For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 18, 2021

keep up the good work, Farley

A good watch dog greets everyone with a bark.

I have two just like him.

Farley can’t win. We have seen in the past that when he barks, Elly jumps all over him for making too much noise. Here, John cast aspersions on Farley’s abilities as a watch dog because he doesn’t bark. No matter what Farley does, he can’t please everyone.

Canada Post! Farley is an observer of phenomena.

John, just be glad he watches April

Farley is a good dog.

Lynn’s Comments:

Our small dog, Willy, loved everyone. The only time he’d bark with any kind of viciousness was when he saw the snow plow. He would chase it down our lane, believing for all the world that he had saved us from a monster.

Spectators make the sport worth playing.

As paper boys, we were told to put papers under the door mat. Or, if it was possible, between the storm door and the regular door.

Yes he does watch April, and that will save her life one day.

We know why that cat is digging in the plant bed.

A dog’s life.

With the exception of the cat and the salesman, he did OK…..

Amazed you does not bark a lot, we have dogs who will.

I’ve never seen a paper boy walk up to within 3 feet of the front porch and then throw it hard. Usually they throw hard from the street and really don’t care where it lands. If they get that close at all, they lightly toss it or place it. It used to be boys on bikes, but these days it is adults in automobiles.

Had a Golden once that was such a good watch dog she would have watched someone carry off the house and not interrupted once. Had her for a year before she barked. Then it was at a coral snake in the yard that had bitten her on the ear a few days before. Beautiful dog.

He’s a watchdog, not a safety dog.

He enjoys life.

The silliest barking situation we experienced was a dachshund who absolutely hated the cuckoo clock!

What was Farley supposed to do? Does John want him attacking the paperboy, mailman or salesman? Rid the yard of harmless squirrels and butterflies? The only thing in the strip causing any harm was the cat, who is always villainized in this strip. Seems to me a watchdog’s role is to keep burglars away.