With spring finally here and with it warmer weather, more and more people will be getting outdoors and doing things with their dogs. Mother Nature went out of her way to keep us cooped up this winter with rain, freezing temperatures or snow every weekend. But now that is behind us (hopefully) and we can get out and do things.

We were up in the mountains at Raven Cliff Falls two weeks ago and there were a lot of people out enjoying that first nice weekend of the year. Quite a few people on the trail had dogs but a lot didn’t. Part of the fun in going to the mountains is letting the dog run loose. The dog enjoys it more and gets more exercise and the owner doesn’t have to hold a leash. But not everyone on the trail wants a strange dog running up to him in the forest. When I see someone coming toward me I call my dog to me and we step off the trail and let the others pass. People do appreciate that simple deed and they usually let you know. A well-behaved dog can make friends everywhere, even among those who may not be dog people.