Twice a day I go out walking with my golden retriever Dora. At least once a day she spots a squirrel.
The same scene plays out every time. Dora freezes. Her ears prick up, she starts panting, her heart quickens. She’s beyond excited. Ecstatic.
This is it. This is the day she’s going to catch it!
Sometimes the squirrel scarpers immediately. But more often it freezes too. It looks over at Dora. Puzzled, apprehensive but mildly intrigued.
The standoff begins. They assess each other intently. Eyeball to eyeball. Searching for signs of encouragement or weakness. It’s a little like an Argentine tango.* Will they, won’t they? At this point, it’s anyone’s guess.
This goes on for a while. And a bit longer.
And then one of two things happens. Either Dora pounces and the squirrel scurries up the nearest tree or fence. Or the squirrel decides it has better things to do and makes a run for it – leaving Dora standing, waiting, hoping it’ll return. Which it doesn’t.
But that’s absolutely fine with Dora. Because tomorrow – or, if she’s lucky, even later today – she’ll spot another squirrel and exactly the same scene will unfold.
And one day, she’ll catch it.
Click here to see a Dora/squirrel standoff.
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*Except it’s more Bracknell than Buenos Aires.
