Milo has always been a great travel dog. He loves road trips, sticking his head out the window, and pretty much just going wherever I go because it sure beats bumming around on the couch. And I’ve always known he enjoys the outdoors (in his must-sniff-every-nook-and-cranny sort of way). But usually dirt hikes end up with burrs or pine needles stuck in his fluffy paws and plaintive looks up at me to spare him the discomfort and carry him the rest of the way.

So, I knew he would be enjoy a recent trip to South Lake Tahoe, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which he jumped up and down rocks on a steep hike and eagerly splish-splashed into Eagle Lake. His cotton hair sure soaked up that water.

He couldn’t wait to explore and his big black eyes weren’t pleading with me to pick him up—no, those accusing eyes looked back at me like I was holding him back from his adventure!