You Call That A Stick?

Ella at eight weeks.

I am grateful for my dog. She is a complete freak. When we're in the woods together, she has this routine where she locates the biggest piece of wood around. Today, she wrestled a 10 foot length of branch with a diameter of 4 inches. Here's a visual key for you: Ella weighs about 40 pounds. She relies on two modes of hauling to move her prize along the trail. Most of the time, she grabs one end and hauls it battering ram style (and you better watch your back). I made it three quarters of the way around Millers Pond and was feeling a little smug until she pierced my quadriceps. Ouch! But it's when she grips it in the middle, tightrope walker with balancing pole style, that the fun really begins. She's good for a jaunty canter, no matter where she is, and to see her gaining speed while trying to balance the branch as it hits every tree in the woods is hilarious. I laugh out loud with sadistic glee. My dog is tenacious and resilient, both excellent qualities.