Photo by Laura Domela
As much as I adore puppies, I have to say that adolescent dogs hold just as much appeal, for me. I believe it is best discovered by spending one-to-one time with them. You get to know them in a different way and it gives them a chance to understand you better too. Spirit and Quest stayed home today.
Pirate and I took the RV to the DEQ Clean Air Station to renew the registration. I thought we would only be gone for a couple hours at most - about a 50 mile round trip. It turned into an adventure though. We crossed the Columbia River, enjoying two big ships passing beneath us. One was on its way to Portland and the other, out to sea. Pirate was a little unsure where he should be riding. Spirit and Quest often share the passenger seat and Pirate then rides on the dinette seat right behind the driver or else on my bed in the back. However, with the vacant passenger seat inviting him, he eventually came up front. I love the way he looks at me questioning things we see. He studies my reaction to anything that he finds curious, and seems to take his lead on how to react, from me. I know he does that with the older dogs all the time, but it was fun to see him use me as his gage on how to respond.
As we drove along the river, I was enjoying the gorgeous scenery. There were forests, streams and waterfalls. Shortly, the traffic (usually scarce in this rural area) slowed to a stop and looking ahead I could see it was a long, long line. I finally shut down the engine as we sat waiting. People got out of their cars and strolled about talking to people in the cars near them. Pirate did not miss anything and when they sometimes walked close to our vehicle, he softly "woofed", a little comment. I noticed how much more mature he has gotten. It seems only a few months back when he would have watched in silence. His confidence has grown and as I watched him sitting so securely in the passenger seat, I realized he was in full defense mode. He saw nothing to really be upset by, but I suddenly realized that should something appear, this was no longer a pup who would look to me to shield him. At the very least this young boy, now 2-1/2, would stand side by side with me and likely step out in front of me to protect. What a thrill to see this beautiful boy and realize how wonderfully he has matured. I have never trained my dogs to defend. I just enjoy watching them naturally develop into wonderful guardians. I could not train them any better than they train each other and for my needs, they are just perfect in the degree to which they enforce their will. They each have a self appointed role: Spirit is the instructor, Quest the enforcer and Pirate always positioned himself beside me (last defense?). I have noticed in the recent months, Pirate now moves out with Quest. Spirit, in his senior years now stays a little closer to me. They know what they are doing. I could not improve on this. They are well aware of the capabilities of each other, physically and mentally.
Anyway, we finally took a back road to break the boredom. I did not know where we were going, but we got to see deer, and a few elk. We parked and shared a small bag of mixed nuts and checked out a stream. We listened to the quiet and just walked together in a meadow. I kind of hated to leave, but I found our way back to the highway, and the wreck had been cleared. A pretty little yellow roadster had hit something and was on a flat bed being hauled away.
After registering the RV we headed back home. I think we have a new and even better appreciation of each other. I know I do, of him. We got a wonderful homecoming greeting from Pirate's big brothers. As unhappy as they are when they are not the chosen ones, to go somewhere, they are doubly happy when we come home and no pouting about being left home! Later in the evening I felt a warm chin on my foot as I was on the computer. My travel buddy decided to fall asleep with his warm nose touching my foot. I think he may have been dreaming of our adventure.
