Are you a dog, cat, exotic or no pet person?

[JWags85]

Her sister has a 5-pound Italian Greyhound. That's not a dog; it's a giant rat that shakes like it's had one too many double espressos. My wife's niece was over and playing with our last cat and said "I wish I had a pet I could do something with like your cat. My dog is boring."

That's kind of bizarre honestly.  I can think of many reasons people might not care for them but I'd never think boring.  My sister has an Iggy and its almost got too much personality.  She will periodically stay with my parents in Florida for a few weeks if my sister has work travel or trips and she's the star of the dog walking/dog playing set of the neighborhood.  Loves fetch, loves games, needs to meet and greet every human and dog, etc...  My sister goes to a few Iggy meet ups in NYC and most of them are similar.  I mean, they are sighthounds bred to hunt rabbits.  They can absolutely JET, pretty funny to watch in an open field.  They aren't some rat dog in the toy category that does nothing but sit.  But I guess there are duds in every breed, YMMV.

The shaking thing is spot on though.  Its an ongoing joke with her.  "Oh Blu is shaking, what is it this time?"  Cause it could be actual cold, or anxious, or need to go to the bathroom...but usually its cause she knows shaking makes people pay attention to her and she needs to be the center of attention.

[Scoop Snoop]

My wife and I saw the movie The Friend last week, starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and Apollo, a 150 lb. Great Dane. Of course, being an aficionado of the breed was enough to make me want to see the movie even though I expected the movie would be a bit fluffy and with humor that would likely be silly at times.

The film was much deeper than I expected, delving into grief and the interrelationship between human and dog in experiencing their grief. I thought Apollo stole the show just by exhibiting his pure, simple grasp of life. Humans sometimes need therapists or psychiatrists to get through difficult times partly, I think, because they immensely complicate matters rather than focusing on the basics. And that is where dogs are great teachers.

Near the end, Iris (Watts) and Apollo are vacationing in a simple, no-frills waterfront cabin rather than NYC, which is where most of the movie takes place. I think that if Apollo could have communicated his thoughts of a place to stay at for a while, this would be it. It was the perfect final setting for the movie.

Edit: I think this is an important note to add, and I do not think it qualifies as a spoiler. The subject of suicide and the effect it has on the friends and family of the suicide is front and center. I would be remiss to not alert you, should you be dealing with the subject somehow. I thought it was handled exceptionally well, but....be aware.