Sunrise Over The Shed

Old Dog New Trick.  I mutter frequently, lately.  Rack, The McNab SuperDog (TM) is getting old.  People tell me 14 years old is "quite old". 

I don't want to believe that.

But he's starting to act oddly.  Granted, the long walks that we take with him are helping to keep him alive, and it helps to give me something to do on a day I am not going to the park to beat myself up.  6 laps are a marathon, 3 in under an hour.

My own workout schedule not withstanding.  

He's a handful, always has been.  The latest trick is the backyard.  Frequently.  

The bells on a string jingle softly, and sometimes I even hear them.  He does it so frequently that I have begun to disregard them in favor of letting him out whenever I go out to the kitchen.

My own fast metabolism means I'm out there grazing frequently so he gets to water the light pole back behind the house as much as he needs to.

He's even taking breaks during feedings which bothers me more.  A few nibbles out of the bowl, then to the door.  I let him out.  He decides if he wants to do anything productive and is back at the door.  If I go out with him, he will be more circumspect and sniff the air.  

That illusion of doing something must be important the little furry knucklehead.

I have my own agenda.  He gets walked once he gets fed.  I am up at 5am to be able to get to the park for my workout.  That's a requirement because the Furnace that is Florida gets spicy hot after about 10AM in summer.   It is easier for me to maintain that schedule all year around so even in winter, I beat the sunrise by a couple hours.

Stuffing the earbuds in my ears, I find CBC Radio One for the international news.  I'm typically standing by the pool in my boxer shorts staring at the dog or looking for shooting stars or the moon or some such.

"Go on, Rack, It's cold out here".  I say waving my hands at him.  Cold is relative.  If it ever snows here, it's a disaster scenario Up North.

Eventually we get done, fed, and Walk One done.  That journey finishes before dawn and the distance can be up to two miles depending if he wants the experience.  I cut the walks shorter on days I have workouts, and he does not seem to like that.  

Herding Dogs know the routine, learn the land, and will tell you when they are done.  In his case, Rack usually knows that he can cut things short if he's not up to it.

Walk Two happens at 7AM.  That is when the irrigation system comes on to water the orchids and the other plant pots.  

At this time of year, sunrise is just before then.  It takes a little bit for the sun to get over the tree line.  I noticed the sun just below the peak of the roof.  

I'm standing there, looking East over the pool towards the beach and The Bahamas, thinking.  Saying "You know, this does look quite nice out here".  

Rack hears me, which is a surprise in itself because Selective Deafness is a thing in older dogs, and comes to me.

"It's time for the second walk." I say and we go in.  The moment was broken and it's time to greet the world.