The Rockies is an amazing backdrop to Merle’s outcome due to Ted Kerasote creating the novel into a love story between an owner and his dog. The Rockies provides a breathtaking scenic setting for Ted and Merle to experience together. It administers the perfect place for Merle to drive out his instincts. “After sleeping on it for a few nights, I reluctantly bought a choke collar, slipped it over Merle’s head, and set out on the same two-track where we’d found the cattle. As luck would have it, they were still nearby, and Merle, despite having been rolled over by his supposed alpha, took off after them as if he remembered nothing” (57). Kerasote gains a unique view on Merle’s instincts through this wonderful
