We’ve been taking Mocha on off-leash hikes lately for family exercise. He absolutely loves them. He loves them so much that he’ll run run run at top speed all over the place.
Unfortunately one day, he got so excited that he ran ran ran – right over a cliff and into this ditch.
We panicked and ran over as quickly as we could, calling out his name frantically. The worst possible scenarios came into our heads. Seconds later, he emerged, unscathed and still smiling like a happy clown. He looked at us as if to say, “What? Chill out guys, I’m okay.” Then he took off and ran ran ran up a hill.
We’re so glad he’s okay. I wish I had a picture or video of him sailing through the air and into the ditch. All we could see was him leap over a mound of grass, then disappear. It was terrifying. So damn terrifying that we just had to laugh.
That’s our little boy. Indestructible (at least, in his own mind) and full of energy.
Mocha’s loving these hikes. And I gotta give him props, despite being off-leash and running all over the place, he always comes running when called with a great big smile on his face.
There’s nothing like a happy dog running to you, lemme tell ya.
Speaking of being bored & mopey, Mocha is beginning to perfect his “Please won’t you play with me?” backwards stare. He’ll lie down spread eagle with balls in his paws, then look back at us with these big, sad doggie eyes. He’s a heartbreaker, this one.
Mocha sometimes sits at our feet while we work, waiting patiently for us to play with him. Did I say patiently? I meant impatiently.
He’ll paw at us, jump up and down to try to catch our attention, or curl up and mope. Here he is moping. Sometimes Mommy breaks and leans over to pet him. Then Mocha is all happy wags. But when Daddy is busy, very little can break his attention (except for stealing an occasional photo, heh). All Mocha can do in those cases is mope mope mope.
Mommy’s beeper went off a few times, scaring the bejeezus out of poor lil Mocha. After hearing it beep, he ran off with his tail between his legs and hid under the couch. It took him a while to muster the courage to come back to the world of the uncouched again.
When we put treats into the Kong, Mocha has learned that picking it up and dropping it will sometimes knock the treats out. Much to the annoyance of our downstairs neighbors, I’ll bet.
Here’s the sound of Mocha playing with the Kong: Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Here is a magnificent specimen of mixed breeding. A true masterpiece of Labrador Retriever and Jack Russell Terrier intermingling. Exercised, athletic, and well-toned. He stands tall on the hills of California, poised to leap at a moment’s notice. He is loyal. He is playful. He is Mocha. Majestic Mocha.
