For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 29, 2011

“In the garage” won’t work. When he starts whining you’ll start feeling guilty and sorry for him because he feels so bad.

Farley’s not a bad dog. And he didn’t “run away”. He wasn’t neutered and he was following the call of nature. Actually, not much different than the way a lot of young men act, and a lot of older ones too.

He should have been neutered so the “desire” wouldn’t have been there to lead him off into whatever adventures he encountered.

Just be glad he’s home safely and give him lots of love and affirmations.

luckylouie, If you are correct, the Humaine Society or the Right to Lifers must be contacted at once.

Poor Farley! I’d be jumping for joy and so happy that he was found!

I also hope Jan is talking about large breed dogs, and not her human children!!! “And if you were anyone else, I’d demand an apology” … Farley looks like he’s’ cringing and saying “thank God I’m a dog!”

Amen…Farley has just had his day, as every dog should.

Actually I was talking about my cats.

Scolding a dog AFTER he’s run away is useless. He’s just going to think coming back is bad. Dogs ain’t people. One aspect of English they will never grasp is the past tense.And yes, fer goshsakes, neuter your pets! Even if it doesn’t keep a male dog from wandering, it keeps so many unwanted animals away from shelters and euthanasia!

FARLEY SHOULD PUT LEASH ON IN THE CARAGE..AHAHA….

the way she wrote it, so was I.

Dogs generally don’t understand being disciplined “after the fact.” Farley probably has no idea why Elly is mad at him. Positive reinforcement of good behavior is effective with dogs, because they live “in the moment.” Hugs and praise for his being home is a better response at this point.All of our Shelties were trained to voice commands and one to hand signals. They were sometimes scolded, but never struck. All were neutered males. Only one tended to wander. Once off our property, if he had left on his own, he was difficult to catch. We did convince him not to wander by shouting and chasing him home. As soon as he was back on our property, he was hugged and praised.

Re neutering won’t stop a dog from chasing females: We used to have a saying, when someone was faced with a nearly impossible task: “You can make like a steer and try!”

You know the dog is part of the family when he’s scolded like a child.

A furry, quadrapedic, can’t-speak-English-to-save-his-soul child.

If I started this “neutered” discussion with my question Saturday, I profusely apologize.

Dogs don’t run away to be bad. They just do what comes naturally. So do cats. I’d be happy to see my pet again.

But this strip has it’s funny moments too, such as the look on Farley’s face in the last panel. Even he thinks Ellie has gone too far.