Pet Sayings: Crazy Like a Fox

When used in its intended form, "crazy like a fox" is an oxymoron meaning seemingly foolish but in fact extremely cunning. If you call someone "crazy like a fox" you are saying that person is sly and capable of outwitting others. For example: "That John McCain (or more accurately, the Karl Rove political machine) is crazy like a fox for choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate."

The fox has been celebrated for centuries as a crafty animal — especially by the British during the hunt. While a fox's actions may appear bizarre to the average onlooker, he is often acting in a brilliant manner to save himself.

The animal's wiles were first noted in the "Trinity College Homilies," dating from the 12th Century. The expression gained modern currency when American humorist S.J. Perelman selected it for the title of his 1944 book.

Goats show personality at Saline fair

Posted by Lisa Allmendinger | The Ann Arbor News September 02, 2008 12:12PM
Categories: Regional
Amanda Taphouse, 15, says her goat enjoys candy.

The Nubian goat also has a knack for showing off, winning first place in senior showmanship at the 73rd annual Saline Community Fair Monday.

Taphouse, of Ann Arbor, and several other teens said they enjoy raising and showing goats because of their unique personalities.

"They are all individuals," said Robbie Graham, 17, of Milan, who won champion market animal with one of his boar goats.Special writer Lisa Allmendinger can be reached at lallmendinger@sbcglobal.net or at 734-433-1052.

Obama and Biden: Compatibility and Your Dog

Sen. Barack Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden as his Vice President this week ending an intense period of speculation. For months, the public debated over who he should pick to be second chair in the White House in the event he becomes president. Why was his choice such a big deal? It was a big deal because people know that compatibility is an important key to any relationship, especially a duo that will make decisions that affect the public. It’s a fact that rings true for humans as well as dogs.

Just like Obama and Biden, your dog’s partner needs to be compatible to him. So if you are picking a new housemate for your dog, you need to consider his personality. Is he an alpha male? Does he get insecure when you show attention to other dogs or people? Can he be a little aggressive? These types of questions are ones you should ask yourself before you bring in any potential housemate for your dog. It will help you pick the one who can cohabitate peacefully with him and bring out the best in his personality. Here are a few other things you can do too:

* Set up a meeting. It should be done prior to your decision to bring a new animal into the home. If your dog shows signs he likes the other dog such as wagging of the tail, it’s a good match.

* Research dog breeds. Find out which ones get along best. Then, you should only look for the specific breeds that will get along well with your dog’s breed.

* Do a trial run. Take in a new dog for a temporary period to see how he gets along with your current dog. After a few days, you will know if the two can live peacefully together and are a match in other ways too.

These three tests and a personality assessment of your dog should help you select the right housemate for him. The end result should be that your dog has a companion to play with and you have a new pet to love. It should be a match made in heaven.