A couple of weeks ago, I
had my 36th birthday.

Like every birthday in the
past, my husband asked what |
would like to have. As per
usual, { responded by batting
my eyelashes a few times and
asking hopefully, “Another
puppy?” He responded, as per
usual, by rolling his eves and
saving, “How about a bou-
quet of flowers and a nice din-
ner out instead.”

No matter how much |
hate to admit it, he’s right.
Bringing a third dog inte our
house would be a bit much.
But for those people who have
the time and the space to
devote to a second or even a
third dog, there is lots to con-
sider.

Most obvious -— and often
given the least thought — is
the cost, financially. Food, vet-
erinary care and training share
equal importance when adding
another canine family member.
If an owner can budget for
these expenses, they won’r be
caught off guard when the
middle of the month comes
along and the food bag is
empty or Fido needs his/her
shots. And, let’s not forget the
cost of replacement goods
which may fall victim to canine
demolition derbies when the
dogs are left alone.

Do those demolition der-
bies happen with adult dogs? I
came home the other day to
find the mattress pushed off
the bed, the blankets dragged
into the kitchen and the vase,
which held my flowers, lying
sideways on the coffee table.

This was a rare incident,
and I figured out what caused
it (they were left alone unusu-
ally long.) Although they had
each other, they were stil]
lonely for me. Some owners
may be hoping that they can
leave the dogs alone for longer
periods of time during the day
if there are two instead of one.
This doesn’t always work. The
dogs can keep each other
company but they still need us
humans to take care of their
needs. They can get in twice as
much trouble when they have -
not been exercised enough, or
don’t get esiough interaction

BUYING A
GP TOYOTA

Tyler Smith
Offers Internet prices to
the public. Buy or Lease

trade-ins accepted
“Cell: 644-4848
Home: 926- 5212

——PETS

A cautionary tale of two dogs

Joan
{lucha

canine
connection

with their family members.
If a second dog is a com-
panion fo the first, it is still
very important to work with
cach dog independent of cach
other. The dogs should be
walked and trained separately
as well as together. Each dog

should also be left alone at
home for short periods, so
they feel comfortable being by
themselves. If the dogs are
always together, they may
develop a form of separation
anxiety from each other, when
one dog has to leave unexpect-
edly. All this separate training
takes extra time, so consider
that as well.

f generally do not recom-
mend that a dog owner get
two dogs at once, The
patience needed to raise and
train nwo new dogs is doubled.

do suggest that an owner
wait unul they have had their
current dog tor at a year
and a half. That is when the

@ Cat Spelled Backwards Doesn't Spell God,
by Jeff Selis. Chronicle Books, $12.95 US.

Terry Peters
Contributing Writer

WHEN Jeff Selis entered the Slime
Mold Contest, put on by his
employer Wieden & Kennedy, a
Portland advertising company, his

Binky,”

bonding and training needed
for an adopted pup, or adult
dog, will have been achieved
and the most frustrating stages
of canine develapment and
behaviour are over.

Regarding the sex of a sec-
ond dog, it is suggested to
adopt a dog of the opposite
sex from vour first. Canine
male-female relationships are
usually more harmonious.
Two dogs of the same sex
tend to have disagreements
more often (this 1s nor written
in stone).

As for my birthday wish,
maybe PH hold off until the
big 4-0. He cam 't say “No” to
me then!

and others more in-depth, like the
description of the cover dog, “Geroninio —
Call him Joe for short but, please, don't call

im short. Joe has a serious Htde man’s com-
him short. Joe has a serious litte man’s com

plex.”

Selis’ comments bring us closer to each

dream was to publish a book

on dogs.

To his surprise, he won and received
the grant designed to encourage
employees to realize their creative
potental. The result is this delightful

book on dogs.

Selis has photographed a variety of
dogs, in colour and black & white,
trom tiny Boston terriers to enormous
Irish wolfhounds. His love for the ani-
mals is apparent in the relaxed expres-

sions they show

to the

camera.

Accompanying the photos are a variety
of writings, some as simple as “Binky

loves Bongo”

and “Bongo loves

dog’s personality and in doing so, make us feel
better about ail dogs.

Wonderful) photographs and warm pas-
sages combine to make a book every dog lover
will want to look at over and over again.

‘It's worth, ie

er

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