Meet Baxter. He’s the thinker of our two dogs, the philosopher if you will. He likes to spend his time observing life from whatever window he can find. Over time, he has developed very distinct opinions, ones that he’s not afraid to share. He believes that walks in the snow, no matter how cold and unpleasant for others, should be taken at a leisurely pace. People like to stop and smell the roses, he likes to stop and smell the pee (of other dogs that is). He also has the strong conviction that he lacks the ability to jump. While our other dog (of similar youth and build) jumps from chair to couch to table, he sticks to the ground level. All the same, he has his free will, and has no qualms about making his desire to be let onto or off of the couch known. If he doesn’t want to be on the couch anymore, that’s his predogative, and you had better help down out before you get some penetrating stares (like those above).

Yes, that’s right. I call it his predogative (and I may or may not hear Bobby Brown in my head every time I say it). My name is Shannon, and I regularly use made up words. Even if my spellcheck doesn’t like it, I’m going to keep on using them.