THE WALK

Some of my most enjoyable times are spent on the walks Y,mommy and I take every day. They usually begin with me ringing the bell on the front door. Then the fun begins!
Y’mommy comes toward me with the leash and I wait until she gets just above my head . . . and I run away. Then she tries to catch me by dangling the leash in front of me hoping I will try to leap for it. This tactic usually does not work. Then she gets dirty and doesn’t play fair. (C’mon, maybe we’ll see Joe or Charlie, or . . . the fox!) She has my attention, all right – I’m ready to leash up and take to the streets!

The first task is to rid the front yard of all small varmints – chipmunks, squirrels, whatever -- I have to let them know who’s boss. Then we start down the street. I am swiftly drawn to the other dog smells in abundance on our street and begin sniffing around in each yard. If it’s really been a while since I’ve been out, I quickly try to cover up those smells with some mark of my own. Otherwise, I am content to wait for the PERFECT SPOT.

We continue to meander on down the street in search of just the right place. Sometimes, Charlie is in his fence and we go over and say “Hello.” Charlie, the beagle, howls, and I yip, yip, yip as hard as I can. Or Joe, the retriever, might be out and his deep woof, woof always gets me in a frenzy. I love to jump all over Joe and run in circles around him while he just stands there ignoring me. Personally, I worry about Joe – he seems to be past his prime.

Finally, I find the yard and I begin sniffing in earnest. (I believe he’s doing the pee walk, please let it be the pee walk, ahhhhh yes! It is!) The walk back to the house is not quite as exciting – Y’mommy always seems anxious to get back. I will admit that she is usually very patient unless it’s raining and then the entire walk is reduced to her standing on the front porch and me in our yard.