence and guidance. Better safe than sorry, always.

Backtracking a moment though, on the point of her still learning and her reactive nature I just want to give her a bit of credit. As we left the house, the two dogs (off leash) ran out of the house (with my permission) to the car (normally they sit by the car and wait until I open the hatch). This time though, there was a stray dog, (This dog often escapes his home during storms, which we previously had one the night before. So I knew the dog but my dogs had never been given the chance to approach said “stray”.) Kai sat by the car, watching the stray in the street and then looking at me. Realizing Kita was not sitting next to him, I quickly looked to the street to see said stray and her following behind. This stray didn’t let anyone approach him, so he continued down our street before picking up pace to run off. Kita, being who and what she is followed. In all honesty, I thought our day of hiking was done before it even began. Kita has a fair recall, but I’ve never put her in such a high-distraction environment off-leash, so I was concerned. “Kita, here!” I yelled, as I began to follow after the two. Kita stopped, looked at me, back at the stray (who was now running), and made the choice to return to me. Such relief! Joy, joy, happy times with lots of praise upon her return! Happily, we got into the car, and off we went on an adventure.

As we arrived at our destination, the time had come to introduce Kita to her first harness. Typically, I recommend a dog get exposure to these things earlier than when the time comes, but I gave it a go. I already had planned, that if she wouldn’t go for it, I’d put it away and train with it another day at home. Thankfully, she had no issues, so I opted for a looser fit, I attached the harness and secured the leads, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit. The trails beckoned, and Kita embraced the experience with a delightful enthusiasm that only a canine companion can exude. Her mental acuity sharpened with every step, and the physical exertion was nothing short of invigorating.

We didn’t go the full loop, once we were about 30 minutes in Kita was beginning to lag so we fueled up one more time and turned back around to the car. An hour hike was just long enough for her to get the stimulation she needed and ease Kai and I’s itch to get out.

We did not see any horses, cattle, snakes, scorpions, or people on our hike. Which was both good and bad. Good because Kita could just focus on me and the outdoors. Also, good because no one wants to see any snakes or scorpions! Bad, because we are still working on her reactive nature and it would have been good to see a mountain biker or some cattle. There’s always next time though, and so overall it was a very successful first hike.

Reflecting upon our hike, it is evident that this inaugural expedition served as more than just a leisurely escapade. It embodied the tenets of my positive-based dog training, a journey of companionship rooted in trust, patience, and the celebration of milestones. As Kita, Kai, and I returned home, a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment lingered in the air, a testament to the power of positive reinforcement and the transformative potential of shared adventures.

So, take your time and remember every day is a great day for an adventure!