Come the cold weather, Old Friendly kicks in with characteristic warmth, the boys offer cozy companionship.

The eleventh month, leading up to the busyness of December, is often described as bleak and grey. But I love it! November to me means the purring of the kettle on Old Friendly, my wood stove. And it means the coziness of my furry friends, Sir Kedgewick and Lord Restigouche, who I refer to as "the boys."

I live alone but I'm never lonely. Kedgie and Tigouche are best friends of mine. They listen attentively to my ramblings and secrets. They commiserate with me if I need sympathy, and are happy to celebrate my usually good spirits.

Four-legged soulmates aren't for everybody, but they sure are for me! Tigouche has a saucy I'm-in-charge-here personality; Kedgie's character, as the older genteel gentleman, is one of tolerance and understanding. There's a three-year difference in their ages, but they're best friends to each other. They play and travel together like twins-they don't like to be separated for very long.

There are many joys associated with living alone with dogs. Nobody interrupts me when I talk; on the contrary often they seem to want to hear more. They focus their attention directly on me. Their tails wag when I smile; they follow me when I leave the room, hoping I'll add a chapter or two to a story they don't understand. They're company when I want it, and they leave me alone when I don't. They warn me when people come near my house, and usually welcome them as warmly as I do.

I normally leave the boys at home when I go out. When I return, be it after one hour or 10, I am greeted exuberantly. I know they did little but sleep in my absence, but they want me to think they sat patiently waiting for my return.

When I take them with me they are wonderful travellers. They never criticize or question my driving; they never make suggestions about doing something differently. They don't caution me against speeding. Sometimes they watch the highway and other vehicles… or they sleep. I'm in control and they trust me.

When I'm reading or watching television, they don't compete for attention. Instead they curl up beside me, usually one on each side, keeping me cozy and warm. If I talk back to the TV, they agree. They are thrilled if I decide to read aloud to them.

They eagerly wait to see what I'm cooking… and they like everything I make. They don't rebuke me if I don't share my food, but if there are leftovers they'll happily clean them up. I don't ask and they don't offer to share their food!

Dogs are loyal friends, and they forgive minor indiscretions. If you're late coming home, that's OK. If you criticize their behaviour, they don't care. They love you unconditionally, and you know it. They will never cease being your friend. A smile and a kind word is all they ask… and mine get a lot of those.

Living with a dog or dogs is a commitment. Certainly there are some invitations that don't include my dogs. Just like having children, if I can't get a sitter I must decline. Children grow up to become independent though-dogs don't!

However there is a bit of a downside with the boys… I let them sleep on my bed. They tend to know their places-Kedgie on the right, Tigouche on the left-and, being small dogs, they don't take too much room. Once in a while they decide to sprawl. That's when I find myself trying to find a place for my body without squiggling around theirs… then I realize what I'm doing. I assert myself! This is MY bed, not theirs, so they get pushed aside.

The other thing is their snoring, and can they cut pulp, sometimes in tandem, sometimes in unison! Tigouche, the smaller of the two, often finds his way to the pillow beside me and snores up a storm. Semi-awake I begin to wonder who is sleeping in my bed!

I recall visiting my Aunt Mamie when Uncle Bill was having a nap. Mamie greeted me at the door with "Come on in and listen to my imagination!" We had to go to the back of the house to hear each other speak.

Dogs aren't like some guys (and perhaps some women too!) who resent being told they snore. When Tigouche is chain-sawing next to my pillow I don't just gently nudge him to stop snoring-instead he is rather rudely invited to vacate the bed! He's a good sport about it, though.

I visited recently with Karen Campbell and Doug Malloy, who operate the business Totally Raw Natural Dog Food from their home on a huge property outside Truro, NS. Karen and Doug have enough experience with their clients to know that the food they provide-including raw chicken necks, boneless beef chunks and meaty lamb bones, sold frozen in one-pound reusable tubs-does wonders for various dog conditions. Their own four dogs are testament to their claims that raw food is good for teeth and coats, and eight-year-old Daisy darts about the property like a puppy. In fact it was because of Daisy's recurrent health problems that the couple began their research on food for dogs in the first place.

Quite apart from doing dogs a great service, it's gratifying to know that a couple with vision and compassion can, with a lot of hard work, start a company from the double garage of their property way out in the wilds of Nova Scotia… and make it succeed. They use local produce whenever possible, helping out their neighbours; their marketing is principally by word of mouth and via the Internet. Since the scare about protein substances from China in pet food earlier this year their business has more than doubled, and continues to grow. The couple has just purchased new, heavier equipment, installed a huge walk-in freezer, hired a helper and are ready for even more business, which will include Kedgie and Tigouche.

Like so many of our East Coast families, my sons live away from the area-Ontario and the West have claimed the four of them. It makes Christmas different than it used to be in my house. But Old Friendly still turns out the turkey, and the dogs warmly greet friends and relatives who like to gather around my table. This year while folk share the turkey the dogs will delve into Totally Raw Natural Dog Food. It will be their Christmas present; I'm hoping that Tigouche's chronic ear infections will eventually clear up and Kedgie's breath will smell sweeter. And who knows, it might even stop the snoring!

For more information about Karen and Doug's business, go to totallyrawdogfood.com or call (902) 890-9111.