Okay, I'm going to admit it--I *did* get Baby to be my accessory. In part. I was going through a rough time in my life and a friend would throw me her Borzoi, one of Baby's uncles, and say, "Could you take Joel on a walk? He really needs it." This became my therapy. My route took me past a black glass building where I could see myself with Joel perfectly reflected. That was therapy too--I'd stand a little straighter and feel a little happier to see myself part of such a magnificent duo. Joel's black and white markings always coordinated perfectly with whatever I was wearing.

When Joel's brother became a daddy, and I was offered a puppy, I had a lot of questions about the wisdom of getting a big strange dog--but I knew we would look great together!

Baby became the most amazing dog I ever had. But I do love getting to take walks with such a striking animal, and color coordinated to boot. People on the forum joke about Baby being my accessory, and I do too, but he actually is!

My daughter is a fair-skinned blue-eyed redhead, and she has a cream colored cat with tawny points and blue eyes. Coincidence?

So I want to ask two things: do you think of your pet as an accessory? And does your pet's coloring echo or complement yours?

Baby is the puppy on the right.