For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 09, 2018

Unless Elly and John are going to some kind of dog-friendly place, then we are looking one of those “leave your dog in the car” moments. Maybe you could do that in 1989 when this comic strip was originally published, but these days you can get into real trouble that way. There are people who will break a car’s windows and take the dog out and call the police on you.

and tether the pup to a pole (or tree)

Easy for John to say, he just sat there and didn’t help get Farley out of the car, just left it to Elly.

Love Farley’s face in the last panel!

The ONLY time I ever took any pet “shopping” with me: I was in my late teens, graduated & working full time. My parents were away & my younger brother was staying with a friend (my older siblings were all out of the house) so I had the house to myself…just me & my brother’s Spaniel, Benji. I wanted to run to the store to get something for dinner. Benji did NOT want to be alone, so I let him come with me. However, it was early evening & cool outside, I was literally only getting ONE thing, and I did not loiter.

Say the word “Vet”.

Here in Flagstaff most stores (except stores that have or serve food) welcome dogs. Tasha’s favorite stores are the pet food store and the hardware stores. The hardware greeter has a jar of dog treats beside him. She sheds mercilessly (German Shepherd, you know) so we keep her away from clothes or furniture stores.

we have screens on our windows so that we can roll them all the way down. We still don’t leave our dogs in the car if we can’t keep an eye on things. There are crazies out there that will do unthinkable things. In the meantime it looks like Farley needs some more training and less spoiling (says the lady who will be leaving the house and keeping Animal Planet on the t.v. for the dogs)

John is absolutely correct. We had a cat that found its way to the roof and meowed loudly outside my son’s window every night until he let her in. My son hated it – it woke him up – but didn’t know what to do. The answer was to live through it one night without giving in and opening the window. Last time the cat tried it.

Hey! It’s the only way, he’ll see the outer world. Unless, you want him to roam around.

The same is true for children. Don’t let them get away with things and they won’t do them anymore.

My dog Boomer bursts out the door and waits for me to keybob the door open for him, then hops in the shotgun seat. My other dog, Bear, 100 #Lab has no interest in going for a ride.

This is so familiar, not the car bit (we don’t own one) but the “giving in” bit. The monster on the left rules this house. The humans make stern sounds but she just gives the canine equivalent of a horse laugh. And gets a biscuit. Still, she’s fifteen and well loved.

Easy. Just take him to the vet every time.

If you don’t/won’t/can’t control a dog, it shouldn’t be running around loose. And I seriously question whether you should be owning one AT ALL.

This would be our first Lab Alex also, he loved going in the car!

How dumb can you be? Why try starting to go somewhere in the car before you have the dog in the house to begin with.

I’m pretty good at that too.

Let a dog (or a kid, for that matter) get away with something three times and you’ve taught them to do it.

Here Farl…wanna go to the vet…and get some shots?

Love Farleys ear raise