It's actually Neb's 1 year birthday today!!!!

He came to my trail race this morning and hung out with Toby. Though I realized I forgot my Garmin 405 (GPS watch) at home with an hour to race start, and Toby went home (with Neb, in case he didn't make it back in time) to get it. Amazingly, he actually made it (when having a bf who raced cars is a perk!), but he apparently did make Neb puke in the car....sheesh. Neb was very good with the other dogs at the race start/finish and very relaxed with all the people (especially the guy who gave him treats, ha).

But he has changed a TONNE over the last year. Who would've thought he'd be so different.

Neb at 6 weeks, first day home, not really able but trying to make it up the stairs outside:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2506177&l=946c67066d&id=630190844

Neb on the Killarney trip Easter, 1 week shy of his first birthday:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2875942&l=4b593f923e&id=630190844

Boy, I never would have pictured him looking like he does now. He's a good looking boy Jennifer.

Thanks!

I never would've pictured him this way either....I can hardly believe he's the same dog!

Ahh.. but that is all the fun of having a mixed breed puppy! It's like the proverbial box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get!

I really like Neb's harness and pack. When Rudy's older I might investigate ruffwear for him as well. I had a wolfpack pack for my old dog Max, but there are a lot more on the market now as opposed to when I bought the one for Max.

Thanks! I actually don't have Neb carry a pack yet - I think he's still too young - but Luc does (he has the same one). I got the pack for Neb since I can use the harness now and then add the pack when he's old enough.

Angela, too true! I really thought he'd stick to the more terrier-like head, but he's gotten more and more husky-like in appearance as he's gotten older. It's interesting to see b/c his mom didn't have the husky head at all.

I am an avid backpacker and hunter and I was wondering how to acclimate a puppy/dog to walking on rough terrain? Just start young and keep doing it or...

Your advice is much appreciated.

Yay another backpacker! There's a few of us who go out on trips with our dogs here.

I would start small. Neb started hiking being carried in a snugli, b/c he was a tiny puppy, progressed to hiking parts of hikes (expect puppies to be distractable) and then to short hikes/backpacks (he's never carried a pack) and longer. Edit: I will start having him carry a pack somewhere between 18 months-2 years.

Basically, the same way you'd condition/prepare yourself I like to have my dogs in a harness so I also worked getting Neb used to it and used to walking in a harness - that's not all that hard though.

In terms of paw toughness, my older dogs haven't had problems. I honestly think the best way to toughen paws is to expose them to a variety of surfaces, but in particular I have found concrete to be the best to toughen them up over walks and runs. That was the mistake I made on this trip - b/c Neb is only a year, I tried to condition him on grass and soft surfaces as much as possible, so when we ended up going through water (softened his pads) and then over sharp ice, they cut up. You probably wouldn't have the ice issue in California though....

Not acclimitation related, but something I've found amazing for the trips in terms of weight savings, is using The Honest Kitchen dehydrated food - obviously I'm not bringing fresh raw and it's lighter and smaller to pack than kibble - it's been great.

Edit again: keep in mind puppy's joints are still forming, and heavy exercise (esp. if high impact) is not a good idea for them. This is especially true in large breed dogs (which Neb is not).