Is your dog afraid of thunder storms?

[Cocker*Lover]

My dogs are not afraid of them...

[QueenVee]

Dear Cocker-Lover:

Oh, my god, look at all those cockerspaniels. Are they all yours? The handsome blonde fellow in the upper left-hand corner is the SPITTING IMAGE of my cockerspaniel, Ben. Ben lived to the ripe old age of 16; I had to euthenize him about 6 months ago after he suffered a stroke. It was very hard.

He was a great dog, fearless and adventurous, and went everywhere with me -- I was able to take him to the office with me everyday, and he routinely rode the subway and streetcars around Toronto, and was a famous character in my neighbourhood. Everyone knew his name, and used to call me "Mrs. Ben". At the summer cottage he used to love to balance himself on the front of our power boat as it rode across the bay, ears flapping in the wind. Though he always wore a little lifejacket, he never once lost his footing and fell in; but that wouldn't have been a problem, because he was a great swimmer and loved the water. Long after we sold the cottage, and Ben became quite elderly, he still liked to go for a swim in the children's pool at our local park. He thoroughly enjoyed his life right up until the end.

Thanks for letting me reminisce. I think I'll go and have a little cry now....

[Toby's Mommy]

My dog Boo Boo is very afraid of thunder storms I don't know if Toby is or not.