I had a dog named Steve.

We have two dogs - pretty normal names - Buddy and Snicker.

But, I had the perfect dog growing up in Rural Montana: a giant Saint Bernard with the "oh so perfect name" of: THOR.

He really was thunderous - a bark that would lift you off your feet, especially when you are 8 years old.

Miss him a lot. I'd take walks for hours on hours with him in the woods. I'm sure many a coyote or bobcat turned and ran when they crept up on me but saw that giant by my side. He was gentle as could be except when one of us was threatened. I'll never forget pulling porcupine quills out of his nose with a plier. He wanted to it bite me so bad cause it hurt, but he'd just put his mouth around my hand is if to say "stop, dang it, I promise I wont' do that again!"

We bought some pigs one year and let them roam freely, and Thor liked to travel around with them for some reason. One day one of them had a huge gash on its rear quarters but was alive. The Vet said that only a mountain lion could've done that damage, but they are terrified of large dogs, so likely ran away when Thor came along. The pig was cut badly enough that he barely survived the gash.

Ah, fun nostalgic stories from my youth in Montana. Sorry if I digress. In one of those moods tonight for some reason. Too much caffeine today I fear!

Me niether Steve, but a calico he was. Yes, it is possible, but the probability ratio is off the hook! ...Howzer was mostly orange and white, but he had a black splash on his tail and another one on his forehead. A great Tom he was. He used to follow me on my Olmo 10 speed for miles through my neighborhood at night. He'd stay lurking and stalking way back about 6 houses and I catch a glimpse of him every once and a while near street lights where I'd spy him zipping across the street from one lawn to the next. I swear he'd keep track of me because he liked the sound my brakes made. My Olmo had "dimpled" rims so that when you applied the brakes it would make a pretty cool zzzzzzzzz noise. 2 Miles later, I'd stop at a corner, and soon after, up would come Howser looking for a scratch and a hug. Whatta cat! I am happy to hear you have greyhounds - there is sort of an abuse issue down here with the dog track racing thing and the general disposition of the owners and breeders...I've heard that they are wonderful dogs and great pets. My friend had a whippet(sp?) and used to tell me about how cool it was to take her out to the beach let her go and watch her take off at full tilt - what? like 30, 40 something miles an hour!? I dunno, but that has to be a sight to see!