like cats and dogs.

They only get along when they're in different rooms/Ben Westhoff Only a few months ago, before Anna and I got Pippi, I wrote about the old cat people vs. dog people debate. I called myself a cat person, despite never having owned a dog. Now, with two months of canine companionship under my belt, it's time to reevaluate that label. When we first got Pippi, I was overwhelmed. Between her insistence on peeing and pooping wherever she wanted and her constant need of attention, I was a bit freaked out. She was as well. Still a puppy, she'd been shuttled between a breeder, a temporary guardian, a foster dad and us, all within six months. And as a dalmatian/pointer mix she had boundless energy, ...

Ben Westhoff Once again, this week's guest columnist is my wife Anna. We need your help! Our recently adopted puppy, Pippi, is in unrequited love with our 10-year old tuxedo cat, Nora. At all times, Pippi likes to know where "big sister" Nora is, what she is doing and whether she wants a canine playmate. (The answer is "No!") Nora is highly affectionate with humans but is slow to come out of her shell. Her personality clashes with Pippi's in-your-face approach. A typical interaction goes like this: Pippi returns from a walk all jazzed up and ready to play. Nora, half asleep, is chilling on the sofa or the bed until Pippi begins frenetically sniffing her head and tail. A terrified Nora ...