When we first adopted our dog Maggie riding in a car was her least favorite thing to do. She would whine and often howl like a siren and then throw up after only a few miles. A trip to the vet. was dreaded by both her and I.
Now 4+ years later going someplace in a vehicle is one of her favorite things to do. I even recently took her with me to photograph churches, letting her out of the car at some stops and sometimes not. She was happy in either case just to be going.
Recent problems with my ankle, heel and/or foot has disrupted Maggie’s morning walks and today she was clearly needing to get out and go somewhere. It was off to Sloan Park nearby where I was pleased to still find autumn colors to enjoy on our walk.
Maggie’s also getting to be a much better photography dog — politely stopping and waiting while I take my shot(s).
Simple pleasures. These are a few images from our walk.
That’s cool, Earl. Glad that you got Maggie out of the house and that she loves to go for a ride now rather than being so anxious. Nice fall colors you have there! I went for some fall shooting myself this weekend at a part that I had forgotten about.
Paul, thanks. I was afraid Maggie was going to steal my car keys and go for a joy ride if I didn’t take her somewhere. :-) Glad you got out and back to almost forgotten park yourself this weekend…I guess you knee is doing okay?
Still some impressive colors for this late in the season.
Yes, I was pleased by the amount of color still about, Steve.
Maggie sounds like a sweetheart. She has conquered her fear of the car and now enjoys it. I can’t convince Emo that leaving the house is for his benefit, so I have to resort to tricks to get him to go to the vet.
Gorgeous color shots. There still is a little life left in the season.
Interesting, the file names all include a “d600” addition. Is that by accident?
Thanks, Ken. Yeah, Maggie’s come a long ways from her puppy days and is totally a house dog since Foster’s passing. I was surprised how much color was left…more then I expected. Sharp eyes…no accident…first shots…more later. ;-)
Looks like you had a great day to get out Earl. Colors have come and gone here pretty quickly. I barely got to shoot any of them!
Mark, yeah, it was a nice day…overcast and a little breezy from Hurricane Sandy off shore…what a whopper of a storm.
Glad you and Maggie were able to get out and about because it is those simple pleasures that lift the soul. Okay, number four is my favorite.
Thanks, Monte…number four may be my favorite too. :-)
Beautiful images, as usual, Earl. Great colors. I had a dog (Roxie) years ago that loved riding in a car, but if you came anywhere within 10 blocks of the Vet (from any direction), she’d get this hangdog (sorry) look and her legs would start shaking. I always felt sorry for her. Of course, leaving the vet was a different story!
Isn’t it amazing how they know when they get close to the vet? Hobbs used to whine when we got in the car – that was because they only time he got to go for a ride was for a vet visit. I changed that by taking him for several pleasure rides, none of which involved the vet. After a couple of long rides to Charleston, SC, he was loving to get in the car. Now, he looks forward to it, even if it is a trip to the vet. :)
Thanks, John.
Yeah, dogs can pick up on signs we don’t even know we’re giving.
Gotta love em! :-)