Scout's big adventure

One day the neighbour's young dog … let's call her Scout* … turned up solo. She was down in a jiffy to collect the little dog.

Soon our chat became a full-on investigation. How did Scout get here? The neighbour ran her hand along the little dog's wet furry back and then licked her hand. Mmmm salty. Quick, simple and she did it without thinking. I cringed but it gave us the intel we needed. I was impressed by her off the cuff investigation. The result?

The little dog had crossed our salty river. It didn't wander the roadside and cross the one-lane bridge. Scout had chosen the cross country route.

I looked into the little dog's mischievous eyes. I'm pretty sure I could see bravery and adventure. I imagined Scout at the top of her hill looking down across the river and at our farm.

A scent hits her nose. It's the salty river, refreshing and fun. An idea pops into her brain. I'll take a swim and visit the neighbours. Not a moment for hesitation or to wait for a command from her master.

 Ready, set, go. 

Down the paddock and past the cows. A low deep moo-mur comes from deep in a cow's belly. The cow associates the dog with the farmer. She's questioning why the dog is alone. But the dog is on an adventure and nothing will stop it now. So it just keeps running.

Now at the bottom of the paddock. Scout knows where she's going, she's following a scent. Under the electric fence (tail position low). Through the tall reeds (head up - don't get poked in the eye). Little paws sinking into gloopy mud, crabs scuttling aside making a path to the channel. Warm salty water up to knees, then … push off. Don't think about what you can't see lurking in the shadows. Finally swimming across the channel. 

The little dog enjoys the feeling of the water about her, the excitement of adventure, the independence of being alone and deciding for herself. 

After scrambling up the other side and shaking the water off, it's not far across the mudflats, under our fence and she's finding us in the market garden doing our work. 

Who sees Scout's adventure? The cows witnessed the start. The panicking crabs didn't take much notice. A fat dark eel at the river's edge felt the dog's movement through the water.

It's a white faced heron perched up in an old man pine who sees it all. From the start of the adventure at the hilltop to the river crossing, it sees it all. It has the perfect combo of a high vantage point and all the time in the world.

And as for Scout, she's keeping the details to herself. But that night she slept well and dreamed of her next expedition.

*The dog's name has been changed to protect her true identity.