Viggo – that would be our dog, an Icelandic Sheepdog to be exact.  He joined the family over three years ago and has become a big part of how each and every one of our days unfolds here in our east-end Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale. We have since nicknamed it “Roverdale” thanks to our endearing little “hooligan” and the hundreds of other dogs who know it as their territory.

Viggo has made our extended neighbourhood his turf, his pasture, and his daily blank canvas of adventure and occasional mayhem as he chases yet another bicycle,  another jogger, or another skateboarder down the trails of his domain. Icelandic that he is, he was born to herd- and be heard!

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the Veegs at home and keen to play “fetchies”

doesn’t get much better than this – V with his chew stick

under the maple trees in Withrow Park

Two or three times every day we set out to the various corners of mythic Roverdale which can be found just east of downtown Toronto with the Don River and valley as the key elements.  We have our favourite places and at the very top of the list is the Lake Ontario shore at the south end of Cherry Street.

Cherry Beach and Roverdale South:

One of our major outings is the run down to Lake Ontario on the Don Valley bike trail that takes us almost all the way to the beach.  It is a 30-minute run with a few stops for sniffing and grass chewing and other essential needs that he has trained me to recognize.

our usual water stop on the way to Cherry Beach

the bike lock-up spot at Cherry Beach

Lake Ontario shoreline near Cherry Beach

Viggo is on full alert for the ball toss

Apparently, the name Viggo derives from an Old Norse root word “vig”,  which means “war”. By extension, Viggo would be a “warrior” or “man of war”. Having learned a bit about the nature of the Icelandic sheepdog, I am now amazed that the Viking raiders of 1000 years ago could ever have made a surprise attack on any English or Irish village.  Unless, of course, the dogs stayed home when the guys went out on business trips?

an empty beach but a busy Viggo

waves lapping Lake Ontario shore

two dogs- one ball- what next?

one of our “Stations of the Toss”

During the hour or so we spend at the beach I toss the ball as far as I can into the water for Viggo to fetch.  We have developed a whole sequence of favourite spots where he enters the water – I call them our Stations of the Toss (you will recognize echoes of a youth spent as a Roman Catholic in the phrase!).  A dozen or so times he goes in after the ball- happy to be working and barking for more.  Mr. Happy Yappy we sometimes call him.

scanning  the beach for birds to chase

With soaking wet hair Viggo looks much thinner!

another of our water entry points

breaktime after a four km run from the beach to the Riverdale Foot Bridge

Viggo At Home:

Viggo and the backyard, his favourite relief spot

Viggo in the front yard

Central Roverdale:

Visits to the beach only happen once or twice a week.  The daily morning walk usually involves a stroll down the slopes you see in the following picture with only occasional stops for Viggo to roll in something especially scent-ual. Squirrels also get his attention once we come to an area we call the Squirrel Hunting Grounds behind the building in the picture below.

a view of central Roverdale

Viggo on guard over Roverdale

Viggo’s Seat above the playing fields of Roverdale

It is a good day indeed when Takeo is on the west side of the park with his high-quality treats for all the dogs. That would be Takeo below with his dog Dakota on the extreme right of the picture wondering what his owner is thinking! Viggo, of course, is right in there.

Viggo gets his treat from Takeo

Viggo and some buddies on the loose!

Sometimes these dog park encounters lead to more adventures. A chat with Snorri’s owner about the sheep-herding classes her Sheltie was taking led to Viggo going along and getting a few lessons too.  We were amazed to see our dog doing what he was bred to do- and doing it very well!  The weak link in all of this turned out to be the human part of the team!

Viggo and his buddy Snorri

Back on the other side of the river, it is up to the hockey rink. For eight months of the year it is ice-free and a great place (well, not as good as the beach but…)  to play our game of fetch.  We’ll do that for a while and then either walk over to Withrow Park, another enclosed dog park a few minutes away,  or we’ll pass by the  Rooster Coffeehouse for my treat- an almond croissant or a cherry danish.  And so ends our morning walk!

the ice hockey rink at the north end of Riverdale Park East

Viggo hears another dog barking

Roverdale North: The Don Valley up to the Moore Park Ravine

We also patrol the shores of the Don River, especially the section between the Riverdale footbridge up to Pottery Road.  It is a delightful 3.5 km walk which we especially enjoy (this will sound odd!)  when it is raining or snowing.  On those days the traffic on the trail – i.e. joggers and cyclists – is almost down to zero and I feel okay letting my little “hooligan”  loose, knowing that there will be much less to chase and bark at.

Viggo surveying his domain – and looking for ducks to herd

Don River rambling – just us and the ducks and the snowflakes

Viggo plowing the snow – we call him Sherm(an) for his tank-like gait

the view from Viggo’s Stone above the Brickworks

Viggo’s Stone- the perch above his Roverdale domain

Sometimes we will wander as far up as the Bayview Avenue extension and, via a rough trail, make our way to the scenic look-out above the Brickworks (as in the above pic).  From there it is just a deke around the corner to the Moore Park Ravine, a truly wonderful piece of nature unknown to  (and unvisited by) most who live in this city.

patrolling in the Moore Creek Ravine

“It’s a dog’s life”!

The expression “It’s a dog’s life” sure doesn’t mean what it used to – at least not in Roverdale!  Picture a dog kept in a kennel outdoors and fed scraps from his master’s table after another day of doing work – whether herding or guarding or tracking down or retrieving.  Now picture a dog sleeping on his master’s bed and being fed choice cuts of raw meat and special treats!  And let’s not even get into the “enrichment activities” his people provide him with so that he is one happy dog!

And you know what? We are happy to do it all!

a quiet moment while Viggo plays back the day’s adventures