[speaker001:] do you have a pet
[speaker002:] yes I do I have a dog do you have pet
[speaker001:] I have uh see three canaries
[speaker002:] oh I have never been fortunate enough to have a canary well let me rephrase that I've had them but I don't have luck with them is there a secret
[speaker001:] oh we put uh vitamins in the water and uh we don't take really great care of them but uh we just make sure that their their water has vitamins in it and uh  and some of them are hardier than others the ones that are really hearty are the ones that are that are uh how shall I say it variegated ones the the real brightly colored ones don't seem to be too hardy because they've been bred for looks and not for strength
[speaker002:] oh really I didn't know that
[speaker001:] so what kind of a dog do you have
[speaker002:] I have a mutt he's part pit and part boxer
[speaker001:] but he is a
[speaker002:] very good dog he's very which surprised me because I've had such um repercussions about having a part Pit
[speaker001:] uh-huh
[speaker002:] especially around children but he's really good I can't complain
[speaker001:] well the I think the important thing uh we've had several dogs and and uh my wife keeps going for these beautiful you know how shall I say it the beautiful dog is the one that catches her eye and so I keep telling her that beauty is not uh is not important when you've got a dog intelligence is
[speaker002:] that's true
[speaker001:] now there's nothing worse than a dumb dog and this you know just like a dumb friend so to speak
[speaker002:] just she what does she like in particular anything particular
[speaker001:] uh as far as the pets
[speaker002:] uh-huh
[speaker001:] um she likes the fluffy ones and the ones that are you know that are how shall I say it they're really good looking but I like mutts myself
[speaker002:] they tend to take a lot of time whenever you get those kinds you have to brush them continually and that type of thing
[speaker001:] yeah and and well like I say they're they're picked for they're bred for looks and so they're like these turkeys that you see in the in the uh I don't know if you've heard stories about the differences between wild turkeys and and uh and the ones that are bred for the meat but the ones that are bred for the meat will drown in a rain storm and because they're so dumb and
[speaker002:] and uh they
[speaker001:] uh wild turkeys are really smart and the thing that uh when it comes to pets is a a smart pet is really a lot of fun they that's been my experience but uh you don't get them by getting them for their looks you got to get them for their you know how where they look at you with bright eyes when they're little puppies and stuff like that
[speaker002:] that's true do you think pets are uh handicapped or are they uh very worthwhile having them around and what is their use that was one of the questions I was told to um ask from the operator and I think that they're very useful especially for uh companionship and that type of thing what is your opinion
[speaker001:] I I feel the same thing pets are uh they add a new dimension they they give you something to think about when you're kind of tired or blue or something like that and uh they get you to think about something other than yourself
[speaker002:] that's true
[speaker001:] and they never talk back almost
[speaker002:] and they're always there when you need them
[speaker001:] yeah and they uh and their it's kind of fun to rub them and and uh well with canaries you don't do much of that but when they sing why it cheers you up
[speaker002:] yes
[speaker001:] so uh and I think that that uh they also give you a sense of of somebody is depending on you you've got to do something for them or or they uh they suffer
[speaker002:] that's true
[speaker001:] so it adds a dimension that that uh you're kind of in control and that's kind of sad when people neglect pets but so let's see how how old is your dog
[speaker002:] oh he's young he's only a he he just turned a year so he's really um just starting out in the world
[speaker001:] got to wait  well have you uh let's see what else have you had other pets beside this
[speaker002:] yes I've had basenjies also I use to and they've um
[speaker001:] they're the ones with the high pitched bark or
[speaker002:] they don't bark at all they have a yodel and uh I haven't found any in this area anybody in this area that raises them to uh get another one
[speaker001:] yeah yeah
[speaker002:] so that's how we and we came across this one that we've had quite by accident my daughter found a had a family that wasn't taking care of it and just didn't want it and in the meantime we were looking for a basenji and uh we weren't very successful but uh they're an intelligent dog and they're very uh um independent but they're not so much independent that they uh are like a cat people a lot of people