Doggie Boy Learns Something About Hills

This past week took us to San Francisco on personal Food-Provider business. Friends of ours who live on top of Portrero Hill were out of town but generously allowed us to kennel ourselves at their home.

On account of business, there wasn't much time for long ambles on grass through fog. Instead, the pups had to content themselves with short walks around Portrero Hill, which has some of the steepest climbs in the city. At first the pups just sniffed and poked around the summit, which is fairly level. But after sniffing all there was to sniff and poking all there was to poke, Fips stood at a corner looking around which way to go. Two ways were on the level and two ways pointed down.

I watched as Fips looked to the level right and then to the left and down. Pause. Doggie Cogitation. Again, to the right, and again to the left. The moment of decision came. Fips bolted and chased down the hill with Rosco chasing after. Wheeeeeeeee.....

He was just like a kid....only he's 90-something.

But when we had reached bottom there was nowhere left to go but back up. Fips hopped along for a few paces but then tired out. For every down, there is an up and Fips worked at it doggedly. Now, it was Rosco who led the way, but for Fips it was clearly a great effort. I almost thought of carrying him, but instead just walked very slowly and took several pauses for pats and encouraging sounds. Fips was at strength's end just as we reached the top and then his gait suddenly picked up again.

None of this put a damper on the fun of chasing down hills. Later at night, Fips was poking along until we came to another hill's edge. He saw the drop, got excited and began chasing down; but this time, I only let him go half way....mainly because I didn't feel like hiking back up.

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