Sorry Steve, but your last post is making me laugh at the thought of you quivering with fear while the huge dog kept its beady eye on you! :)

I like all animals, and have always wanted a dog. However, I'm not strong enough now to provide all the exercise a dog needs, and it wouldn't be fair. (Our cats exercise themselves)

Not long ago, we took in a lovely cocker spaniel for the weekend when her owners (a rather hard-nosed South African family whose house we used to clean) told us they intended to just shut her in their tiny yard with food and water while they were away. We felt this was cruel, so they let us have her for the two days. It was lovely and she was so affectionate and loving. But I found it hard walking her morning and evening for miles. My husband did the second day's 'duty'. When we took her back we were very sad and missed her. But it showed us we aren't really up to having a dog at our time of life. I still think of her. They went back to SA and gave the dog to a British couple they knew. I hope she's happy with them.