The Remains of the Day

I have no idea what Hathaway was looking for in the closet, because the shoes certainly don't smell like food. He pulled out a shoe rack and some shoes, then apparently found the cones I use for soccer drills. Looks like they were crunchy.

'Dangerous Breed'

My dad forwarded me this email the other day that read: "If you are an owner of a dog or know someone who has a dog which belongs to a 'dangerous breed' category, or if you have a child visiting your house, please take this as a warning.

"Don't leave your dog with any small child unattended under any circumstances!"

It was signed, "The Dog."

I happen to have two who fall into the "dangerous breed" category: my children -- an 11-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy. I tell them at least once a day, they are lucky our dog is a pit bull, because any other breed would have bitten them by now.

Not leaving children alone with the pooch is good advice for any dog owner, whether you have a "dangerous breed" or not. As you can see from the picture, tragedy can strike even if you turn your back for a moment.

The picture is a great illustration of how patient these dogs can be. Just look at the detail in the markings on that dog's face. You know he just laid there while the petite Picasso painted away.

My kids grew up with a couple of big dogs -- both shepherd mixes -- for the first seven years of their lives. Our beautiful Lily, who was also part Rottie, was a good girl, and never growled, but she would walk away when the kids were too much for her. Hathaway sits and takes it even while his boy and girl practice what look like WWE moves from my vantage point. "Hey! Don't pick the dog up by his neck!"

In nearly six months, he has never growled at them and never snapped, although I regularly tell him he should.

Problem is, he's a pit bull. It's not his nature.