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Published on Dec 8, 2021
Nelly is the newest member of the Diotte-Cloutier family. Hairy, hyperactive running about on all fours, this Portuguese water dog is full of energy! We were all very eager, and this is putting it mildly, to go away for the weekend with our little rascal. Direction: Au diable vert in Sutton, an outdoor resort where dogs are welcomed with open arms.
By Simon Diotte
How to get your 14-year-old and 11-year-old daughters out of the house? This is a miracle solution: Nelly! All you need to do is call her name to see your kids emerge from their larvae-like state, ready to challenge the autumn rain to take their sweet pooch out for a walk!
Nelly was born on June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste day. She arrived home around mid-August. Since then, the entire family has been dreaming about going on a weekend outing with her. What would a Portuguese water dog, a breed known for its endless energy reserve, like to do? Without a doubt, a mountain hiking outing is at the top of the list!
It’s not that easy for new dog owners to head out for the weekend. We haven’t had the time yet to make a list of places where these quadrupeds are welcome. Little by little we’re working on locating them.
This is how we came to discover the mountain resort, Au diable vert. Nestled inside the Sutton Mountain range, this destination, which offers camping and unusual lodgings, makes welcoming dogs its flagship product. Well-behaved pets can even walk about without a leash. FREEDOM! Nelly barked.
Around mid-November, we rented one of the resort’s Pods; A small comfortable shelter shaped like an upside down “U,” offering Nelly an incredible view of the Green Mountains. Would our puppy agree to sleep quietly in this new and unknown space? —We weren’t too worried, indeed, the magic recipe to have Nelly dream the night away is to tire her out.
At the welcome centre, the Diable vert co-owner, Julie Zeitlinger, strongly recommended the Sentier du ciel trail, a portion of the Sentiers de l’Estrie network which offers several amazing points of view. My wife was worried: The trail seems to be quite steep. Will Nelly be able to maintain the beat? As for me, I was more worried about my wife’s and my children’s energy level than that of Nelly… I kept this thought to myself, but I couldn’t have been more right!
As soon as we started walking in the forest, Nelly went wild with joy. And when we dared to untie her, for the first time in her short trail life, she became simply hysterical! During the 3.5-hour hike (6.45 km round trip), during which we climbed a 500 m ascent, Nelly ran in all directions, covering at least double our distance. She never showed any sign that her energy level was going down, unlike her owners. I wonder what’s in her kibbles? Steroids, super-vitamins. Who knows?
Although Nelly had a nap when we returned to our shelter, we didn’t need to beg her to go back outside. Woof! As soon as one of us opened the door, Nelly was ready to jump outside. She would even lie down by the door, ready for any eventuality. To satisfy her, we went on a night hike where she didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get back to her cot, unlike us. Nelly, you’re wearing us out!
The next day we explored the trails set directly on the domain. Our beloved animal was still showing the same level of energy and enthusiasm. Au Diable vert is definitely a “top woof” destination.
Conclusion: Our dog loves a challenge. We will have to double or even triple our hiking distances to meet her expectations. Great adventures for the years to come. Isn’t that right Nelly!
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