Dogs

After years of research, our conclusion is that a sheltie is a pretty dog--pretty grumpy when all is said and done. We have had our Amazon Sheltie (that is the breed) for well-nigh twelve years now. She is as amiable as a fence post. Make that a splintery fence post. Not that she isn't obedient, she'll do anything I tell her when she is good and ready to do it. The breed is loyal to it's owners purely because they have, in their own little doggy-scientific studies, found that showing the least little bit of loyalty ensures kibble in the bowl at dinner time. Had that study proved inconclusive, loyalty would have been out the window. In all fairness, "The 'Tude" is a beautiful dog. Again, pointing to the intelligence of the breed, she also knows this and flaunts it as she deems necessary...unless you happen to be a male dog and showing interest in her feminine wiles. Should some cur find himself sniffing her daisies, he will quickly find that her teeth have had an intimate encounter with his muzzle, neck and ear all before he can come up with his lame pick-up line. Her pulchritude has been commented on by many and caused consternation to not a few small male dogs.

The other breed we have encountered on our trek through the doggie kingdom is the Rough Collie, also known as Lassie, or in our case, Forrest Gump. Our collie, again a pretty dog to look at, has no more intelligence under the hood than your typical 45-pound plate found in any local gym. She is a boomerang dog, as we call it, sure to come back to you. We are split on whether or not that is a good thing. "The Box of Rox", as we call her, is a Good-Time Charlene, in a manner of speaking. She knows no enemies and would have certainly littered 50 times in her short 6 years had we not had the forethought to cut out the production lines. Yes, she makes her rounds (the herding instinct) and she gets around (a different instinct altogether). All in all, a fine canine, provided you don't ask much of her, she is a great comfort to Gayle. Mostly as a pillow, but Gayle also enjoys her conversations with the collie, which can go on for minutes, as long as Gayle doesn't use any big words.