There isn’t much in life that’s happier than watching dogs run free in the woods. Before being let loose, they remain calm on their leashes, yawning in anticipation. But as soon as the sound of the leash unclicking is heard, they’re off, bounding wildly into the brush, neck and neck like racehorses as they playfully bite each other’s legs and roll over one another along the way.
There are a few good dog-friendly trails around Salt Lake City, most notably in Mill Creek Canyon. Dogs generally get worked up when going for a ride in the car as soon as they figure out that they’re going on a hike. The anticipation heightens as if the very smell of the forest throws them into hysterics.
Car parked, dogs out, leashes on, dog owners are dragged to the trailhead. Then, with a single unclicking of the leashes, they’re turned loose, domesticated dogs gone feral as they crash through underbrush, dodging trees and losing all memory of their training. They are crazy. They gallop, run loops, chase birds and squirrels and pounce on anything that moves. Small animals always escape up a tree, well beyond a dog’s reach as they lean their front paws against the bark. Again and again this game is played but the dogs never seem to tire as they splash through creeks, stick their noses in holes and rub their faces on God-knows-what on the ground.
Lucky owners have dogs that eventually tire out and settle down, unless distracted by a smell or anything of interest in the trees. But some dogs never let up and are always on the hunt, loping through the woods, nose to the ground, crashing into bushes and getting too far off trail. After dog names are called, they come prancing back with tongues hanging low.
By the end of the hike, sometimes dogs can barely jump back into the car. They wear themselves out completely and lay their heads flat on the floor or on top of the wheel well. They close their eyes and sleep as they are driven home, and dream of squirrels escaping up trees, dead leaves crunching under paws, and the flash of autumn foliage rushing by in a frenzy of dog craziness.
right up my alley…I mean trail!