I got Kody when he was a year old. He was a lab and husky mix. I always said he had the energy of a lab and the endurance of a husky. The people that had him couldn’t control him. If they tried taking him for a walk, he’d pull them over and run away.
It took me 8 months to get much control of him. I finally took him with me when I was climbing a couple mountains. Once we got above timberline, I let him off the leash. I figured I’d at least be able to see which way he went. I found that he did follow my general direction but would be up to a quarter mile away. He finally chased some mountain sheep and I just kept on hiking. He ended up with some cliffs between us. I finally went back to get him. When I got closer, I could hear him crying. After that he stuck closer to me.
In the last 10 years, I haven’t hiked very many times without him. He climbed mountains with me. He did up to 5 day backpacking trips and carried his own food and water. He loved snow and loved it when I went cross-country skiing. He was also a big part of our family as it grew.
The last year it has been obvious he was getting old. He still loved to hike but he was getting slower. If I didn’t have Danielle with me, I’d have to stop and wait for him on the Manitou Incline. For the last couple months, it hasn’t seemed like he could see very well. There were days when he was really irritable. Today we had to make the decision to have him put down. He’ll be missed
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Tags: hiking
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That sucks, man. I’m sorry to hear about that. My dogs are getting older, too (they’re both about 11 years old), and I dread the day when I’ll eventually have to face that. They’re both still healthy now, but have definitely slowed down quite a bit.
I’m so sorry for your loss! My Sandy was a husky/lab mix and she looked so much like him! She was with me 12 years–from the summer after my freshman year in college until last year. I got her when she was 2 from a shelter. Best dog I’ve ever known. To the point that I just aimlessly googled “husky lab mix” just because I miss her.
Good to know she had a “cousin” out there that seems like he was as wonderful as she was.
Elizabeth, Glad you enjoyed seeing your Sandy had a cousin. Sorry for your loss of a great dog.
Tough decision that I made in July, after 13 years, Marko is no longer with me. He shared a lot of traits with Sandy and Kody. Miss him like crazy. Thanks for sharing Kody.