I've been introducing another new dog into the house these last 2
weeks as I'm looking after him for a few months for my friend. A
great big 18 month old black labrador called Shadow. Inital
reaction from the cats was "oh f*ck, a big dog" and everyone ran
scared. He's been confined to the kitchen with a baby gate, and we've
got as far as the cats peering through the bars in curiosity. HRFL
Tiger has started coming into the kitchen and sitting on the counter
watching the d*g, but that's been it. To give him his due, Shadow
(the dog) has been pretty good and doesn't chase the cats. He's still
very scary to them though.

Until last night. ;o) I was cooking some fish for my little feral
Pandora in the kitchen, and she couldn't contain herself. She *had*
to come into the kitchen to supervise the microwave ritual. She
plucked up the courage after about 5 minutes of indecision and crept
through the bars of the child gate. Shadow immediately bounced over
to say hello, and when I say bounced, I mean BOUNCED. All 70lbs of
him. Pandora weighs 8.5lbs on a good day.

Bless her, she stood her ground. She puffed up as big as she could,
and wopped the holy crap out of Shadows nose. He was unceremoniously
sent packing back to his bed.

She was *SO* proud of herself, and I was even more proud *OF* her for
having the courage when I know how scared she gets.

She got her fish. ;o)

Helen M