Dog Gone It

"WHERE'S VICTOR BORGE? I WANT TO PLAY."

Peggy wants a dog for Christmas. She says she wants the pet to keep ME company (aka keep ME busy) when she is not around. She pretends to be flexible on the breed, but let me list some parameters that OUGHT to influence her subtle choice.

With some mild hyperbole, let me say our backyard is about 10 x 10, and I'm not talking acres here. We have dogs to the left of us and dogs to the right of us. We have fairly high north and south fences. To the west? Barbed wire, followed by open space, followed by a new major thoroughfare.

Now here's another wrinkle I think should be considered. While I have at least three different cultures mixed into my DNA, at least one of them, enhanced by my surname, is Norwegian. So what appears to be Peggy's primary canine choice? Can you guess?

Would it be Great Dane? I'm not finding any research that shows the Danes and Norwegians to be particularly chummy with each other.

While the Great Dane's disposition ranks among the friendliest of the species, there is evidence they can raise a ruckus among other beasts of kind.

And sure, there is literature citing the Great Dane to be perfectly comfortable cuddling up in your lap (overwhelming your lap).

However, there is ample incidental evidence telling us any gentle Great Dane leap over barbed wire could not only result in great calamity? Is could also certainly lead to the this lesser Scandinavian breed crawling up into just about any lap it finds.

But I'm not going to be Scrooge here. Besides if Peggy decides she's going to have something?

Been there?

However, there is one sticking point I am going to insist on. She (Peggy) must promise to read Marmaduke every single day between now and Christmas Eve. Wish me luck! Or not!