Smokey is always happy to meet new people and animals, including horses. Photo contributed
We have a 10-year-old toy poodle by the name of Smokey. He is the smartest, nicest dog you'll ever meet. Our neighbors agree. We raised Smokey to be a hunting dog; starting with little lizards when we lived in Florida. When we moved back to Virginia, he started chasing chipmunks, squirrels and deer. Smokey is always outside, always walking, always chasing something. When he sees one of the neighbors or another dog, his tail starts wagging, he's happy and he goes to everyone and says hi. When the kids in the neighborhood are in the street playing and Smoky is walking by, the kids stop whatever they're doing and run to Smoky just to pet him. He brings happiness to everyone and only wants love in return. Which he gets.
When he wants to go outside, he'll come up to me and if I'm watching TV or reading a book, he'll tap me on the shoulder or on the leg and let me know that he wants to go outside. He's very very smart and he's very very loving.
When I get to the Metro station in Reston after work, I text my wife and when Smokey hears the ding of the text; he goes up to the window to look for me. Sometimes, my wife lets him out and he sits outside waiting for me to come home. When I drive up, he runs up to me and licks me all over my face, jumps up and down and rolls over to get his belly rubbed. He follows this routine every single day, rain or shine.