Reply #4: I love your critters.

[Demoiselle]

We have a feral cat outside (the last girl of a harem, spayed and released,) who is content to let me pet her when I feed her, and shelters in a heated cat house. Nicole Kitman is the mother of all the rescued cats who live in the house, and stares at them and plays pattypaws with them through the storm door on our deck. She has decided to live there, I think because the deck is elevated and she feels safer...and, who knows, maybe she'll come into the house, finally, this winter.
Don't worry about your puppy not looking you in the eye. We'd had Pyrenees for many years and they often refuse to acknowledge us, except when they're doing rug impersonations or decide they're due for an ear skritch. But they're terribly sweet and good and accept the worshipful atttentions of our houseful of cats....so, things are fine...