Missing the Mark

It was hard to post after the last post. I mean, that jumping picture is so outstanding it is a hard act to follow.

We've been deep in discussion about Bergamascos on Treadmills (http://www.chiquebergamasco.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=175).

Dad even went so far as to take me on our treadmill, letting my front paws walk while he was holding my back legs up for support. And I want to say for the record here, you all are missing the entire point of The Walk. Sure the fresh air is nice, the exercise of muscles is lovely, but those are completely superfluous. The point of The Walk is scent. Precious scent.

We go every morning before dawn for a long or short walk through the neighborhood. My neighborhood.

• First stop: Giant old Maple tree where I smell about 6 dogs since yesterday. I cover their scent with mine, and we're off.

• Second stop: Hasta plant outside the lady's house who has 5 cats and feeds the squirrels peanuts. I've never seen this lady but I'm guessing she and I would get along great. She has a great front porch from which to watch cats or taunt squirrels.

• Third stop: Fire hydrant in the mid-second block. It seems cliche or even passe but I can't resist.

• Fourth stop: Man hole cover in the middle of the street. This one usually annoys Mom as she scolds me for being a lazy leg lifter. Yeah, whatever. This is the first place the 10 Schitzu's come to mark when they leave their house, and there is no way I'm letting that spot go.

I could go on to include the corner fence, the front step, the tree in the park, but I think you get the idea. New places are great too; All the mysteries of trees, rocks, and bushes to be explored. A year could go by between visiting a spot and I will remember everything with one whiff.

So you see folks, we may agree to go on your exercise equipment. We may even like it. A lot actually. But let's not forget that our lives are olfactorycentric and blissfully so.