Topic: Dailies

Thinking Ahead

by

Leo Crocker Rogers

It is very interesting about some animals.

My dog and I have, for more almost a decade, walked around our neighborhood block each night. It is a ½ mile circuit with Skipper knowing every pee-mail stop. We used to walk over 2 miles daily but now is an easier ½ mile. Skipper does not always make the full ½ mile. Sometimes, he will stop and look at me, then proceed until the stops get longer. When he is sure he does not wish to continue, he nuzzles me on the leg. That means he needs to be carried. So we have learned to communicate. Recently, he has begun to measure himself. Really. He is thinking ahead. As we progress through the walk, he will slow or speed up depending on his judgement of his needed strength to make it home on his own abilities. He has sixteen side trips that he takes when he is 100%. Sometimes, however, he will reduce his number of excursions depending on his calculated reserve. Another calculation he makes is his short cuts verses his more exploratory long path jaunts off path. There is a cul-de-sac, for example, that extends the walking distance. Just last night, when we reached the cul-de-sac, he looked up at me and then crossed the street and headed for home without going around the cul-de-sac, one of his favorite excursions. He was bushed. But you know, he still made it all the way home on his own. Thinking ahead as he is now doing, I believe is unique. Maybe you know of other instances of the like. Please let me know.