Perspective via Canine
I do some of my best thinking while walking Charlie, our magnificent English Mastiff puppy. Each morning after the kids are hustled onto the bus, my wife and I hoist our 180-lb. dog into the car for the 2-minute drive to a nearby conservation area. It's heavily wooded, with a big mucky pond that's home to beaver, heron, ducks and monstrous bullfrogs.
Lately it's been glorious each morning. Has anyone else noticed that September is the best month on both coasts? Crisp and sunny, low humidity, fewer bugs, and, here in the East, the beginnings of fall foliage. The new sun streams through the forest walls.
The dog trots alongside, off-leash. There's something about walking a dog off-leash that is so much more satisfying than a traditional "heel - sit - stay" type of walk --- especially when you are walking though the woods with a loyal pup that is literally the size of a mountain lion. Very primordial.
My wife and I hold hands, basking in the dewy breeze, and wait for Charlie to sap his batteries. It doesn't take more than a half mile or so, which will be good news come wintertime.
This blog post features a quick shot of Charlie, taken with my lackluster camera phone. Sheesh. Look at that tongue!
Anyway --- Autumn is no time for blogging.
Not that I'll stop all together, but still, I've been slowing down to regain some perspective.
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"And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again’ – here in an instant the smile hardened into a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a demon – ‘I’ll throw you to the mastiff.’" - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Copper Beeches"
Sorry. I couldn't resist. It ties in to my other blog.
Posted by: Scott Monty | October 1, 2006 11:06 PM
Heheh - yes, the mastiff has a reputation for being tough. They are incredibly dopey, lazy and kind-hearted if they are well-socialized... but even the best socialized mastiff will not hesitate to protect their family if they sense danger. (Best of all worlds, if you ask me.)
Posted by: Todd Defren | October 2, 2006 09:44 AM
An excellent idea (that whole perspective thing). Great dog. I've got a 75 lb. boxer. She met a mastiff the other day...it was the first time she ever looked tiny! It was a match made in heaven, though, as it took about 10 minutes of dog play to have both of them totally spent.
Posted by: JesseCiccone | October 2, 2006 11:41 AM