Playgroup started the way it often does at our house.
With Bear committing a crime.
The backyard was barely settled when Bear spotted Summer’s ball. Not just any ball. Her ball. The one she had carefully marked with just enough slobber to make it unmistakably hers.
Naturally, Bear stole it.
Off he went across the yard, looping behind the greenhouses like a furry comet with Summer racing after him. This is Bear’s favorite sport. He is not interested in taking ownership of the ball. He is interested in owning the chase.
Summer, being an extremely intelligent dog, immediately identifies the correct ball among the two yellow ones I hand out. Within seconds, she has claimed the one that’s hers.
Which, of course, confirms to Bear that he must steal it again.
The video shows him tearing across the grass, ears flying, tail up, Summer close behind.
At one point, he runs straight toward me, pauses dramatically, and collapses into the grass as if to say:
“Whew. That was exhausting.”
Then just as suddenly, he springs back up and charges off again toward Anthony and Summer, the game far from over.
Eventually, all great athletic competitions must pause for refreshments.
Inside the family room, the athletes are rewarded with kibble treats and a special snack. Peanut butter cake made for the dogs and topped with banana ice cream. Not the human kind of ice cream. The kind that says, “Yes, I am a very spoiled dog, and I accept this as my normal standard of living.”
After the snack break, the wrestling resumes.
Anthony plays with both dogs while they tumble and bounce through the room, each taking turns being the champion and the challenger. One especially sweet moment shows them sitting together facing me.
Summer is in front, panting happily after her efforts.
Bear sits just behind her, calm for a moment, watching the world like a slightly larger golden shadow.
The video ends the same way it began.
Bear is running toward me with a yellow ball in his mouth.
Summer is close behind.
Two tired dogs. Two happy dogs. And a backyard that had been quiet all week finally filled again with the joyful noise of play.
A Small Reflection from Mom
Today was a playgroup day.
Bear and Summer ran, wrestled, stole balls from each other, and devoured their peanut butter cake like the athletes they believed themselves to be.
