Last year three dog owners tactfully told me that my kind gift to their respective pooches of a hilarious pink pig that made loud oinking noises when pressed had lasted all of 30 seconds before being shredded by their dogs, and that luckily they had retrieved the squeaker before their beloved hounds choked.
Lesson learned. This year I asked a vet student's advice about gifts for dogs. Her suggestion? Keep it simple. You can throw a tennis ball out the window endless times for them to retrieve while you have your feet up and stay cool. If they want an afternoon treat, put the sprinkler on for them."
