It can be hard to tell, when Jackie and Jillie become excited and break out into frenzied, high-pitched barks if they're alarmed or simply anxious to greet friends somewhere in the distance whose presence they can detect far sooner than our eyes can make them out. They scampered excitedly ahead of us when we had just embarked on our afternoon hike in the woods yesterday, exclaiming their anticipation and eventually we discovered why.

Of the two Irish setters -- beautiful beasts with red burnished haircoats that shimmer in the sun -- that a ravine acquaintance walks through the woods on occasion, one has a habit that has proven very difficult to discourage; that of leaping upon the first person he sees. The older female never indulges in such ungentlemanly behaviour, but her younger male companion will, and does frequently.It can be a real problem in the winter months ascending and descending icy trails. Our friend is quick to call him back, and her anxiety level over this penchant for knocking people off kilter is palpable, but the message doesn't seem to penetrate.

Yesterday it wasn't either of us that he leaped on but another woman walking a little Scottish terrier that was fearful of entering the Irish setter's space. It's amusing, really, a kind of throwback to Scots and Irish and Brits coming to blows over which of them will command the greatest influence over the others. We'd never before seen anyone as beset by this large, muscular dog as the  young woman walking the terrier whom we'd never before seen. As the dog persisted, continually leaping up at her, she kept her cool and tried to reason with the dog, even while its own human continually called to him from the hill above.

Eventually he loped off, the woman calling down her apologies from her perch, and off they went while we spoke briefly to the younger woman as her little white terrier eventually overcame its hesitation and joined us. And then proceeded to do with me what the large dog had done to its mistress. Heavier than Jackie and Jillie, albeit shorter, his nails dug into my knitted trousers and there was acute discomfort. Dogs will be dogs; this little fellow like its larger counterpart paid no heed to commands not to leap up on people. It's an order that Jillie is very familiar with. For all the good it does in stemming their enthusiasm.

But everyone was happy because little treats went the rounds, the dispension of which obviously enough spurred the little terrier to more anticipatory leaps at me and sharp pinpricks of transitory discomfort needling my legs.

It was a bright, sunny day, but winter-cold with a high of 4C, and a blasting wind. But beautiful, withal, and good enough reason for all of us to be out there in the forest, meandering along the trails, enjoying the landscape and the freedom of movement for humans and doggy companions alike.