We did go for a run yesterday and of course we had an adventure, well, more of a near adventure.  First I have a short story that leads up to the near adventure during yesterday’s run.

I quite often run/walk Kobi just using an e-collar, kind of like an invisible leash, as we live in a very rural area and rarely run into other walkers or dogs (just bears).  During yesterday’s lunch time walk she had on her e-collar, she sees a few ravens and takes off at about 30 km/hr after them.  She hasn’t quite realized she can’t fly or she’s just so angry she can’t fly she feels compelled to chase ravens or maybe the ravens are calling her names as ravens are quite smart and are perhaps insulting her in canine.

I call her back and she doesn’t listen so I start the e-collar warning process:  1) I call her to return, if she doesn’t return,  2) I give her the warning buzz, if she still doesn’t listen and there is no imminent danger, two more warning buzzes are given while calling her back, if still no response,  3) give her the little zap to get her listening.   Well, I was yelling, buzzing and buzzing and yelling some more and no response.  I’ve gone to zap mode now and still nothing.  I’m thinking, hmm, she must be getting really tough or is really focused on these ravens.  Nope, the battery was dead.

So that leads me to our run later that same day.  I now know that the e-collar has a battery issue, but I do not have the technological savvy to change the battery (that would involve a screw driver – you can roll your eyes) and I still decide that she will wear the collar (and maybe she won’t realize that it doesn’t work).  Off we go out onto the community trail and after about 5km’s into the run, I see a big steamy pile of bear poop.  I spend about 3-4 minutes trying to take a picture of Kobi with the poop and all the while she’s more interested in the two squirrels having a territory battle in the woods beside us.

I have to thank these squirrels in some way as once I finally stop my fascination with the bear poop I start running again and look up to see a big shiny black bear chowing down on rose hips about 50 m up from me.  Kobi is still distracted by the squirrels and didn’t see or smell the bear – thankfully.  As you may recall, the e-collar does not work and she is off leash (okay, not smart and yes you can roll your eyes again).  I playfully call her name and turn around to avoid a potential bear encounter.  Of course I was shoulder checking for about 2km, but the bear showed no interest in us.  I can hardly wait for Saturday’s long run, but at least the e-collar battery has been replaced.