made me chuckle

http://www.unshelved.com/archive.aspx?strip=20020407

I don't always agree with him, but I'm a big fan of Toles:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?...

More? This Modern World

http://www.workingassetsblog.com/2007/09/an_enduring_relationship.html

Very good. Me, too, I'm going to go bang my head against....well, maybe not a wall, maybe the side of my dog. Ya, that'll do it for me.

What does your dog think of this? :)

she loves it when I play fight with her, nobody else will.

Just make sure you always win, especially if your dog gets serious. It's not necessary to humiliate the dog, just not let it get the idea it can beat you.

When my dog was younger (she's fourteen now) we used to play fight all the time, but it was me that always ended it.

Remember, dogs are not four legged little people. This is one of the most important lessons a dog owner can learn. In fact one should not even be a dog owner without being able to relate to the dog as the dog relates to them. As sad as it may seem dogs are not children, they are dogs.

The dog is always last in the pecking order in a household, otherwise there will be trouble. Love the dog as much as you can, don't let it think it is the boss of anyone.

After saying that I must say it was not aimed at anyone in particular, especially not maggie1944, but at all would be dog owners. One of the most important things a dog owner can do is study the different kinds of dogs, select the kind you want, study up on that one and go for it.

Remember also, there are city dogs and country dogs, don't get a country dog and expect it to do well cooped up in a house or apartment all day. However, most dogs do well in the country.

Dogs are not living toys for children, although many dogs will allow especially young children to be pretty rough with them. They are dogs with their own needs, desires, talents, skills, and behaviors. Learn them and work them.

I thought dogs were to pull sleds.

Ha Ha, very funny. How would you like it if I came to one of your sermons and started making jokes about it, HuH?

As much as I'd love see my 16 lb Cavalier King Charles Spaniels harnessed to a sled, I think they have other purposes... but I'm not what those other purposes are.

>10 dchaikin:, I think their purpose is to have the world's coolest ears.

I will second the opinion that it is very important to treat dogs as dogs. I picked very carefully my miniature schnauzers. They need exercise, entertainment, good food, and companionship. Me, too. We three get along very well and seldom do I have to put the boss hat on, but I know where it is.

A little roughhousing is good, but they both know that I am not going to let them hurt me, and I am not going to hurt them. My eldest, who is a rescue dog, was mishandled and has some fear issues. He can act quite grouchy when he is afraid but he also knows that does not impress me. He has never hurt me. And he knows "no" very well. An important word I do not over use. When I use it, I use it forcefully. And that works.

No harm meant. My dogs are sled dogs, and I bristle sometimes at well meaning, but ill-informed people who berate others for "torturing those poor animals by hooking them up to a sled."

I would love to put that person on a sled, and say, "If you can STOP them from pulling within half a mile of saying 'Hike!' (we dont say 'mush') you can have the dogs." I have rarely seen such joy as seeing dogs pull their sled.