Last week, Mala shared that her song is “Escape” by Enrique Iglesias. Now it’s my turn to share the song that Mom and Dad attribute to me - “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran. They change the chorus line to “When they say the party’s over, Tessie brings it right back.” The video wouldn’t download with the song, so I decided to share the link to the reel on Instagram because it doesn’t really make sense without the song. You can view the reel here. Be sure your volume is turned on.

There’s no doubt I like to have a good time, no matter the season. I have a blast paddleboarding in the summer, even though I fall in the water by accident almost every time. It’s fun to run on the beach with Mala. I also enjoy hiking and climbing on rocks at home in Colorado and wherever we end up on road trips. I love snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. I always push my snout through the snow and come up with a bunch of it on my nose.

I’m up for anything, but I can also settle down to cuddle in the evenings and mornings. I love my kitties, and even though I’m the one responsible for keeping them from scratching the couch or going down the stairs from the deck, they still cozy up to me on the couch.

I’ve bonded equally to both my parents (and my foster parents), despite the stereotype that cattle dogs are loyal to only one person. I am a velcro dog and like to keep them in sight. Some days I sit under Dad’s desk while he’s working, and other days I’m with Mom (on the deck at her summer office or sleeping on the daybed in her downstairs office).

We’ll be away exploring next week, but we’ll be back in July to tell you about our adventure. Until then...

Each of us dogs has a song that Mom and Dad say is ours - mine is Escape by Enrique Iglesias. Just one simple word swap and the chorus becomes “You can run, you can hide, but you can’t escape Mala’s love.”

Ever since I was a puppy, I’ve loved giving kisses to my favorite people (and even the cats occasionally). Mom had fun going through photos of me doling out kisses. This video is a collection of some of her favorites.

When they leave the house, I either watch out the window from the bed or from the back of the loveseat until they return. When they pull up, I bark, whine, and purr. When I run out to greet them, I do big, fast zoomies (Mom calls it my Indy 500). What can I say? I’m a lover.

All it takes to make me wag my tail is a glance in my direction or hearing my name. I love my family and express how I feel – often and enthusiastically. I’m not sure how many kisses I’ve given in my 11 years, but I have plenty more to give!

Mom and Dad are both working normal schedules this week, and during the time they had off on Tuesday morning, they opted to go mountain biking rather than take Mala and me for a hike. All this lying around, even if it is outside on the deck, has me bored. My parents tease me about my reaction, saying, “Oh, you poor dog, your life is so tough,” with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

Mom told me this morning that experts say boredom is good for you. When people allow time in their lives to do nothing, it boosts their creativity.

Psychologist Dr. Sandi Mann from the University of Central Lancashire conducted a famous study in which she had participants do the ultimate boring task: copying numbers from a phone book. After the boring task, participants were asked to come up with creative uses for two styrofoam cups. The bored group came up with significantly more creative and unusual ideas than the control group. I suppose this is true. When I’m staring out the window, waiting for them to come home, I think of all the ways I can try to catch that darn squirrel the next time I go outside.

According to research published in the journal Academy of Management Discoveries, boredom serves as an emotional signal that we are in a rut. It sparks a search for variety and novelty, encouraging people to find new ways to stimulate their minds. This can lead to greater creativity and original thinking. So, when you do not provide entertainment, my mind might naturally find creative ways to occupy itself, even if that means inventing new ways to steal the cat’s food.

We have a road trip coming up in a few weeks, but hopefully we’ll get to do some long hikes between now and then. In the meantime, I’ll continue throwing blankets and pillows off the couch to make myself comfortable and keep scheming ways to catch that squirrel.

Spring has sprung here in Colorado. This is the time of year when we can get snow, rain, and sunshine all in the same day. In fact, we had our heaviest snowfall of the season just a couple of weeks ago. We have had more snow in May so far than we did in January or February. It was a strange winter.

The warm temperatures and lack of snow meant less snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and more hiking and trail running. We usually get to go downhill skiing with Dad at least once or twice in the winter, but there was never enough snow to cover the roots and rocks on the trails this year.

I don’t love trail running; I prefer a slower pace that lets me stop and sniff. I do love a good, long hike, but I’m also happy when we turn around and head home.

I was born in New Mexico, the land of enchantment, but I’m glad to have been adopted in Colorado. I’m not sure Tessie realizes how good she has it. She was flown up from Texas as a puppy and has lived in Evergreen ever since.

When Mom and Dad first adopted me, they lived in different towns. Sometimes I stayed with Dad in his Denver apartment, and other times I was with Mom at her house in Broomfield. I loved the backyard and chasing balls in the schoolyard behind the house, but I was also content to go for walks in the city. I suppose my upbringing made me pretty adaptable. I’m happy as long as we are together.

We sure are lucky dogs to get to adventure so much. As the days get longer, we’ll have more time for longer outings, camping, and a road trip or two. Summer is just around the corner, so we’ll be busy, but we’ll do our best to keep you updated on our adventures.

Wild Western Wanderers, leash up! (If you’re not familiar, our parents wrote a funny alternative to the lines from the movie Young Guns about “regulators.”)

We’re Wanderers
We explore all trails of the west
We’re real fun too
But you can’t be any stray off the street
You’ve gotta be great on the leash, 
If you know what I mean,
Earn your treats.
Wanderers, leash up!

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 Pu…

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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…

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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 tw…

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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 thi…

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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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