Walking in the deep woods with Gus, I could see the challenge of the small. Much of the ground is covered in leafy ferns, they are about eye level for him, and the brush is constantly scraping against his face. When he can, he hops up to higher ground for a better – and easier – view.

Gus also likes being photographed, like all my dogs, and that is no accident. Sitting up there on the very old rock wall, Gus looked curiously at home, I almost thought he was posing for a calendar photo.