I spend way too much time watching MTV to begin to think about keeping up with her, but I try to go running with Mouse whenever I can.  Eventually we developed a pretty good system that allowed her to get her ya-yas out without exploding my heart into a million pieces.  There’s a winding country road right by my house that changes to gravel after about a mile.  As soon as we leave my house, Mouse tears off, yanking at the leash the entire way.  I pull back to save my legs, but whenever a car comes, Mouse and I take off at full speed.

The problem is that Mouse has no perspective.  She chases every car as if it’s the last in the universe.  One day she chased too many and lay in the grass, refusing even to walk.  I had to carry her the rest of the way, which was a funny sight.

But Mouse’s behavior made me realize that people aren’t much different than dogs.  Cars will always fly by, and some people try to chase them all.  That will only exhaust and frustrate them.  Sometimes it’s nice just to go on a relaxing jog—unless you want someone to carry you home.

Share this Post!