Nico and I have been walking in the woods daily for the past week or so. It’s safe to say that we’ve both found this beneficial to our mental and physical health, Nico probably more than I. He is an extremely high-energy dog, both physically and mentally. After a week of letting him run and sniff to his heart's content, it’s clear how important this is to him.

Normally, we only let him run like this on weekends. Our work lives are too busy and stressful to allow us to get out every day. Typically, Nico bolts around the woods full-throttle the entire time we are out. I’ve noticed over the past week that his overall energy has been declining daily. When we walk in the woods, he’s trotting along, sniffing and inspecting things rather than zooming the entire time. If I stop to sit on a log, he’ll hang out by me, sometimes even sit by me and look around. And at home, he is less likely to jump up and bark at everything on our street.

We walk a mile around our neighborhood each morning before I go to work. I guess I need to figure out how to work an hour of off-leash running into my daily routine as well. Being Nico’s Dad is turning into a full-time job!

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I hope this photo series brings joy to your day and reminds you to cherish moments with your dog and loved ones. If you find value and joy in these posts, it would mean a lot if you considered joining my Patreon community. Patreon is a platform where people can support artists and creators. Without the support I receive from people like you through Patreon, it would be hard to keep a project like this going. And the more my Patreon membership grows, the more I can invest to bring even better photos and stories to you each day. Eventually, I want to do more than just this photo series; I dream of using Nico’s story to help rescue dogs nationwide by growing my audience and using my reach to tell their stories. Many thanks to those who have supported this project. It means a lot to me, and I’m super grateful to have the opportunity to share Nico’s journey through life with all of you.

Gear Used For This Shot

Sony A7RIV - Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II - Ruffwear Vert Dog Jacket - Dogtra Tom Davis 280C ecollar - LupinePet Collar - LuckyPet Rivet-On Silet ID Tags

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