Happy Dogs

I don't know what it is about falling leaves, but the dogs wagged their tails so hard today while we were out for our walk that their rear ends almost came off as a result! It is nice to see them enjoying themselves, and even better when we get home and they fall instantly asleep to have doggy dreams about running through heaps of fallen leaves...

I do find walking the dogs therapeutic. No matter how sleepy I am, no matter how much I think I'm starting a cold, no matter how much I resent going outside into the cold, damp autumn air, as soon as we start walking, I feel better. It must be the result of the adrenaline that courses through my body at the thought of another "incident" with a cat, a spat with one of the dogs down the street when they take issue at my dogs walking past their house or even an altercation with a street sweeping vehicle. Whatever the reason, I always return invigorated and ready to face the rest of the day. Indeed, I sometimes wonder whether my health would be so good if I hadn't had the dogs to encourage me to walk and to stop feeling sorry for myself. Their whiskery faces, first thing in the morning as they bounce excitedly outside the "walkies" cupboard where I keep their leads are sufficient to make even me feel ready to face whatever the weather has to hurl at me and to be glad to be alive!