For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 10, 2024

Edgar is thinking ‘Sorry but you’re a mere subordinate. Elly is the alpha. If you wanna sit, ask the alpha.’

“John is subordinate to everyone in his household” is a running joke in this comic strip. We see it again here, but it won’t be the last time this theme comes up.

Way to dominate, John.

Elly must’ve stopped reading before she reached the end of the sentence, which should go like this: “. . . . in language the dog can understand.” Dog language does not consist of explaining or commanding in a non-dog foreign language—for instance, in English words that the dog has not been trained to understand. Of course, if all that were in the strip, nothing would be funny!

And Elly swallows that psychobabble.

I love that third panel. Lynn at her best.

I carry my dog because she has got a knee problem right now. She controls me by nudging. I figured it out. She wants her nose into the wind. I now anticipate, turning her. I join in the sniffing. So far I can tell which neighbor is doing laundry, have a BBQ or smoking cannabis. She can tell if there was a rabbit nearby, another dog, cat or deer. If she sees a rabbit or a squirrel I know by her rapid heart beat and ridged muscles. In a few weeks we will if she can chase them.

He’s actually talking to Elly.

Good luck with that, John.

Ooga Farley

Booga Farley

Dooga Farley

Googa Farley

I seem to have the same problem in my house… with three pets. one cat and two dogs… :L

As in life with other people, dogs select their alpha based on how well the prospects handle everyday situations. Grace under pressure, social graces, and smart decisions carry the day.

Let’s see how you dominate, John! You’re such a beast!

And still the pets may not agree.

Bark, Then show the dog it’s place. Then Good Dog..

Think what you want to Ellie, but Edgrrrr KNOWS who the real boss is…

Lucky Edgar isn’t a cat.

I once told a friend to not hold her puppy in the air, or the puppy would think he was the alpha. My friend came over later and saw that I was holding my grandson in the air, getting ready for a little air toss…

If a dog likes wearing a studded collar, that’s a clue that he may see himself as “leader of the pack”…

My daughter has four dogs. Two of them are Great Pyrenees, one is a Doberman, and one is a Yorkypoo. The tiny Yorkypoo is “boss dog”.

Turn the oldest and rattiest piece of furniture over to the family pet(who can’t possibly hurt it). They’ll think it’s great

Elle is the alpha in this pack… she is the one that cares for, defends, and feeds Edgar. Lucky they don’t let Edgar sleep in the bed… John would be sleeping on the floor.

This is the time you grab his collar and say, “Move it!”

Yes, the world of animals and insects is truly remarkable! That’s why I love history and nature shows!