A Naif in the Forest by Darrell Berger

Wing Tips to Hiking Boots: Musings of a New, Full-Time Poconos Resident 

Topaz is ready for his first walk through the forest. He is a one-year-old mini Australian shepherd that joined our pack on November 2. He had been well cared-for but had never been off-leash except in a small, enclosed area. He didn’t know there was such a thing as a forest. He is named for his bright, light blue eyes. 

Violet the Corgi has been chasing him around the forest and showing him that turkey tail mushrooms are delicious. The forest is his natural agility course. He has an excellent recall and (so far) has immediately come back to me every time at the sound of his name.  He shows exuberance and pure joy in every moment in the forest. 

I have been fortunate to have had several herding dogs as companions, but have never had a herd. We sublimate our herding instincts with endless games of fetch and Topaz is a natural. I never had to teach him to get the ball and bring it to me. Violet taught him. I won’t say he’s perfect, but if he were a baseball player I’d say he would start the season in double AA and probably be promoted to the majors by mid-season. 

While herding dogs need lots of exercise, they don’t need it all day. In the morning they want to work, to get the herd into the field. Then they are content to lie around, watch for predators until before dusk, when it is time to get the herd inside. 

Now Topaz is performing his other job, as office assistant, sleeping under the desk between the filing cabinets. Violet never wanted this job. Too many steps to climb. So far he is an upgrade over the cats that have held this position in the past, as he shows no desire to walk across my keyboard. 

Topaz has a lot to learn about the forest. So do I. I suspect we will stumble over several adventures in the future. No, that’s an inaccurate metaphor. I will stumble. Topaz will bound toward them with agility and grace.