After six years of living in Evergreen and hiking the nearby trails over and over, we started expanding our territory last summer in an effort to find longer options to prepare for our trek between Aspen and Crested Butte.

It was a blast, and appropriate for us as Wild Western Wanderers, to keep exploring new terrain. We continued the trend last weekend. We drove an hour, part of it on a narrow dirt road, to reach a trailhead on the opposite side of the Buffalo Creek recreation area from where our parents had done a difficult mountain bike ride years ago. The area is much more popular with mountain bikers than hikers due to the length of the trails. While out, we saw only one trail runner, but several mountain bikers.

We made a seven+ mile loop out of Gashouse and Baldy trails. There were many cool boulders to climb on, and the weather was perfect. We love exploring new areas, and it was a bonus that it wasn’t busy.

After the hike, we stopped at Zoka’s Restaurant in Pine and relaxed on the deck while Mom and Dad ate lunch. We don’t currently have any plans for a big hike this summer, but we will be going on a fun road trip to South Dakota and North Dakota next month. I’m grateful to have been adopted into the Wild Western Wanderer family! What’s one of your favorite places to explore?

My big sister, Ella, was one smart cookie. She had a lot of personality and taught all of us many important lessons. In 2024, Mom compiled 40 of these lessons into a book, Pawsitive Perspectives: Life Lessons from the Shelter Dog Who Became Queen. The book uses stories told from Ella’s perspective to explore themes of survival, trust, healing, and living with purpose.

The book offers readers a unique lens on life, simple yet profound. Ella’s perspective reframes everyday challenges as lessons in courage, belonging, and joy.

What stands out most is the gentle wisdom woven throughout the narrative. Each lesson is accessible yet meaningful, creating a cohesive message about resilience and emotional growth that resonates with readers of all ages. The Companion Journal uses journaling prompts to help readers apply the lessons to their own lives, making it the perfect accompaniment to the book.

With Mother’s Day and graduations coming up, this book makes a unique gift for the dog mom or graduate in your life.

You can check out lessons from the book in the Wild Western Wanderers archive, but I think the best thing to do is get a copy of the book! You can see all purchasing options for both Pawsitive Perspectives and its Companion Journal on this webpage.

Saturday, April 11, is National Pet Day. I thought I’d celebrate by sharing all the ways that loving a pet can improve your life.

The best prescription for well-being might be wagging its tail at your front door. Sharing your life with a pet can make you healthier and happier. Lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and increased joy are just a few perks of having a furry, four-legged companion.

Positive interactions with a wide range of animals can trigger uplifting feelings, but humans have long lived in harmony with dogs in particular. According to the 2024 American Veterinary Medical Association’s Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook, 45.5% of U.S. households include a dog. Given the large number of dogs (89.7 million) in the U.S., there’s a wealth of research on the benefits of having a dog.

A dog can be a loving companion, protector, friend, loyal sidekick, and fellow adventurer. They can ease your anxiety, lick away your tears when you’re sad, or share in your joy when you’re happy. Dogs are part of the family and add another dimension to life.

Studies have shown that having a dog can help people live longer. A meta-analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, which analyzed data from multiple studies conducted between 1950 and 2019, found that dog ownership was associated with a 24% lower risk of death from any cause and a 31% lower risk of death from cardiovascular causes compared to non-dog owners. A series of studies has suggested a link between dog companionship and lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

While dog owners who walk their dogs regularly are more likely to meet recommended exercise guidelines and maintain or lose weight, the benefits extend beyond physical health. Pets can also enhance mental health, reducing stress while improving mood.

Interacting with a dog can lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase oxytocin (the feel-good hormone), promoting bonding and helping combat loneliness. Dogs offer companionship and unconditional love, which can be especially beneficial for those living alone. Even simple interactions, such as petting or playing with a dog, can boost feelings of happiness.

Dogs can act as social catalysts, making it easier for people to connect with others while out for walks or at dog parks. In today’s environment, where one in five people report feeling lonely, the increased social interaction that comes with pet ownership is important. The Surgeon General has declared a loneliness epidemic in the U.S., and 20% of U.S. adults in Gallup’s recent quarterly data indicate they feel lonely “a lot of the day.”

Caring for a pet fosters routine, purpose, and responsibility. Your dog can face the world with you, and caring for a dog can provide meaning as you move through life’s ups and downs together. In your relationship with your pet, you’ll find that you need each other, which is why you see bumper stickers that ask, “Who rescued who?”

If you’re looking for a workout buddy who never complains, a therapist who listens without judgment, and a friend who’s always happy to see you (even after you’ve been apart for just five minutes), consider welcoming a pet into your life. Having a pet offers the simple yet profound gifts of unconditional love, companionship, and a connection that makes life a little brighter. Many adoptable dogs are out there looking for their furever homes!

Now that our birthday month is over, we (the dogs) are taking back control of this Substack. Mom wrote the last couple of posts about Mala and me to celebrate our birthdays.

In her post about me, Mom mentioned that I exhibit some traits of a typical Australian Cattle Dog (ACD). I'm smart, have a lot of opinions, and can be quite the "velcro" dog. However, I'm unique because I can settle down, be calm, and even enjoy cuddling at times. Although my DNA test indicated that I have almost no “sporting breed,” I do love to play fetch. I’ll repeatedly retrieve my ball, toy, or frisbee and drop it when asked so you can throw it again. It's not an obsession, though. Eventually, I'll return without the ball or toy and be ready to relax on the couch.

I’m not sure who coined the phrase “fight like cats and dogs,” because I’m actually a big fan of cats. In fact, who says dogs can’t cuddle with cats and allow them to wash their faces? I love settling in with Mateo for a good cleaning session or curling up in front of the wood stove with Kali. She can fit her whole body all the way under the wood stove, but I can only get my snout under it. The cats are wonderful companions.

It's also fun to act like a cat sometimes. When I get up on the couch and find something on the arm, like a phone or a remote, I enjoy pushing it off onto the floor with my nose. I know cats usually use their paws for this, but my nose works just as well. I also like to knock the drain cover into the shower when I’m curious about what Mom is doing in the bathroom. I don’t understand why they put it on the edge of the tub when it’s supposed to cover the drain.

Occasionally, I climb all the way under the covers on the bed. One night, I made Mom so worried about me suffocating under there that she kept checking on me until I finally came out hours later.

I enjoy pushing my bones under the couch, a trick I learned from watching the cats. It’s amusing to hide things in hard-to-reach places, which makes the game more interesting. Unfortunately, I soon realize that I can’t reach them myself, so I whine until someone comes to get them for me. The cats have fun toys too, and sometimes I try to grab those, but Mom quickly takes them away. I think she worries I might rip them apart.

Don't let anyone dictate who you should be or how you should act. Embrace your individuality and pursue what makes you happy. Each of us is unique, so focus on being yourself and doing what you truly want. Life is too short to pretend to be someone you're not.

I have the opportunity to write again this week, this time in honor of Tessie's birthday. It’s hard to believe she is already four years old, especially since she still thinks of herself as a baby. On the other hand, she has been on many adventures during her time with the Wild Western Wanderers. It feels fitting that today is also National Puppy Day, as Tessie will always be our perpetual puppy.

While John wasn’t entirely convinced about getting another dog less than a year after Ella passed away, I felt ready. No dog can ever replace Ella, but Tessie has the same perfect mix of fierceness and sweetness. Although she isn’t a fan of being hugged, she enjoys cuddling in the evenings on the couch and in the mornings before we get up. Tessie has helped to heal my heart after the loss of my soul dog.

Fate brought us together. I applied to meet two other dogs available for adoption through New Hope Cattle Dogs, but I ended up clicking on Tessie’s photo on my application too. Although Tessie wasn’t listed on the website yet, she was included in the application form. As it turned out, the other two dogs had already been adopted, but Tessie was still available and being fostered just five minutes away from us. We met her at the foster home with Mala, and the next day, we brought her to our house to meet the cats. From the very beginning, Tessie was fascinated by the cats, and they seemed to like her as well. She and Mateo are best friends.

One of our first adventures with Tessie, before finalizing the adoption, was to take her paddleboarding on Evergreen Lake. John picked her up and met me at the lake. In that five-minute drive, she was all over the car, including down by his feet, making John worried about bringing this little Tasmanian devil into our family. But once we were out on the lake, she fell asleep and was so cute in her lifejacket that we couldn’t resist her. To this day, we comment on how sweet she looks when she’s asleep!

Tessie is exceptionally smart and always attentive, often sharing her opinions on everything. Unlike some cattle dogs, she is calm when we’re relaxing. She’s always up for an adventure. While hiking, she pauses at any trail junction and looks to us to decide which way to go. No matter which direction we choose, she happily accepts it and continues on with her classic Tessie strut and a smile on her face.

Given that Tessie is on the small side for her breed, we lovingly refer to her as Nugget. Happy Birthday, Nugget!

I’m taking over the dog’s Substack today to wish Mala a happy 11th birthday! This sweet little bundle of joy chose us at a charity event in 2015. We had no intention of adopting a second dog when we were introduced to Mala by a local rescue organization attending a walk for farm animals. She was so tiny, I scooped her up in my hands, and she immediately fell asleep on her back.

Ella wasn't thrilled about getting a little sister at first, but she took Mala under her paw and showed her the ropes. Mala had some time as the only dog after Ella passed away and before we adopted Tessie.

When Tessie came along, we saw a completely new side of our munkin. She was like a puppy again, wrestling with and chasing her new sister.

Mala has always been full of enthusiasm for life, especially when there's snow on the ground or she has a stick in her mouth. Mala loves giving kisses and is a big fan of her family. She's laid-back and just wants to be with us, regardless of where we go or what we do.

Mala, I love you to the moon and back and feel grateful for every day with you. Happy Birthday!

Mom tracks her activities on her watch. She gives herself a star on her calendar whenever she reaches her weekly intensity-minute goal. The number of intensity minutes she earns depends on her heart rate during an activity. When her heart rate enters the higher zones, she earns double minutes.

In most weeks of the year, she reaches at least twice the recommended goal of 150 minutes. Since we began training for our big hike last summer, she has been achieving three or four times her goal because our activity level has remained high.

Whenever we go for a hike, Mom tells me how many minutes she needs to reach the next level in intensity minutes and earn her another star. I take that goal seriously and set a quick pace up the mountain. Sometimes, I surprise her by going so fast that her heart rate stays high enough to keep adding minutes even when we’re on flat ground or going downhill.

Mom told me that I’ve been setting new speed records on nearly every hike lately. I’m just giving it my best effort. Even though I’m a cattle dog, I can relax and don’t mind napping during the day when my parents are working, but when we’re out on the trail, I give it 110%. I believe in going all in on any endeavor. She teases me that I have summit fever and reminds me to stop and enjoy the journey now and then. I do have to stop and look back occasionally because Mala tends to fall behind early in our hikes since she likes to stop and sniff.

I’m not sure if my parents are planning to take me on another big adventure this year, but I hope they do because I’m ready!

You can read about last summer’s big hike here:

Longevity seems to be a popular topic lately. Mom is writing two articles with tips for healthy aging for an upcoming issue of Well magazine, so she has been researching longevity. While she has been focusing on topics such as what to eat to increase the diversity of your gut microbiome and how to improve your mobility and range of motion, I think the key to living a long, healthy life is joy.

My parents tell me all the time that my zest for life is one of the qualities they love most about me. Seeing me bounding through tall grass with a stick in my mouth and sliding myself down snowy hillsides makes them smile. I do those things because they make me happy.

February, with Valentine’s Day and Heart Month, is all about love – for yourself and others. Giving and receiving love is another key part of who I am. I enjoy giving kisses and accepting hugs. I love my family, and they know it by the happy noises I make when they come home, no matter how long they’ve been gone.

I’ll turn 11 next month, but I still express my joy like a puppy. I squeak my toys, play with my ball, and run and wrestle with my little sister. When people meet me for the first time, they always think I’m much younger than I am. So…if you were looking for proof of my theory, there it is. My enthusiasm keeps me young. I can still hike for miles and be ready for more the next day because exploring and being in nature are exciting and rejuvenating.

The secret to living a long, healthy life is to do what makes you happy and to treat every day as a reason to be grateful. What brings you joy, and how can you make more time for it in your daily life? Find the answer to that question, and you’ll bring more life to your years.

Our Mom survived a heart attack when she was 31. That was in 2009, so it was before our time, but we are happy that her friend convinced her to go to the hospital that night so she could go on living and adopt us.

Today is National Wear Red Day, which supports women’s cardiovascular health by encouraging everyone to wear red, share in…

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If you’ve been reading our posts for any length of time, you probably already know how much I love snow. If you’re new to Wild Western Wanderers, you can read my Ode to Snow here.

I’m concerned about the lack of snow in Colorado this season. I’ve heard there’s plenty of snow and cold in other parts of the United States, but here in Evergreen, it…

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As a cattle dog, I’m a bit unique in that I like to cuddle. I enjoy cuddling on the couch in the evening while my humans watch TV and in bed in the morning before it’s time to get up. I share space with Mateo (our cat) quite often and even let him groom me, until he inevitably bites me.

After Mom’s knee surgery, I cuddled with her on the couch…

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Happy Holidays! Thank you for following us. We hope you enjoy our missives and find our dog wisdom valuable.

This holiday season, we are grateful for our family. We are lucky dogs to have parents who dote on us and take us to do so many fun things. They view us not as pets but as members of the family.

We are both rescues. Mala came t…

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The dogs usually write most of these posts, but today we’re taking over to tell you why we love the holidays. While we're sad that our parents moved our catio to its “winter location” under the deck so the snow doesn’t destroy it, we're happy about some of the other things that happen in December. It’s too cold to go outside anyway.

The…

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We are thankful for our wonderful parents, who treat us like loved family members; our adventurous life in Colorado; sunny spots for napping; and all the treats (lots and lots of treats). What are you grateful for?

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My humans find it funny that I always want to take the closed trail, but I believe it’s good to question rules. Sometimes rules are there for a good reason, but other times there’s no logical explanation at all. I always wonder, “Why are they trying to keep us out? Is there something fun we’re missing on the other side of the closed sign?”

One …

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“What we know is a drop, what we don’t know is an ocean.”

—Isaac Newton

By: Mala

Below is an excerpt from a chapter of Ella’s book, Pawsitive Perspectives. This lesson came to mind today because Mom, Tessie, and I set out to explore a new set of trails that had just opened in Evergreen at the newly expanded Stagecoach trailhead of Elk Meadow Park. We all love discovering new places and views that make our surroundings so special. We are fortunate to live in a place with so much protected land reserved for recreation. We ended up hiking over four miles on new terrain. Some parts of the area used to be a dog park, but it was closed by the time we moved here. Having a place to play off-leash would have been nice, but it’s also great to have a trail up Jenkins Peak with beautiful views in all directions.

I hope you enjoy reading this lesson from my big sister. If you want more like this, consider buying her book. It’s available as a paperback, hardcover, or ebook. You can learn more here.

Ella

I lived a life full of adventure, and I loved exploring new places. This great big world provides endless opportunities for new experiences. Some people, even when traveling, are closed to what is happening around them. They get caught up in what they already know and believe, and don’t open their eyes or minds to other ways of being.

The way to really explore a place is to go in with no expectations and have your eyes wide open–and your nose, too. Discover your surroundings by seeing with fresh eyes. Engage your senses and take the time to get to know everything. You can even do this in places you’ve visited many times. Imagine you are experiencing it for the first time. Make it your intention to discover something new about it. Take your time and notice how the light shines through the trees, or how the time of year affects how things appear. When you see the world in this way, you will never stop exploring.

As I got older, I slowed down, which gave me even more opportunity to take things in. When Mom and Dad took me to the Grand Canyon, I stopped at each vista we came across along the Rim Trail and paused to look out. We walked at different times of day while we were there, so I took in the way the light changed the colors of the canyon. I stood at each lookout for a long time and appreciated the natural beauty and wonder. I was so happy to have the opportunity to experience such an amazing place. My parents were always making up road trip songs and they loved watching me look out at the vistas so much that the one they made up on that trip included the line, “Take it all in.”

I explored the world right up until my final days. I wasn’t able to hike anymore, but I could still go for walks with my Walkin’ Wheels®, sniff along the trails, say hello to people and fellow dogs, and enjoy the sun on my fur. Mom still took me paddleboarding on the lake, so I could watch the birds and dip my feet in the water. Experiencing the world around you is what makes life worth living. We live in a grand world with so much to see and experience. All you need to do is open your eyes and your heart. So, get out of your bubble, take it all in, and never stop exploring.

I run pretty fast, but my sister, Mala, is even faster. When we play, I need to be agile to stay one step ahead of her. Being small is an advantage because I can make quick turns. I can change direction instantly, which throws Mala off. She’s often moving too quickly to make the same turns I do and ends up running the wrong way for a moment un…

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I had to visit the veterinarian yesterday for an allergy shot because I’ve been itching quite a bit. Luckily, one of our favorite parks is near the vet’s office. Mom brought Tessie along too, so the three of us could go for a hike after my quick stop at the vet.

I was so excited to get into the water when we started walking on the trail. I gulped…

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Those of you who have been following us from the start know that our existence is thanks to our big sister, Ella, who left her Earthly body in August 2021. We shared many of the lessons learned from her during the first year of this Substack account.

Mom immortalized Ella and 40 of the most important lessons she learned from her during their 15+…

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