Snow Salutation

I well know this day's snow is unwelcome by many people. Please consider, though - it is not (yet) combined with ice, the wind is mild to moderate, the snow is gentle, the landscape, from my window and yards, draped in white and gold, bare tree limbs open to the sky and future.  This snow is beautiful, a gift - and only a few inches, not the feet with which I grew up.

  Cane Justus

The dogs went out this morning and reveled, particularly Justus and Cane.  They ran and romped, energized by the cold and snow, this newness to their territory.  They are all back in the house with me now, even Hoss.  Hoss is missing Jedi.  Jed went to his wonderful new home last Friday.  He is doing well though his new mom found out he had a UTI (urinary tract infection) and the wound on one of his feet which we had treated with laser, or for Jedi, "light saber," concealed a non-displaced middle metatarsal fracture.  We had talked about about a possible fracture when we decided on the "light saber" treatments.  They did him well as he would not have kept a cast on - and it would have been, excuse me, hell to make him try. 

Hoss has no one to run the fence with him.  The others get too huffy or don't run well enough.  Jedi and Hoss would run back and forth, Hoss on the outside, Jed inside where they both should have been.  With Jed gone, Hoss is a bit discombobulated - looking for a buddy who is not here.  I'm here, Hoss.  We all ran in the field last night - myself, too - around three times - separated by times of ball throwing and tug playing. 

I often hear and read how a dog needs a place to run.  I am blessed with the space I have but really, what a dog needs is you - your attention, your time, your playing with her, teaching her what she needs to know and loving her.  A dog will always love back - it is us who get the love, exercise and discipline equation confused.  A dog is unconditional.  Can you live up to that?  Give a snow salutation today and try :).