So...I almost got Hunter hit by a car this morning. It wasn't a close call or anything, but it was most certainly my fault that he was nearly in harms way. How could this be, you ask? Because Hunter is too smart...

A few mornings out of the week, Hunter, Wally and I go for a stroll around the neighborhood before the work-day begins. Hunter is such a good boy that I can walk with him off leash. Luckily, he follows voice commands so well that I'm able to put my concentration into wrangling Wally. He's amazingly smart and has such an understanding of the words we speak to him that, in the past, I've wondered if Ty and I have Dr. Doolittle powers (*note...Wally has since dashed this theory).

Two important commands that I employ on walks with Hunter are "Over Here" and "This Side," which means move to my right or my left, respectively. It's so great to be able to have him on one side of me or the other. Typically, I have him move to my right or left to put me in between him and an oncoming car, a dog on the other side of the street, or a tempting treat in the middle of the road. Even if he's not at heel and some distance ahead of me, I can holler out one of these commands and he'll move to the side I need him on.

This morning we were on a stretch of our walk where there are no sidewalks. We had just come off a sidewalked portion on the right side of the road and we were now hugging this side, close to the grass. Hunter was not too far ahead of me when I saw headlights down the road coming towards us. "This Side," I called out to Hunter to get him to move off of the pavement and more into the ditch/grass portion. He held his position and stayed on the pavement. Frustrated that he wasn't listening, I shouted "THIS SIDE, HUNTER!" Now...you might be catching on to why exactly Hunter was not doing as told (do you recall which direction "This Side" refers to?). At this point, Hunter knew what was up and was more than likely thinking to himself "screw you, lady...I ain't doin' that."

Hee-hee...well...I still hadn't caught on and interpreted Hunter's action (or lack of) as disobedience and shouted one last time "THIS - SIDE - HUNTER!!!!" Hunter had to make a choice...face the wrath of an unhappy master or take on the car. He made his decision and swooped LEFT towards the oncoming car. I reacted to his movement with a panicked "HUNTER!!!" and he came back towards me, easily getting out of the way of the car. (Guess this says something about my wrath...he chose to take his chances with the car!!!).

Not a second later, it dawned on me...oh my gosh! I should have been telling him "Over Here" to get him to move to the right! I instantly began apologizing and pampered him with a moment of master-to-dog rump scratching. Hunter flattened his ears in forgiveness and satisfaction and went about his way sniffing and eating snow.

Luckily, the car really wasn't moving fast and slowed down when he saw Hunter's blinky light, so I don't think Hunter was ever really in danger...but it was enough to cause my heart to skip. Hunter Bunter...the smartest dog in the world (and today...smarter than me!).