(#35) Agility

By the end of our time on the green stuff,
my tongue was longer than a politician’s necktie.

I’ve woofed before about missing what Steve and I used to do before the humans started wearing masks and standing far away from each other.  We still get to the beach every morning. We walk around the park a time or two each day.  But mostly, I curl up and dream about getting back to my friends in the big buildings.

(Side note: Steve told me a joke that he heard from someone named George Carlin: “What do dogs do on their day off? Can’t lie around—that’s their job.” Whatever.)

So, this week Steve mixed it up and took me to a new building with a lot of green stuff under my paws. It wasn’t real grass, but kinda look like it; felt good. Lots of water bowls. There was a roof to keep the sun off us and fans to blow air on us.  A few dogs and their people joined us. And on the green stuff, lots of accoutrements (see, I remember my vocabulary from the book. Steve quizzes me every so often).

A nice lady talked to the humans and pointed to all the items around us. Every so often I hear her mention “biscuit.”  Got my attention. She also had a team of nice humans who helped guide us through all the accoutrements.

We did a lot. Like, walk in a circle in one direction until Steve turned the other way. Each time we turned I got a biscuit. OK. I like this. Then there was a steep ramp I had to walk up and then walk down on the other side. No problem for me. (Steve had to stay on the ground while I did the hard work. He’s getting a bit older, you know.)

Another item, required me to walk up and down again but this one was a lot narrower than the first one.

I had to sit on a square piece of wood. No problem. Then there was a circular piece of wood. It wobbled when I stepped on it. Steve held up a biscuit. I sat. (What wobble?) Got a treat. YUM!

The one that made me stop in my paws at first was a long tube. Steve dropped the leash at one end where I sat. He went to the other end and called me. I hesitated and then one of the humans helping the lead human, tossed a treat. In no time I was through and back with Steve.

By the end of our time on the green stuff, my tongue was longer than a politician’s necktie. I could feel the exercise in my body. Not sure why, but I was mentally spent as well; probably because of the different tasks we had to do. Steve and I worked together. I had to focus on what he said and where he led me. All of it was a good reminder of how to function as a team.

I enjoyed it. I slept well when I got home. Not because it’s my job. Because I worked my body and mind.

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Thank you for sharing my blog with your friends.

In my new book, Roxie Looks for Purpose Beyond the Biscuit, I share stories and lessons about friends, family, and fun. And I speak about purpose as well.  (Steve says for dogs we might just want to call it “furpose.” He makes words up, I think.) Perhaps the book holds a biscuit or two for you!

WOOF!