For months, poor Lily's been trying to get a squirrel that frequents our yard. Try as she may, she's  been unsuccessful. 

 Here's a picture the semi-world famous Presto Dog photographer took of Lily as she got the scent of her squirrel friend who had just scurried up a tree, once again one step ahead of her.

Lily Looking Up a Tree

Frankly, we're kinda glad she hasn't been able to catch one.

A few years ago, we went to an indoor "sports expo show" at a certain convention center near where we live. As best I can remember, there were vendors galore, dogs aplenty and a festive atmosphere that affected all who attended. We visited numerous exhibits, enjoying the day with other dog lovers such as ourselves.

One of the featured events was a competition where fifty weave poles were set up. For each dog entered in this event, when the starter said "Go!," dogs would fly through the poles as fast as they could, running to the left through one pole and then through the right at the next pole, bodies contorting in seemingly impossibe positions. One might think that the fastest dog would be the one that drew everyone to their feet, clapping and yelling about the exhibition just witnessed. But, it was an older dog, I believe around nine or ten, that drew the loudest applause as well as a tear to the eye that memorable day.

It was the end of the competition, and spectators had oooo-ed and ahhh-ed over the shelties, pugs, shepherds and eventual fastest dog, a border collie (what else?). A neatly dressed older gentleman appeared at the starting line with the final entry of the day, talking quietly and affectionately to his golden retriever as he gently stroked its head. Anyone present could tell there was a special bond between these two: he, with a twinkle in his eye and spring in his step even though he must have been over 70 years old; the dog, greying around the muzzle, smiling and wagging its tail as it sat waiting expectantly for the signal to begin his competition. Both didn't have long to wait as the starter announced "Go!" with his usual applomb.

Dog and master excitedly began as all the preceding competitors had, but with a marked difference: the two friends were simply walking their way through the course, not running full-speed as all the prior entries had. In-out, in-out went the dog, to the left and then the right, gently coaxed by his human counterpart. The first ten poles were conquered with no problem...could the dog keep on course and make at least another ten? The eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth poles were run, then poles fourteen through twenty were coursed, all without a hitch. The crowd, watching this entry in the competition, realized they were witnessing something special.

The happy golden retriever continued walking its way through the weave poles, occasionaly looking to his human friend for an encouraging word, but never missing a beat. His companion continued to offer the words the dog wanted to hear, the confidence and excitement of the two passing out to the crowd as it now offered its own encouragement to the couple by way of loud cheers, clapping and whistling.

Weave poles twenty one through thirty nine were passed, all with ease as the smiling dog continued on its walking journey toward the finish line, now only eleven poles ahead. The crowd, including ourselves by this time were now really into this event, as the relationship between man and dog was perhaps never evidenced as well as in this seminal moment: the faithful four-legged member of the team merely trying to please his human, the latter offering encouragement and guidance merely by the words he spoke and tone of his voice.

Poles forty through forty nine were passed, the dog never wavering in its resolve to complete the event, and finally the fiftieth pole was passed, just as easily and perfectly as the other forty nine had been. The crowd went absolutely crazy. The man threw his hands in the air,fell to his knees and looked up toward the sky with his eyes closed. The dog was barking excitedly, and ran up to the man; both met and the man hugged his dog, kissing him and ruffling its hair.

We saw love that day. We saw devotion that day, and we witnessed the relationship between human and dog as it was meant to be that day...each appreciating the other, united in their resolve to accomplish a task they must have trained at for hours. Age was not a factor, speed was not an issue. But love was the answer.

Go hug your dog. They're here to serve us, but where could you ever find a more devoted, loving friend than that pal that merey wants your attention?