"You scared, puppy dog?"
"You bet Dad."
"What's eating you?"
"I'm too far from home and I've lost my bearings, I want to go back."
Well thought I, this is no good, I've got to get him past this. So, still carrying him, I head on up the road. He doesn't seem to be a heavy dog when you pick him up but by the time I reached the top of the road I was feeling his weight, I turned right and after a few yards I put him back on his four paws. He stood looking around for a moment then, with ears flat and belly low to the ground, headed home.
As we headed down our road his nervousness decreased a bit, I was glad 'cause I wasn't sure how much further I could've carried the wee devil. He was still moving fast but not pulling and in this condition we reached home.
We stopped in the vestibule for a quick word before going in,
"Was that OK young fella?"
"I'm not so sure Dad, it was a bit frightening but you carrying me up that other road sure helped a lot."
"That's good, will we try again tomorrow?"
"OK, let's give it a go, I'm not promising but there are some real good smells round that corner."
I started to open the door when he pulled me back,
"Not a word to Mum though, please?"
"Mum's the word."
