Add one more to the big dog column. Growing up the smallest dog we had was a beagle--who are big dogs trapped in small bodies!--but the rest were boxers, huskies and my baby, a Lab/Irish Setter/Shepherd/Husky mix who looked like a huge black Irish Setter with muscles. Actually, she looked a lot like a Flat Coat Retriver, but more feathery and pretty like a setter. She broke my heart and passed away in May 99 at the age of 12. My dad was so lost that I went with him doen to the shelter and picked him out a black lab/pit mix who he named Sammy and is just a doll. They guessed he was about 7 months old but that it was hard to really tell because he was so malnourished. That little scrawny 32 pounder had become a big, strong 80 pounder after a year of love anbd kindness.

As soon as my husband and I get a house--knock on wood next fall--our first order of business is adopting a big slobbery dog of our own.