Most Memorable Marley Moment

My five month old puppy, Marley, traveled hundreds of miles and took days to arrive home to us. We had waited so long for the perfect addition to our family. She immediately fit right in and seemed to take to our lifestyle very quickly. I am sure every pup parent feels like theirs is the smartest puppy ever, but we really lucked out with this one.

We took our first road trip to the mountains to hike and see multiple waterfalls. It was a quickly planned, overnight trip with a single motel room for accommodations. We were unsure how Marley would like the long car ride, or how she would adjust to being in a strange room all night. She surprised us by behaving perfectly for her first walk in a new environment, and even joining in a quick game of shooting hoops on the basketball court. She was well behaved in the motel that looked like it was straight out of a horror movie. Maybe even giving us the comfort of home when we otherwise would have felt very out of place.

We started the second and final day with preparing and packing before heading out for our expedition. I had everything she may need ready in our backpack. I wanted to be prepared to care for her every need. The park was crowded when we arrived and I was unsure what to expect. I worried how she may react and how I would handle any obstacle that might arise. She was still so new to us and had only just gotten used to her harness and being on a leash.

Despite the recent weather causing the falls to be less than spectacular, Marley made the trip so fun. The hike took about 2 hours in total and included 24 flights of stairs. My little Marley impressed me beyond anything I could have expected. For only having her for less than a month, she was so well behaved on her leash, with crowds of people, all the other dogs, and every other stimulation or distraction. The hike was amazing in itself but Marley made it marvelous. Seeing her in the woods, with waterfalls behind her, and having her with us for this experience was magical. We took the time to enjoy and bask in multiple special moments that created memories that will last a lifetime. We finished the marked trail on the map and made it back to the parking lot just in time to not get caught in the rain.

It was our first real outing since she joined the family and became one of our best bonding moments. From stopping for water breaks, snapping the cutest photos, and carrying her when the steps became too steep, I cherished every moment. I have always enjoyed being in nature, smelling the woods, hearing the waterfalls, looking at the different colored leaves but sharing it all with her made my heart so happy. The entire time we hiked, Marley was the best part.

Our trip also included long drives through the mountains, sightseeing and exploring new places. One place we sought out was the cabin my father’s father had owned in the 50s. I had never been made aware of its existence prior to traveling there. Finally discovering the place of my father’s cherished memories and getting to send him the picture was very sentimental and important to me. Marley enjoyed every moment as much as we did. The two hour drive home was the cutest part because she was so tuckered out she just relaxed in the back seat with all four paws in the air.