Some of you asked about my dog’s reaction when she met me at the PCT Northern Terminus.
By that point I had been gone for 3.5 months, and Graham was her (terrific!) care taker, feeding her, walking her, taking her for hikes.
When he and my group of friends walked up to the border where I was waiting at the end of my hike, Keyla (the dog) was as usual walking up front. I was calling out to the humans and then to her, calling her name.
Contrary to what many of you thought would happen (her being ecstatic to see me), she completely ignored me! Did not react to my voice and walked right past me. She made it very clear how upset she was that I left her. She didn’t even react as she would encountering a stranger in the woods, maybe sniffing or barking etc. Just nothing!
Typically, when I/we are gone for a few days, she is super excited when we get back. Jumps, whines, tries to make sure she is near the car so we don’t leave again without her. But this time the feeling of abandonment was clearly too much!
That went on for most of the evening in camp at Manning Park. After sleeping inside our tent, she started to warm up. Now that we have been living together for 2 weeks again, been on some good hikes (even overnight) and her getting her food from me 😂 we are good. She’s back to normal. But she definitely made her feelings very clear!
