SAM THE SHEEPDOG

When Dakota came to live with us, I spent a lot of time with him in the mornings. I sat out on the deck while he checked out the yard and his surroundings. So much of the time he loved just sitting on the deck or in the yard looking – at what I'm not sure. But he really concentrated on whatever it was. He reacted to various car engines and his nose was constantly checking out the smells.

One day something jogged my mind and an old image popped into my head. I
used to love a cartoon I think was called "Sam the Sheepdog." This dog
checked in every morning at the time clock and spent the day atop a hill
watching over a herd of sheep while Wilie Coyote tried to outfox him.

Dakota sits on the deck looking exactly like Sam. I cannot help but
smile every time I see him. This is only funny to the folks that watched
that cartoon. The comparison and lovable image just make my day. To see
Dakota daily, watching the squirrels, rabbits, and his chipmunk and then
outfox them is my own daily WB cartoon. It's really quite special and
delicious. My mind can rerun those Sam cartoons but I see Dakota in his
place. I guess you have to have watched Sam the Sheepdog and spend the
days with Dakota to appreciate this lovable pair.