Rocky was out for a while, exploring both the front and back yard. The dry crab apples from fall had wilted and been crushed beneath the winter snow. Now his interest had shifted to fallen twigs scattered by strong winter winds and to the lingering scents of nocturnal animals—as if he were the keeper of a logbook for all the visitors who had passed through overnight.
Twenty minutes went by before I realized he needed to be let in.
“Rocky……Rocky…” No sign of him.
Worried, we ran outside. The car pulled out of the driveway to scan the area. His little master ran into the woods, searching, while I called his name again and again. Fear crept in; had Rocky finally run away at four and a half years old? Had someone lured this handsome boy away with a treat?
Then we saw him—very busy in a neighbor’s yard, exploring, inspecting everything, completely absorbed. He paused when his little master called his name, almost as if to say, ” Wow, how did you get here? I hear you, but I’ve been busy—and there’s still so much to do.”
But when he truly noticed us, his whole body changed. He came galloping over, jumped straight into the car, and we headed home together.
Rocky is a curious, confident dog, following familiar scents and known territory, with no sense of danger or “running away” in his mind. I realized he isn’t a puppy anymore, but an adult dog with a mind of his own and no fear. To Rocky, he wasn’t lost. He was working: investigating, tracking, doing important dog things. The fact that he came immediately once he realized we were there says everything. Only then did he seem to recognize he had strayed from home.
To me what the moment really offered wasn’t blame, but awareness:
-winter scents can travel farther
-quiet time passes quickly
-a curious dog can wander before you realize it
So Rocky had his time out for his deeds, and now we keep a close eye on him, knowing that busy mind of his is always plotting something new.
