DOGS AT CAMP, pooches herding pesky geese, canines and their owners romping around agility courses: these are among the topics in this jam-packed theme issue. Acreage Life has gone to the dogs! We believe life is doggone good in the country. To us, no rural home is complete without pets, especially a dog or two to keep watch and provide companionship. They enrich our lives, offer unconditional love, and occasionally do crazy things that make us laugh. Each of the dogs I've known has had a unique character. First was Casey, a Scottish Terrier. When my parents were making the move to my grandparents' farm, they left Casey at the farm overnight. Since he'd visited there a few times, they figured he'd stay put. Wrong. At daylight, he was waiting outside the city house. He'd trotted 15 miles on his short legs through countryside and city streets to rejoin his family. Later we had Laddie, a Collie; Prince, a Border Collie; and a series of Yellow Labrador Retrievers that we named, inexplicably, either Duke or Chief. All were patient, lovable sidekicks, happy to plant themselves atop the heat register in the kitchen while family life whirled around them. We acquired Susie, a gorgeous, golden-eyed Weimeraner, because her owners were moving and couldn't keep her. It took us awhile to teach her English - she was used to Ukrainian conversation. She loved playing outside, leaping to catch snowballs in her mouth. Dublin, an Irish Setter, had a huge heart. Our numerous cats adored him, and would cuddle up to him in his dog house on a cool day. He often chased after rabbits and lost his bearings. Fortunately, our number was on his dog tag: it was not unusual for someone to find him miles away and phone us to pick him up. Once, Dublin had been missing for a few days when a neighbour reported seeing a red dog stranded on a tiny island in a water-filled gravel pit. Who knows why Dublin wandered there and stayed. My father made a shaky raft of plywood atop an inner tube, and set out to rescue him. Dad didn't swim and Dublin was big and excitable, but they both got home safely. My husband and I have had our Springer Spaniel, Tasha, for more than a decade, and we love her gentle spirit. A true water dog, she frequents every slough around and totes back souvenirs. Once she brought a sora rail home carefully in her soft mouth. The bird was so shocked it just stood beside the proud dog at the doorstep. (We scooped it up and released it in the field.) Another "present" was a dead muskrat. Gee, you shouldn't have. Really. Since Tasha is now largely deaf, I've resorted to high-pitched shrieks to get her attention. (I'm sure this gets the neighbours' attention, too.) It's amazing how well our pets can train us. Wendel Clark's family has a dog too, of course. For his cover story on the NHL legend and his fabulous private hockey arena on an Ontario acreage (page 34) photojournalist Michael Raine captured the Portuguese Water Dog skidding around the ice. We'd love for you to share photos of your pets with us. Enter our Precious Pets 2008 photo contest, for a chance to win cash prizes and future publication in the magazine. See all the details here. Check out Sheila's new blog, here.