SMART DOGS, UNREASONABLE KIDS

My Australian Blue Heeler was the most intelligent, independent thinking dog I've ever owned/bred, but my Border Collie was a close second.

My Border Collie, Benji, obeyed dozens of commands and hand signals I taught her, but mostly she kept her eye on me and figured out what should be done to assist. I could just give a her a blanket command, like "Bring Abram," and she'd streak off into the dark woods where the herd of horses was sleeping. I'd hear some barking, and soon she'd appear, driving my annoyed horse ahead of her.

In 1981, I'd just taught Benji the command "seek back" - which meant to retrace our steps and bring me anything I'd dropped while out hiking or horseback riding.
I had also bought my 18th-month-old son, Nathan, a pair of tiny new cowboy boots, and he was wearing them while sitting in the saddle in front of me while cantering Abram along the RR track easement in Durango, CO.

I sort of noticed that Benji, who was loping beside my right stirrup, was carrying something in her mouth, but didn't pay any attention.

After about 30 minutes of riding, I noticed that Nathan was missing his right boot. Horrified, I started to turn to Benji to tell her to "seek back," but when I did, I saw what she had been carrying in her mouth..the tiny cowboy boot!

I stopped the horse, signaling Benji for the boot, and she put one paw on the stirrup to reach up and place it in my hand.

I slipped Nathan's boot back on, and off we went!

Our route took us behind a local Durango grocery store, and Nathan began yelling "Woe-woe!" (his made-up name for "horse" ) and pointing at the mechanical horse in front of the store.

I tried to point out that he was already riding a REAL horse, but he didn't care. I had to dismount, tie up Abram, and put in a quarter to give him a ride on the machine before he would agree to continue on (sigh).