It's gotten cooler here in Texas. It is really nice weather now and me and my sisters' stay outside allot. It gets down in the upper 30's or low 40's at night, but warms up to about 70 during the day. The days too have been sunny. Perfect weather for romping and taking hikes. Mom took us on a short hike to our green belt on Sunday. We met mom's best friend Marcia. Marcia is really nice and likes us kids. Mom and Marcia had a good talk while we walked and us kids got to sniff and do doggy things. Belle and Halo were off leash, but I still have to be on leash. Mom usually puts me on a flexi so I can hang out with my sisters some. Belle and Halo do come and sniff stuff with me too.
We had a big surprise at the beginning of the walk. We had just met up with Marcia and were walking back down to the creek area when this big 8 point buck came racing across the field right at us. Marcia grabbed for Belle and Halo because they were off leash and she was afraid they would chase the buck. Mom told her not to grab them because if they decided to pursue they could jerk her off her feet. Mom quickly told them to stay. Me, I was all excited and wanted to chase that buck. I think Belle and Halo did too, but they stayed. A few minutes later we found out why the buck was running. There was a dog that had been chasing him. It was really exciting. Mom told Belle and Halo they were good and we kept walking.
Toward the end of the walk though, Belle and Halo got in big trouble. They went across to the other side of the creek bed and were yelping and barking. Mom hadn't brought the whistle so my sisters couldn't hear her. She gave me to Marcia and went across to the other side. I wanted to go and see what happened, but mom said no. I think what happened though wasn't pretty because Belle and Halo came hightailing it back toward us. It took mom a little longer because there was allot of undergrowth and bushes. I heard mom tell Marcia that the girls had treed something, probably a squirrel, but you never know. We have all kinds of critters that live in the green belt, foxes, skunks, squirrels, deer, opossums, coyotes.... Mom said there even used to be bobcats in the area along time ago. She told Marcia though that she hasn't seen one since she was, well, allot younger.
That was Sunday, but it was the first time I heard mention of DogBoy. As we walked back to the trailhead, mom said now that the weather was cooler it was time I met DogBoy. Belle and Halo already knew DogBoy, but they wouldn't tell me anything about him, just that he was really cool. Mom said she would make reservations for us to meet DogBoy on Tuesday.
We got up early Tuesday morning and got dressed. I was a little nervous about meeting DogBoy. Well, it was almost time to leave when mom told us we had to get our DogBoy collars on. Belle and Halo knew what that meant and went right up to mom and sat nicely while she put on some old leather collars that looked pretty worn to me. Now mom didn't have a DogBoy collar for me, so I got to wear the bright orange collar I wear when hunting. Once dressed, we all loaded in the GSP mobile and off we went to meet DogBoy. We drove for what seemed like forever. Then we turned a corner and Belle and Halo woke up. Halo started whining like she does when we go to the lake or hiking, so I new we were close. Then we stopped and got out of the car. There was a small building near where we parked and about 15 acres of land that was fenced in different ways. I learned later that those were for the play groups. Anyway, we went in the building and met a nice man by the name of Jay. Mom knew Jay and they talked a little about me. Jay seemed really happy to see Belle and Halo and came over and said Hi to me too. Mom signed us in and Jay called the nice lady from the back to take Belle and Halo to their play group and me to my orientation. Mom must have left at that point, but I was so excited I don't remember. This was DogBoy's place.
Once out back, I finally got to meet DogBoy. Here is a picture of DogBoy. He and mom went to the same high school together.
He is really nice and loves dogs. His place is DogBoy's Dog Ranch. He can board dogs and he also has doggy daycare. There is also a huge training area and mom says he wants to put in a pool so that we can do dock diving. He also does Search and Rescue with his dogs on the side. Mom also says you have to be a good dog to come to DogBoy's. She explained that they evaluate the new dogs for temperament and compatibility, that way they can place us in play groups with other dogs that we will like. That is what they did with me at my orientation. They told mom I was a green like Belle and Halo which normally means I could play with any dog I wanted too. But for me, since I am not neutered they will have to be careful with some of the other male dogs. They were worried that some of those other males might not like me.
After orientation I got to spend some time with Belle and Halo and some other dogs in my first play group. That was allot of fun. What I didn't know (but soon learned) was DogBoy switches the play groups periodically during the day so we get to meet new dogs and also so we don't get bored. I can't imagine ever being bored at DogBoy's place. Well, my turn to switch play groups came and I really didn't like leaving my sisters, but I went anyway and I was glad I did. We went to a bigger play group and I met some other really nice dogs. We ran and played and played and ran. Later in the day (because we were good) we all got to go on the afternoon hike. That was really fun because Belle and Halo came too. The hike is on the back 9 acres of the ranch and has a huge swimming hole in it. Right now it is more a mud hole than a swimming hole because it has been so dry, but it is still fun. (Mom always puts on the sign up sheet to rinse us if needed, because she knows we will need it.) Here is a picture of the swimming hole from this summer. I don't know the dogs in the picture, but Belle and Halo say they have met some of them.
That lady in the picture is one of the ladies that works for DogBoy and she takes allot of the dogs on hikes. This next picture is one of the play group areas. 
If you haven't figured out by now, DogBoy's ranch is a great place for us dogs. I had a ton of fun at DogBoy's and didn't want to leave, at least not until we heard the GSP mobile coming up the road. The lady that was watching us told mom that we sure had good ears. She said Belle and Halo knew when mom turned on the road. We love DogBoy, but there is no one like mom and no place like home. We had had a good day, but we were all really happy to see mom and ready to go home. Mom was happy too because we were all sacked out in the back of the GSP mobile sound asleep the whole way home.
Mom says we get to go back to see DogBoy again soon. Maybe for daycare before Christmas, but definitely for camp (that means boarding) for a whole week in January when mom goes skiing in Colorado. I can't wait.