How could I not pick this photo for “The Golden Hour” Who is this?
This is actually “Part Two” of Mountain Dogs: At It Again But I had to name this post “The Precious”. Because anybody that has a retriever or any dog that likes to retrieve you know what I mean.
When we go to Tahoe the Sundogs become “Mountain Dogs” Close by the condo cabin we have the Truckee River or “The Lake” We did not take “The Precious” to the river because it may end up downstream if somebody does not do their job to recover it. And we don’t want to litter the river beds with “The Precious”
So today we take “The Precious” to the lake.
But first we started out by having Rockin’ Roy get the dogs focused on “The Precious” on the lawn. Notice who are the best students. Lassen the noncompetitive one has other things to investigate.
Sasha’s focus is unbeatable.
At two years old she’s in her prime. Sorry Yolo.
After the warm up it’s time to head down to the pier. As you can see someone got a little too warmed up and is already cooling off at the shore. Normally at the condo cabin we have to have the mountain dogs leashed up in the common areas and the pier. But since it is off season and no one is around the COAST IS CLEAR!
We HAVE to make sure we bring plenty of bags (for you know what) and the leashes out on the big long pier. Because sometimes guests come walking out and want more peace and solitude than the Mountain Dogs are willing to offer. 
Human rules don’t apply to the Mountain Dogs.
Even though Sasha’s in top form these days Yolo will not give up on owning the “The Precious”. Lassen on the other hand has other things to investigate.
You see, Yolo is addicted to “The Precious”. His addiction gets a little annoying at times and we have to put “The Precious away”. Right now Roy is trying to teach Yolo a little patience.
Yolo tries to maintain his cool.
“Will you PLEASE throw that thing for me!”
“Finally he is lifting his arm a little”.
“I thought it would never happen. And look….. all five Mountain Dogs are competing with me now. Darn”
Their off!
Miss perfect beats Yolo again by two body lengths at least. 
Watch out for Sasha. MONSTER MOUTH.
ESCAPE ROUTE PLEASE!!
Amazingly Sasha makes it back to Rocking Roy with “The Precious”. 
Did you ever wonder if “The Precious” ever goes over the edge? Well it does. As you can see Yolo still has his eye on “The Precious” but I have to be truthful and admit, it took quite sometime for him to put two and two together and figure out how to get to it.
He finally figured to go over to and then down the stairs that lead into the human swimming section which is where “The Precious” fell. He looked and looked at the water and at me. “Where is The Precious?”
Sasha was looking for “The Precious” too.
Finally they both were on track and getting near “The Precious”.
When suddenly Sasha gave up and turned back. I think she just wanted to give her big brother a chance. But in reality Yolo is “still the man” He kept his eye on the ball (I mean “The Precious”) and did not give up for anything. I guess his “Precious” addiction is good thing…….sometimes.
Sasha not being quite as addicted the “The Precious” said “I gotta get back to dry land”.
While Lassen is off investigating again. Not giving a hoot about “The Precious”
Until next post.
Adios Amigo’s!
I, we and they are at it again. “I” meaning I’m finally back to this blog. “We” meaning Rockin Roy and I took the Sundogs to one of their favorite places in the world. And “they” meaning the Sundogs doing what they do best. Strutting their stuff at Tahoe in the Truckee River. This year Sasha is a whole year older and becoming quite the competition for the Yolo the “king” of our retrievers. As you can see above Sasha has the upper hand with the BIG stick. Yolo clings to about one inch of it. I don’t know who found the BIG stick but they really scored. They found a LONG stick too since the BIG stick is a bit heavy to retrieve every time.
Here is the LONG stick. Can you see the way Sasha grabbed the end next to Yolo? That is her strategy for knocking him off the stick so she can get back to shore solely with the stick in her possession.
It is time to throw the BIG stick again. Dropping the BIG stick at one’s feet is how it’s done.
Grabbing the BIG stick without getting your hand stepped on or mauled is a good thing too.
Keeping your eye on the stick while it is being thrown is a good thing if you want to get to it first.
This time Yolo gets a better grip but Maisie is out of the running completely.
“Today is just not my day” says Maise.
Yolo and Sasha make it back to shore AGAIN after I don’t know how may retrieves. “We have to live up to our name mom”.
Meanwhile Mr. Lassen our noncompetitive Sundog strolls on the beach.
And rolls in the course mountain grass scratching his back. Who needs to fight for the stick?
Nevada wants to fight for the BIG stick just once at least.
But Sasha and Yolo joined at the shoulders are not letting anyone else in on their rivalry.
Guess who eventually wins out? Hopefully Sasha retains all her teeth after proudly prancing around on the beach with the BIG stick.
And since 20 retrieves is not enough they have to go for one more plunge.
“Boy that one really got me wet all over. Getting the water out of ones ears is important”.
Last return after at least 21 throws. It’s time to dry off don’t you think?
Sasha says no way. I am in perfect form and peak performance.
I’ll just take this BIG stick into the river on my own.
After a few tries on her own Sasha agrees to do her dry off dance on the beach.
Soon we vanish into the forest and let the warm mountain sun dry wet paws and pants.
The dreaded leashing up for the walk home.
“We get to be leashless while we dry off some more in the sun”. The truck is another favorite place of the Sundogs because it takes them to their favorite places.
Time to close the tailgate for the trip home. Yolo contemplates how far to the ground just in case the need for escape.
Once home the couch rules. Rockin Roy is exhausted from throwing the BIG stick and and Maisie contemplates how to get back her groove as the top retriever. “Boy swimming against the river current really wears me out these days”.
“Life is good though. I can’t complain”.
Adios Amigo’s…stay tuned for the “The Precious” .
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