It is easy to overlook Lenore in the powerful stories surrounding dogs like Rose or Izzy or Frieda. Lenore is quiet, even, steady and she is not especially brave, brilliant or mythic. She would not take on belligerent rams or survive long in the Adirondacks and she isn’t the best hospice dog because she likes to plow into people and lick them all over and one time, grab somebody’s dinner.

Yet she is a great dog, wonderfully bred and trustworthy, a dog who can run into anybody and go anywhere. Lenore has only been on a leash once or twice in her life. Today I drove into Merck Forest with her and she hopped out of the car and walked with me for two hours, through forest trails, up a couple of hills, past chickens, sheep, other dogs and hikers. She never ran away from me, wandered out of my sight, caused me a moment’s distraction or trouble. This is greatness, in many ways, just as great a thing as Rose ever did, if not as dramatic.

I love hiking with her in the woods. We go to Merck often, and have our own trails. Short album on Facebook, a tribute to a wonderful animal and the wonderful breeder to brought her into the world and helps preserve the greatest traits of dogs.

I did some meditations on fear and strength on the walk, and I’ll write about that in the morning.