We don’t know an awful lot about Frieda. I would not say she was abused, because I have no idea and the symptoms of abuse are the same as anxiety, disorientation and abandonment in dogs. It is not help to see dogs as abused sometimes, as it makes training them difficult, even impossible. And people seem to need to see their dogs abused sometimes, for all kinds of reasons. We rarely know for sure.
   Frieda ran loose on the grounds of the Adirondack Community for at least six months before anybody could get near her to catch her. She has a lot of prey drive, perhaps (a guess) because she hunted to eat, and perhaps because she is a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix, two breeds with a lot of drive. She takes off after rabbits, chipmunks, even deer and is gone in a flash, in a fever. She doesn’t hear anybody, or respond to commands, and tears off into the woods for hours. She reminds of me a recovering addict who goes off on an occasional binge.They are less and less frequent,but still, a part of her.
  This happened this morning when I was out walking the dogs with Maria’s mother, and I turned away for a second, and heard the squeak of a chipmunk. I walk Frieda off leash for short distances, to work on her recall. But you have to pay attention, and I didn’t. Frieda was gone and vanished into the woods.
  I did the usual calling, riding around with the dogs on the ATV, searching for her. I never like the idea of a dog like that off in the woods. She can look fearsome, even though she isn’t, and I wouldn’t blame anyone who was alarmed at the sight of her popping up in the woods.
  I was supposed to go out, and postponed the trip. I went out briefly to check on the art show at Gardenworks, and Il left the gates open in the fenced yards so that she could get in if she came back. I went out for a long walk in the woods looking for her. When I came back, Lenore ran happily to the porch, and there was Frieda, lying exhausted, wagging her tail, looking abashed.
  She came over to me, and put her head on my knee, and rolled over on her back. I lay down and hugged and scratched her. I was glad to see her. I gave her some treats, so she would feel good about coming home. She is exhausted, and is sleeping at my feet now.
  I think Frieda may never completely lose this drive, it is an integral part of her. And I will remember to pay attention.