Thirty-five thousand years ago - before dog became man's best friend - wolves traversed the wild. They climbed mountains and crossed rivers, traveling dozens of miles every day.
Today, my apartment-dwelling dachshund-mix spends most of his time comfortably propped on a stack of pillows, chin resting on the windowsill. But when he sees a squirrel scurry up a telephone pole, he leaves his cushy spot and comes to stand at my feet.
"Outside?" his black eyes seem to ask.
That primal urge to explore is in a dog's DNA. Some pets are just more tapped into it than others. While my dog is content with a walk around the block, other dogs yearn for more extreme activities.
This month, we meet three local pups whose adventurous spirits are a reflection of their ancient ancestors. And lucky for them, they have human counterparts who are happy to indulge their inner wolves.
PTSD service dog Polly wears a custom climbing vest at Eagle's Nest on Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Owner Erich Bell, who served in both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, takes Polly with him on adventure sports like caving and kayaking.Polly
Breed: Standard Chihuahua
Hobbies: Caving, rappelling, whitewater paddling
Longest distance rappelled: 180 feet
Age: 8
Adventure partner: Erich Bell
Polly is not a pet. She is a professional. And her job is to be there for her person, Erich Bell, a war veteran who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury. As a service dog, Polly is poised and perceptive. But as a pup, she loves a good butt scratch.
She's lucky to have been paired up with a person who shares her same passion: extreme sports.
"The rule is if she wags her tail, we keep doing it. If she tucks her tail, we stop," Bell says.
More often than not, those outdoor adventures seem to have the same soothing effect on both Bell and Polly.
"Compared to everyday life, I find them very calming," Bell says of his thrill-seeking sports. At his hip, Polly serenely hangs from her custom-made, fleece-lined harness.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 3/15/17. Greg Foster and his dog Duke prepare for a hike near the Five Points Trailhead on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. For Get Out Chattanooga Magazine.Duke
Breed: Australian Kelpie
Hobbies: Backpacking, playing fetch, mountain-biking
Accolades: Honoree at Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park recent voluneer appreciation dinner
Age: 3
Adventure partner: Greg Foster
Tail wagging, Duke bounds across Five-Points parking lot, collecting sticks to pile at the feet of Greg Foster, his human companion. Duke has two speeds, Foster says: "dead-stop and wide open."
For such a young pup, Duke also has an impressive resume - fetching skills included. He is supervisor of all Foster's trail maintenance projects, and last year, he ran for president of the United States. Duke announced his candidacy in a North Georgia online newspaper, The Dade Planet. His campaign slogan was "Yes we can(nine)!"
Duke wasn't disappointed by his loss, Foster says. He is happiest on the trails. But don't mistake that wagging tail for weakness. Duke once contended with a black bear and still wears the reminder: a scar across his forehead and a tear in one ear.
"He likes them," says Foster, regarding the scars. "It gives him something to talk to girls about when he goes to the brewery."
Lovie poses in a kayak in Coolidge Park near the Tennessee River Tuesday, March 14, 2017.Lovie
Breed: Papillon
Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking
Most exciting wildlife sightings: Alligators and monkeys while paddling in Silver Springs, Florida. (Lovie thought the monkeys were hilarious, the alligators not so much.)
Age: 9
Adventure partner: Rosemary "Hook" Hill
Weighing all of 7 pounds, Lovie appears even smaller in the cab of the Ford-150 pickup truck her adventure partner, Rosemary "Hook" Hill, drives. As Hill unloads the kayak from the back of the truck, Lovie bounces from window to window. Across the windshield, a large, thick-fonted decal reads "SHUT UP & PADDLE."
Lovie was supposed to be a show dog, but during her first event, Lovie made it clear: She was not that kind of girl.
Soon after, Lovie traded the stage for the outdoors. Her favorite pastime is kayaking, and she is an honorary member of the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club.
She likes to ride with her paws on the cockpit rim, ears flapping in the breeze.
But as much as Lovie loves being on the water, shes does not love being in water.
"Oh no, no swimming," Hill says. "Lovie is too sweet to get wet."