Sam of the autumn

Sam, my dog, loves the fall. He is a 65 pound German Shepherd-something mix. He has a rather bushy, blonde coat and the summer months are really hot for him here. He will romp outside for a bit and then come in the house, completely wiped out, and sleep on the kitchen floor for hours.

Now that the cool weather is approaching, he knows it. He scratches at the back door as if his need to get outside is life or death. I let him out, thinking that he has urgent bathroom needs, but no....he runs around the yard like a meth addict. He takes a seat in the grass, turns his nose upwards toward the sky and sniffs as if he is trying to suck in the stratosphere. This is the time of year that is perfect for him, he can play outside sporting his coat, au natural. At the beginning of the warm months, I get him a summer haircut, which basically means I have him shaved. He always seems a bit embarrassed by it, I think it makes him look youthful. Here he is with the short cut: