So I take Mochi to the dog park every day, Monday through Friday. Going to the park isn’t just going to the park and taking a stroll and run around a bit then go home, it’s a whole social hour! Mochi has her friends and I have mine. Mochi’s mission in life, whether we are at the park or home or walking around the neighborhood, is to get her belly rubbed by every single human she comes across. Forget the other dogs around, she goes straight for the humans. When we get to the park, Mochi knows exactly knows where to go, her first lap to sit on is Jan’s lap and make Buddy jealous (Jan’s dog).

After her hugs and kisses from Jan and Adam, we walk down the path to go and look for Wade. Now Wade is the park’s dog whisperer, cookie man, treat guy, and whatever other name the other people give him. ALL the dogs follow him around wherever he goes because they know he’s got treats in his pockets. Dogs forget to follow their owners when he is around. He’s usually got a few dogs that he is watching for that day with him.

So we find Wade. Mochi gets her first treat and joinS the pack with the regulars Dwight, Eva, Riley and Tyler. Sometimes Scooter when Bill is not there. Don’t forget Piper. Here we are walking along the path of the park, Wade and I with 5 or more dogs trailing behind us. We pick up other dogs along the way. About halfway through our walk, we do what we call “Table Time.” This is when all the dogs jump up on the picnic tables, Wade gets them all to sit and gives them treats one by one, by name and they all listen to him like he is their master.

After he’s given them about three or four treats each, we head back to his car to load up on more treats and meet up with the other dogs and humans. Mochi will make her rounds and go up to people and immediately lie on her back so you could rub her belly. Now there are certain people that she will automatically go to without question, her favorites, she gets longer belly rubs and major hugs and kisses from these people and they love her just as much. Sometimes she will cut clear across the field and run up to one of her favorite people just to get those hugs and kisses. She can’t get enough of them and they can’t get enough of her.

After her meet and greets, she mingles with the other dogs. We sit around and socialize with everyone around and just have a relaxing time. Then it’s time to go home. half of the time Mochi will follow me to the car, half of the time, she will stick around with her friends and not want to go home. That is the only time I ever have to put her on a leash at the park, unless she is being bad. Eventually she follows. We race to the car, she knows which car is ours and stands at the door waiting for me to open in so she can hop in. Time well spent in this daily routine of ours.

Sadly our park days will end in a couple of weeks due to Daylight savings time. I get out of work when it is already dark so I can’t take her to the park. I just walk her around the neighborhood when I get home. Talk about a drastic change. I feel bad because Mochi gets depressed during this time. She doesn’t see her friends for 5 months! But, this is our routine until Spring when Daylight savings time begins again, then back to the park we go.

A week and a half to go and we’ll make the most of it!