The Riley Factor #33

The Riley Factor -- January 20
(All the news that's fit to print, along with some unfit to print rumors, prognostications and bloviations.)

Fort Plain, NY, January 20 -- Several mornings of runs through The Boulevard Trails have recently greeted Riley, followed by dog napping and usually afternoon runs as well.  Muscles are developing and house-break training is ongoing and improving.  Frequently, Riley is taken outside without his lifeline leash.  Occasionally, he asks to go out.  So-called in-home 'accidents' are generally down to about once per day.  He loves to romp in the snow, the deeper the better.  And leading the runs on an ATV generally lengthens the route.  Gabby and Riley wrestle all along the runs, with Gabby always the winner, owing to her age, experience and 30 pound weight advantage.  But Riley never fails to run back in search of being tossed to the ground yet again.  They both love to be taken further and further from the house, out to the back of the trails and fields, with an occasional brief diversion into the woods.  Riley has yet been tempted to chase a rabbit or squirrel, but that time is sure to come soon, especially since Gabby eagerly takes the bait and runs after the wildlife, only to come up empty.  It remains to be seen what would occur if she actually caught some small animal prey.