Dogs so enhance my walks, as they do my life. Lenore walks ahead of me, and I have to be cautious on this country road, as people come roaring down the hill and many don’t slow or stop for a dog. There are very few vehicles and I can see them coming a long way, so I call for Lenore and she comes running to me and sits. If there is more traffic, I put her on a leash. We mostly stay to the road, but sometimes veer off into the woods. It’s a steep road and the first few weeks, I was huffing and puffing up it. Now it’s pretty comfortable and I am stretching the distance. I never expected to love it so much.

Lenore is very reliable. We pass dogs on leads all the time, and they bark at her, but she just looks curiously at them (above) and keeps going.

Dogs walk differently. Border collies are always looking for work. Labs are always looking for smells. Lenore always stays near me, never runs off. I love walking with her. Dogs frame a walk, give it structure. Every now and then, she comes over and licks my jeans. She’s a sweetheart, and now an integral part of my walks.