Visit off-leash park to find puppy love

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This article was published 12/08/2016 (3706 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I have a female dog who is not well-trained or and happy all the time. She’s old and arthritic, but she’s mine and I love her, and she loves me. She’s set in her ways, and just wants me to herself. My dog likes my guy friends and some other dogs, but not women. I have a hard time keeping girlfriends because of this.

My latest girlfriend of 2016 already doesn’t like my dog after two months. The dog returns her nasty feelings. The dog barks, my girlfriend yells at her to shut up, and the dog barks more. This woman refuses to feed the dog, take her for a walk or pick up her poop. I can’t seem to keep a girlfriend with this dog around, but I really love my dog. Please help. — Cranky Dog’s Loving Owner, Winnipeg

Dear Cranky Dog’s Loving Owner: Just as a divorced guy with a difficult child needs an extra-nurturing stepmom who is good at befriending difficult kids, you need to find that special woman who can love an “unlovable “dog and bring her around to at least grudging toleration. How does your dog manage in parks? The off-leash ones are full of dog lovers. Some of those dog owners are single, just like you, and a sweet one who befriends your dog would be a good match for you.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I can eat two dinners and still be hungry. I play a lot of sports, burn a lot of calories and I’m always hungry. My girlfriend, who does not play sports, refuses to let me order two entrees around her. She says I’m a pig. If I’m a pig, why is she 15-pounds overweight and I’m skinny? She doesn’t have to pay for the extra food, so why is she complaining? — Hungry Man, Downtown

Dear Hungry Man: She is jealous watching you shovel it in. If she ate two entrees every time you two went out, she’d pork out. Do a little math with her about the calories you burn in a week, as compared to the calories you eat. Then do a similar calculation for her. She won’t like it, but it will prove your point. She might pout at first, and then calm down if she’s a logical type.

Things would go better for you as a couple if you two started doing some light sporting activities together such as kayaking or canoeing, salsa dancing or even holding hands and walking before bedtime. Burning calories together can be great fun, both in and out of the bedroom. You can find the calories burned for sexual activities listed online.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Cold As Ice (who is married to a gambling addict) should probably chill before making any drastic decisions concerning her marriage with her gambling-addict husband. As much as one can sympathize and even applaud her hardline stance on principle — locking him out of her life — she should be aware her excellent career might make for excellent alimony if there is a disparity between their incomes. That’s something a desperate gambling-addicted person would no doubt go after.

Also, depending on the age of the children involved, they might not agree or fully understand her decision to initiate the divorce, and resent her for breaking up the family. She should insist he attend counselling for his addiction and go to couples’ therapy to determine a path forward together with firm boundaries and commitment. — The House Always Wins, Winnipeg

Dear The House Always Wins: You’re right. Cold as Ice should really check out the alimony aspect with her lawyer ASAP. She also needs serious counselling around this many-sided issue, which includes the personal relationship. She doesn’t really hate the man. She’s fed up with his addiction to gambling and what it does to their life together.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6

Miss Lonelyhearts
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