Dear Journal...

Ridgway Bark Park

So I realized I have never really blogged about Ridgway! Once a week Sammy and I get to visit the park where we’ve made so many four-legged friends! I’m actually surprised that I haven’t made any entries about the dog’s we’ve met, since they each have their own individual personalities. They are all amazing dogs, though! Let’s begin with Sammy, the star of my YouTube channel.

Sammy is my dog. The first dog that has ever really been just mine. I adopted her a month after my mom passed away after repeat bypass surgery. She really means a lot to me, and is the best companion (after all, she is my dream dog)! She is a 1.5 year old Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. And yes, that breed does exist, and her coloring (which is neither red or blue) is called tricolor. So don’t you send me those bullcrap messages saying she’s a mixed breed. I have had a lot of people try to tell my that my dog is a cattle dog mixed with an Australian Shepherd. I know people who have Aussie Cattle-Shepherds, and Sammy looks nothing like them! She was born with that stumpy tail! You can believe it, or you can shove it! LOL!

Layla is a 1 year old German Shepherd who was previously neglected and abused along with her brother. She was rescued and adopted by a young woman who was sad to separate Layla from her litter mate. She was afraid that Layla would associate her with the loss of her brother and never confide in her, but Layla was so terrified of the people that she didn’t even see her brother being lead away. Layla has come a very long way since she was adopted. Her owner has had to be very patient over the last several months. The first time she visited the park, the terrified German Shepherd hid behind one of the trash bins and refused to come out until it was time to go home. Now her favorite thing is the park! She anticipates her next park visit and is always happy when she arrives! Layla runs right up to the gate and waits excitedly for her owner to let her into the park. Still wary of the people, Layla will keep a distance around the group of dog owners, but has really started getting used to us! I can’t wait til the day I finally get to pet her! She is so sweet and I am sorry that anyone would ever neglect such a wonderful dog!

Gretchen is another German Shepherd who comes to the park! She’s the “Bark Park Bully!” Gretchen has such a personality. This grouchy girl just wants all the attention for herself. Whenever the other dogs are having more fun than her, she will run up to them and bark menacingly to ruin their fun! If she finds a dog playing with a ball or stick, she will run up to them and take it without a warning! I think deep down she just wants the dogs to play with her, but she’s such a bully! Some of the other dog owners get a little annoyed sometimes, but I think it’s kind of cute. She’s just a little misunderstood. Her terrifying barks and snarls are pretty much harmless. ;)

Cole is one of my favorites! He is a 1 year old Pit Bull with the most handsome, shiny black coat I have ever seen! Not to mention his quirky, outgoing personality! Cole is an intact male so he tries to get a little frisky with Sammy sometimes, but his owner is diligently working on his manners around the ladies! Aside from that, Cole is a bundle of fun and energy! 

Sisco is another favorite guy! He is a 1 year old intact Vizsla, and one of the smartest dogs I know! He and Cole aren’t allowed to play together because they are both dominating males. We learned quick when they stared down each other one day through the fence and then went ballistic! The owners stopped them immediately and pulled them away from the fence, but instead of making one dog leave the park, the two owners took turns letting their dogs play in the park. I thought it was pretty nice of them! Sisco didn’t mind being outside of the fence, but Cole hated it! He wanted to play so badly! At least they both had equal amount of time to run around with the other dogs! :)

Diamond is a Boxer mixed with some sort of Shepherd. She has such a silly personality! She loves to play fetch, but only if she gets to keep the ball. I think she just wants us to chase her around! It’s her favorite game! She’s quick as lightning, too! And smart! If you watch her in my YouTube videos, you’ll usually spot her strategically stealing balls and sticks from other dogs and owners and running off with them! This video in particular shows her wit and cunning very well!

The “Aussie Team,” as I like to call them, consist of 4 dogs: Abby, Opal, Jack, and Aussie. Abby and Opal are Australian Cattle Dog sisters! Abby is pretty sweet and relaxed, while her sister, Opal, is the more dominant of the two. Surprisingly enough she takes quite an interest to Sammy, which her owner couldn’t believe! Opal is highly intelligent and is keen to watch her owner and happily obey his every command. Abby loves to play fetch, while Opal runs around coaching other dogs like a referee! 

Jack lives with Abby. He is an older Corgi mix who LOVES dirty balls. Gross, right? Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about worn out, ripped up tennis balls that have been laying in dirt! He goes nuts for them! Give that dog a brand new tennis ball and he won’t want anything to do with it!

Aussie lives with Opal, and can you guess what he is!? An Australian Shepherd! A lot of people try to tell his owner that he’s some kind of mix with a Border Collie, but we can promise you that he is all Australian Shepherd! His tricolor coat is what makes him look different than the Shepherds people are used to seeing, but if you know dogs, you’ll know he’s not a Border Collie mix! Aussie is pretty laid back and likes to stick close to his owner, or one of the other Aussie Team members, whether it be Opal, Abby, or Jack! 

There are other dogs who come to play at the park, but you’ll have to wait until another day when I feel like posting about our canine pals! :D You can always check them out on my YouTube channel, too!