<p>
As I was leaving for work this morning, Woodrow, our year-old <a title=”Cairn terrier” href=”http://www.cairnterrier.org/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>Cairn terrier</font>
</a>, was nowhere to be found.</p>
<p>Iris, the addled <a title=”Westie” href=”http://www.westieclubamerica.com/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>Westie</font>
</a>, was still asleep in the house; Lucy, the Westie who claims the alpha position in our pack, was playing with Bosco the kitten by the garage; Gus and Clover, sibling <a title=”border collies” href=”http://www.bordercollie.org/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>border collies</font>
</a>, were off chasing rabbits in the tall <a title=”CRP” href=”http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/crp/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>CRP</font>
</a>Â grass.</p>
<p>Woodrow is usually everywhere to be found, so I thought it odd that he wasn’t snapping at my heels when I climbed into the truck – odd, but not odd enough for me to be concerned. I was actually a little pleased at the thought that he might be off marauding some pesky rodent or snake, an action that had the added benefit of him not following me down the lane and up the road.</p>
<p>Woodrow, all 13 or 14 pounds of him, has recently decided that wherever the truck goes, he is supposed to go. He felt so strongly about this twice that he ate more than a half mile of the truck’s dust before turning back for home. We don’t promote this behavior, mind you. And he has been pretty good the past couple of days, deciding to stay when I ask him to stay. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>He completely outsmarted me this morning. As I made the turn onto the road, I caught a flash of Woodrow bursting from beneath the dense cedars at the end of the lane. He plainly wanted to go trucking. What he ended up with, though, was a couple hours of kennel time, which he never seems to hold against me.</p>
<p>Woodrow’s antics set the stage for my commute this morning. I mentally ran through all the good dogs that have graced my life, and it all reminded me of a fantastic Web site (<a title=”www.GermanShepherds.com” href=”http://www.germanshepherds.com/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>www.GermanShepherds.com</font>
</a>) devoted to German shepherds that I discovered yesterday. This is a comprehensive Web site with information about the breed, rescue, hard-core genetics, photos and much more. This site makes me want a German shepherd … but I think five dogs is enough for the time being.</p>
<p>I would be interested to learn of any and all comprehensive dog sites. If we discover enough of them, we will build a dog resource page right here at <i>www.Grit.com</i>.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<hr />
</p>
<p>
<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>
</a>, was still asleep in the house; Lucy, the Westie who claims the alpha position in our pack, was playing with Bosco the kitten by the garage; Gus and Clover, sibling <a title=”border collies” href=”http://www.bordercollie.org/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>border collies</font>
</a>, were off chasing rabbits in the tall <a title=”CRP” href=”http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/crp/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>CRP</font>
</a>Â grass.</p>
<p>Woodrow is usually everywhere to be found, so I thought it odd that he wasn’t snapping at my heels when I climbed into the truck – odd, but not odd enough for me to be concerned. I was actually a little pleased at the thought that he might be off marauding some pesky rodent or snake, an action that had the added benefit of him not following me down the lane and up the road.</p>
<p>Woodrow, all 13 or 14 pounds of him, has recently decided that wherever the truck goes, he is supposed to go. He felt so strongly about this twice that he ate more than a half mile of the truck’s dust before turning back for home. We don’t promote this behavior, mind you. And he has been pretty good the past couple of days, deciding to stay when I ask him to stay. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>He completely outsmarted me this morning. As I made the turn onto the road, I caught a flash of Woodrow bursting from beneath the dense cedars at the end of the lane. He plainly wanted to go trucking. What he ended up with, though, was a couple hours of kennel time, which he never seems to hold against me.</p>
<p>Woodrow’s antics set the stage for my commute this morning. I mentally ran through all the good dogs that have graced my life, and it all reminded me of a fantastic Web site (<a title=”www.GermanShepherds.com” href=”http://www.germanshepherds.com/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#0000ff”>www.GermanShepherds.com</font>
</a>) devoted to German shepherds that I discovered yesterday. This is a comprehensive Web site with information about the breed, rescue, hard-core genetics, photos and much more. This site makes me want a German shepherd … but I think five dogs is enough for the time being.</p>
<p>I would be interested to learn of any and all comprehensive dog sites. If we discover enough of them, we will build a dog resource page right here at <i>www.Grit.com</i>.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<hr />
</p>
<p>
<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>