Most dogs like to go for walks. Some even tolerate the leash. Some dogs hate to travel.

 

Then there is Duke. When Duke brings his leash to you, he is not asking to go for a walk although both Duke and his owner need the exercise. No, Duke is asking to go in the car.

 

Duke is a 120 lb. chocolate lab who has discovered the joys of going everywhere in a motorized vehicle rather than hoof it on foot. Duke, like his owner, finds it all too easy to allow the four wheeled contraption to substitute for the four leg and two leg means of transportation.

 

It may be the joy of feeling the wind blow in his face. It may be the luscious smells of all the plants, grasses, people and animals that the nose detects along the way as the back windows are always rolled down (even with the A/C or the heater on up front.)

 

It may be the excitement of all the different sights and sounds that he hears and sees along the way. But more likely its the cup of ice cream that he occasionally gets and that is devoured in one minute flat that Duke finds so enticing. 

 

But Dog Walkers of America, fear not!! For there are hundreds of dogs that still are anxiously waiting to actually go for walks. In fact, Duke has been known to go on walks.

 

But there is just nothing like the charm of a motorized vehicle to give Duke a rush that most sky divers would envy. So President Bush, its not just the American people who have a love affair with their vehicles. Some canines also find them irresistible.

 

But just to set the record straight and to let you know we are doing our part to conserve gas, when Duke's aboard we travel very, very slowly. Just ask all the other drivers glaring at us. I would like to say that my motive is to save gas but the truth is I do it so Duke can take it all in and when you are carrying a precious treasure you try not to stop suddenly.

 

So if you are out and about some day, don't be surprised if you see a blue Buick creeping down the road with a brown dog who takes up the back seat sniffing up a storm and lovin' every second of it! (And probably dreaming of that cup of ice cream.)

 

He's a traveling man, oops, I mean dog.