Otto and Dexter used to play with each other a lot - inside and outside the house. Since Dexter died, Otto has led a sedentary life, preferring to stay in the house most of the time. He's nearly 12 years old now and his main sources of exercise have been going up/down the stairs and, weather permitting, a daily 1-mile walk. Lately, though, he's been into " rasslin' ".

Adolfo, pictured above, belongs to a family in Tiulfe, the village to the south of us. We first met him when he was just a pup being carried down the road in the arms of a little girl. He's 16 months old now, and a frequent visitor here.

We first spotted Adolfo loose on the road out front last June, while my mother and niece were visiting us. We recognized him, thought the pup was lost, and brought him into the front yard while we got ready to take him back home. We didn't know which house in Tiulfe he belonged to, but figured it wouldn't be hard to find in such a small village. And it wasn't hard at all. Since then, Adolfo has come back often, begging to be let in so he can play with Otto, who really enjoys the company.

Usually, we hear a little yelp and look outside to see two paws and a head at the lower part of the front wall. On occasion, he'll be sitting back in the field across the road, so he can watch our windows for any sign that someone's home. And once, when I left the front gate open while I was out on a walk with Otto and Mattie, Adolfo used the pet doors to come into the house and search for Otto. Marivi spotted him when he came upstairs.

Adolfo's visits have been good for Otto. They wrestle and chase each other around the driveway like a couple of puppies, and Otto suddenly behaves like a dog years younger than his actual age again. Adolfo gives Otto a chance to play like he never could with Mattie, who's over twice his size and who never really learned to play.