I went out today with my three boys (ages 2, 5, 8) and our new puppy, Gromit (9wks old, home for 1 week). We were going back to a spot where we'd failed to find a box a couple weeks ago, armed with hints from the owner and a previous finder. We met with success! The pup and the 3 boys "waded" (since when does "wading" get your shirt wet to your armpits??) while I stamped everthing up.

I carefully re-hid the box (with 2yo's help, gods save you if you try to re-hide a box without his help), and re started hiking back to the car .... when here came puppy, with the box in his mouth, clearly delighted with his clever self. I praised him for the retrieve, traded him for a treat, and re-hid the box (again). This time I thought we were ok, but puppy ran back to get it again -- too smart for his britches, that one. The third time I held onto the puppy and sent the 8yo back to re-hide it (again-again), and then had to send him back because he forgot to cover it with bark.

World's first LB-ing dog? We could have used Gromit's "help" last time when we couldn't find the box in the first place ....

Now that is hilarious!!!

Just when you think you have heard it all about LB'ing, along comes another great story or experience.

Ray and Susan
HD

That is so sweet. What kind of puppy is he? Starting them a little young aren't you? You are going to have to get him his own stamp and trailname so he can log his finds too!!!

What kind of puppy is he?

Gromit is my long-awaited Border Collie puppy. I work at a dog training center, but my own dog is too old and cranky for active training. (She is going deaf and has had double rear knee repairs.) I am so excited to have a physically sound pup from a great breeder -- I'm dying to do competitive agility. (puppy pictures here)

Starting them a little young aren't you? You are going to have to get him his own stamp and trailname so he can log his finds too!!!

The kids or the puppy? :) Actually, LB has been a great way to discover hidden gems of places to take a dog.... The kids are young "in general," but it seems the kind of kid I make is physically inclined, so as long as the hike is 1-2 miles, they are fine. Border Collies are meant to go and go -- which is good, given the family this dog is getting.

What is really strange, is that I made a new personal stamp this summer, long before I knew which puppy I was getting out of the litter, or even what they really looked like. Guess what? My stamp looks just like the puppy I got .... wierd.

This is a great story - sounds vaguely familiar - I have 4 boys and a dog - except it sounds like your dog is useful ! hehe Ours it turns out is a puffy princess and is more of an attraction for us than we thought she would be while LBing - she hasn't ever gone back to fetcha box but she certainly has attracted attention enough to prevent us from getting to a box. It sounds funny but when people notice you in ANY way there is no reason to be on the trail at all !!! So sadly unless it is turning dark and we know there will be no kids in our way - we leave our gorgeous purse dog ( who is sooo sad to stay home) with the non-boxers and give her plenty of hugs upon our return !

Sound like you have a lab of some sort or retriever - they are the best - purse dogs are great never thought we would have one but she has fit right in and is spoiled rotten by the boys ( the only other girl in the house : ) I wish she blended with trails better - it sounds like you have a great dog who loves to be with his family - ENJOY IT !

happy hunting, enjoy the journey,
teekasue

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The kids or the puppy? :)

LOL the puppy..... sounds and looks like a real cutie! thanks for sharing the pictures.

Gromit is a cutie! My 13 yr old chihuahua loves to go LBing becuase as old and ill and ornery as he is, he can outwalk any of us. My 5 yr old is addicted and waits on the mailman every morning hoping for a postal. She can't wait for our baby to get here so we can go out looking again! I think this is a wonderful hobby for kids, pets and families!
Dawn

Gromit is adorable. I'm itching for a puppy, but it's going to have to wait for a bigger yard. My letterboxing cohort in crime, Pupp, has two labradors. They are both therapy dogs and service dogs, but to me the younger one of the two is my boxing dog. Tank loves to box with me. She's very good on the trail and even has her own trail backpack. She carries the water bottles and her stamp, I carry all of my stuff. She will retrieve boxes and will carry them from person to person so everyone can stamp in when we're with a group. The only problem we ever have with her is if there's water around, she's GOING to be in it. Doesn't matter what we think. It doesn't help that both of my children adore Tank and will happily follow her right into the water, because they love the water as much as Tank does :)

Maiden

Is he by chance a Boxer?! (teehee! )

I guess I am spoiled, because 9 times out of 10 there is no one at all on the same trails as us, let alone near the LB sites. I don't usually have to be that careful. Plus, if people do come by, they seem to sweep their glance right over my box of markers and printed directions -- all they see is mom+kids+dog and they keep moving.

Gromit does attract attention (he is a handsome Border Collie pup, of the red&white persuasion) -- but that is at least half the reason we are out places, for his socialization :). Nothing wrong with a "purse dog" either (never heard that term before, but I love it!). I have met some really wonderful pint-sized dogs.

Thanks! Happy Labs are awesome trail dogs. My old dog Kizzy used to go backpacking with me (pre-marriage, pre-kid days). I still have her pack, but she'll never wear it again -- she blew out her rear knees a couple of years ago, and I can't risk any damage to the repaired bionic knees :).

Gromit loves the water too -- the day we brought him home, he jumped right in our pool. Three times. His head goes under with the jump, but he doesn't mind and is a strong swimmer. He's already learned where the stairs are.