I think there is something important about the relationship between people and dogs.

I was thinking about it when I walked ours this morning. I got up at 7AM and walked down through the woods to the river. It had rained overnight for the first time in weeks, and there was that lovely scent you get in the air after a summer rainfall. I sat by the river listening to the sounds of the birds and the water. It was so peaceful. Before we had a dog, I would never have done this. It is almost as if dogs give you permission for activity that would otherwise seem weird, but is actually incredibly important.