It's a really good neighbor

who will keep your dog for you! Or maybe it means that you yourself are a good neighbor. . . or that it is an especially good dog.

The neighbors ARE keeping the Australian Shepherd so that means my sister won't get here til Sunday. (They are going to visit their son and his wife first, and then come here.)

But speaking of dogs, I ought to mention that I have a really amazing, elderly Pug - named MacTavish. He will be 14 this year and is taking advantage of his great age by sleeping as late as he pleases. He tells me that Age has its privileges. (Yes, he talks, though not with sound. He talks with his eyes.)

In 1993, I was thinking of getting a dog. Since even then, I would often sleep late and not hear my alarms. I thought a dog would wake me up in the mornings, so began the search. My sister lived here (in this town) then and one morning we were having coffee and looking at the ads in the paper. There was an ad for pug puppies not too far away, out in Fredonia. She knew how to get there, so we went. It was a rural area and there were a lot of dogs running around. On the porch stood the mother pug, looking a bit weary but majestic, all the same. We were led into the kitchen to see the last puppy. All the others had been chosen except this one. A little male, fawn with black face and ears. He did not run right up to us, but stood there on his firm little legs and looked at me. He seemed to be thinking about it.

We told the owner I'd have to think about it, and we went back to the car. It was a coldish day in December. My sister started the car and I said "Wait!" -- What's there to think about?

and went back in for the pup.

Well, we've been getting along pretty well for 13 + years. I took him to school three times and he loved it. He learned to walk on the lead, to sit, stand and down, but "stay" was a problem.

He was so tiny and the school had many big dogs. He wasnt afraid of them, but neither did he like them much.

He's still that way. Doesn't care much for other dogs, but is neither agressive nor submissive. He just looks at them and keeps his distance.

MacTavish never has waked me up in the mornings. Never. He sleeps later than I do. And he only learned to bark last year. Well, sort of a bark. A loud noise anyway. He used to be a very quiet dog, but now gets loud if he doesn't get his food on time.

We watch The Dog Whisperer religiously, and we've both learned a great deal from that program. Mostly me. MacT just looks at me and says "I told you so."