This is interesting because my co-worker and I were just talking about this very subject yesterday. She is 44 years old and got her very first dog 12 years ago, a sheltie named Brandy. She said Brandy was the best thing she ever spent money on for all of the love and companionship over the years and can't believe she waited to own a dog. (She had always been a cat person). Brandy has some minor health problems now but Barb said that when the day comes that Brandy must leave her she will be out very quickly getting another dog. She said the thought of coming home to a house without a dog to welcome her at the door is just devastating.

I have always had a dog in the house, ever since I was an infant. There was only a 3 year time span when I didn't and that was after my Ashley left for the Rainbow Bridge in 1998 and Bella came to live with us in 2001. Hubby was so devastated at the loss of Ashley (and also Whitney who died two years prior to Ashley) that he said he didn't want to ever have to go through the grief again so *no more dogs.* I had my kitties in that three year period to carry me through but I missed so much having a dog as well.

One day I visited a breeder without my hubby knowing it. I called him at work and said I was at that moment holding a standard poodle puppy on my lap and asked if I could bring her home. He said yes. Sometimes one just has to 'take the bull by the horns.' Anna I think if you and Mark are in agreement that now is the time, by all means go ahead. If not, just cuddle sweet Roxey and Huney all the more or sneak off to a breeder or shelter by yourself. (only kidding!)

When I selected Bella I particularly didn't want to get another black standard. My Whitney had been a black standard, and it wasn't so much a feeling that I would be "replacing" Whitney but that I knew I would probably wind up calling my new pup Whitney occasionally just through habit. That is why Bella is white! Sorry to be so wordy!