Saturday was a beautiful day here in Indiana, and I had what I thought was a rather good idea: I would take Choppy and Izzy up to Turkey Run State Park, where we could enjoy the weather and a hike.

It turns out, this was not a good idea. While I was fine with the heat – it was 94 degrees – it turns out that hiking with two dogs is not as easy as I thought it was going to be. Choppy is a rather lazy walker, who wants to stop and smell pretty much everything. Izzy is exactly the opposite – she is only interested in getting wherever we are going as quickly as possible.

Needless to say, this did not make for an enjoyable hike for me, as I spent most of it with one dog pulling me along, and the other dragging behind me (on the plus side, I think I have longer arms now). I did, however, manage to get a few pictures, despite being more or less constantly dragged into two different directions the whole time.

There were brief moments on our hike where the Choppy and Izzy behaved. They were few and far between.
There were brief moments on our hike where the Choppy and Izzy behaved. They were few and far between.
Here we are crossing the park's suspension bridge. As you can see, Izzy thinks the goal is to cross as quickly as possible.
Here we are crossing the park’s suspension bridge. As you can see, Izzy thinks the goal is to cross as quickly as possible.
Well, as quickly as possible unless a canoe passes beneath us. In which case it is important to stop and bark at it.
Well, as quickly as possible unless a canoe passes beneath us. In which case it is important to stop and bark at it.
There were stairs on the other side. Choppy was not keen on climbing them.
There were stairs on the other side. Choppy was not keen on climbing them.
We took a little break in this stream. By "we," I mean the dogs. Just to be clear.
We took a little break in this stream. By “we,” I mean the dogs. I did not jump in and lie down, unlike the two of them. Just to be clear.
Eventually, even the dogs got tired, and I was able to get a (somewhat) decent picture of them. Not pictured: the subsequent near-disaster when the dogs decided to bark at a passing mini-dog. It did not enamor us to the other dog's owner.
Eventually, even the dogs got tired, and I was able to get a (somewhat) decent picture of them. Not pictured: the subsequent near-disaster when the dogs decided to bark at a passing mini-dog. It did not enamor us to the other dog’s owner. Unsurprisingly, other dog owners do not appreciate it when two large dogs act crazily toward their itty-bitty dog.

If you’re looking for some advice on hiking with dogs, obviously, I am not the person to talk to (there is so much evidence of that). Here’s a great infographic with advice, and a longer article here.