bonny, if you need a canine witness, just ask my Andy -- he says that rainy and gross is WAY more worrisome than cold weather.

(More seriously, I'm so happy to see the doggy lama thing taking off for you!)

So, (not that it isn't cute, but) do we think the elephant can actually paint, aka recreate its surroundings, or that it's learned a trick, like putting a hat on a human?

I read years ago about a zoo elephant with behavioral problems that was given paints as a sort of therapy. They thought she was just playing with the paints until firefighters responded to an alarm at the zoo, and several hours later she painted a long red area (like the fire engine) with little black streaks (like the firefighters' uniforms) arranged around it. It was crude, but pretty clear she understood that she was painting a representation of something she'd seen earlier.

Apparently elephants doodle in the dirt with sticks on their own. Most of the elephant art I've seen is less representational than the drawings of elephants, though.

Bonny, I don't want to be like one of those people who, when they meet a doctor at a dinner party, start rattling off a list of symptoms, requesting a free diagnosis, BUT...

(You knew there'd be a but, right?)

Is there a supplement or a natural remedy, or even a dietary adjustment that's good for a dog who's always very nervous and high-strung?

Chloe, the dalmatian, is a very nervous dog. She shivers all the time, even in the summer, and that, combined with her tendency to bark at the slightest provocation, makes us think she's just high-strung and needs to chill. But we don't want to give her pharmaceutical remedies unless it's absolutely necessary.

But is there a doggie kava kava, or valerian root, or something similar?

Oh, and thank you.

I've never met a dalmatian who wasn't a bundle of nerves - I think it may be something about the breed.

I had a roommate with a dalmatian once. Stupidest dogs evah...gah.

I hope it's a trick. Just because I'm not ready to share space with too much sentience

OMG, that was kind what I was thinking. I was creeped out by the implications of sentient elephants (and started feeling incredibly guilty about them)

I would like Allyson's dinner. Mine was edamame, with bacon salt on top.

Unfortunately, that's been my experience too. Which doesn't mean there's no way to zen her out a bit. Hopefully.

I had a roommate with a dalmatian once. Stupidest dogs evah...gah.

Oh yeah. Chloe is dumber than a box of hair. But sweet; just crazy nervous.

My cat Clio keeps staring at my postcard of Che Guevera. I think it's love.

Back when, people on pet boards recommended something called rescue remedy for anxious critters. I think you find it at health stores. I have no idea of the efficacy or dosage, as I've never used it on my two furry neuroses (Mister Kitty and Devi.)

My cat Clio keeps staring at my postcard of Che Guevera. I think it's love.

Devi gets positively mesmerized by the call of the muezzine (I can't spell that or say it- muslim call to prayer) when it comes on the radio. It's funny.