Advice on Pets, Life, Love
By Monica Collins

Dear Dog Lady,

I am desperate to help my little dog Ringo. A little over a month ago, Ringo started pacing walking in circles and cannot settle down. This goes on all day and night. I took him to the vet and was told he needed to be neutered and that we spoil him too much. The poor little fellow is getting worse. I don't think getting him fixed will help. Is there anything natural that I could give him to help him settle down? He is two-years-old and we bought him at a pet store. He was absolutely fine and happy until a little over a month ago. Nothing has changed in his environment or diet. I just really want to help my baby. Do you have any suggestions?

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Hmm. Your letter throws up a few red flags. As much as you think you are loving on little Ringo, you might be hovering excessively. This is something your veterinarian suggested when he said you spoil the dog too much. There's much to recommend giving a little dog plenty of space to be, well, a little dog. This means not carrying him everywhere, not thinking of him as - nor calling him - "baby." You may be causing stress. Let him be. And walk him a lot. He's young. He needs lots of exercise. Make sure he becomes tired enough so he sleeps instead of paces.

You say you bought this dog at a pet store. Already, that's a stressor. Pet store dogs can have dicey behavior tics. Your dog might have come from a puppy mill. Such a chaotic upbringing causes puppies to become nervous nellies, skittish and scared.

However, the biggest red flag in your complaint is your reluctance to neuter your dog. Please do the right thing and get him fixed. Your vet was entirely right about this condition getting on your dog's nerves. He itches to escape and run around the neighborhood, creating lots of little unwanted Ringos. You are being irresponsible to your dog - and, yes, to all dogs - by keeping your pet intact. Please do the right thing.

Dear Dog Lady,

I have a very scared dog. At the slightest noise, he jumps up and I have no idea what's bugging him as he starts barking. I jump up too and when I see it's nothing, I do admit I yell at him, which gets him even more cranked up. Can you offer some advice?

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,

Our own behavior impacts our poor doggies tremendously. Already, you see how your own yelling can fire up your dog.

The same advice applies as in the letter above yours. Make sure your dog gets enough exercise.

Each time he jumps up, perhaps you should ignore him and stay calmly rooted in whatever you're doing. Ultimately, our dog's behavior mirrors our behavior. Be a beacon of tranquility.

Also, on the MSPCA website, the group asks for donations of DAP for its Boston shelter. Dog Lady researched DAP and discovered it is a "dog appeasing pheromone" that comes in a diffuser, collar or spray and helps keep dogs calm in tense situations - either once in a while or every day.

Check out the Web site for more information: dapdiffuser.com.


Dear Dog Lady,

My husband's friend asked my husband if it was OK for him to bring his dog to our traditional "first weekend of fall" barbeque party. My husband said, "Yes." I love pets of any kind but the problem is our dog. We have a gentle female Border collie. The friend's dog is a female greyhound. I don't know the other dog but my dog has never had any other dog over at the house. In public, she can be very 'iffy' when it comes to socializing with other dogs. She'd much rather be around people and kids.

I think it's a bad idea to mix two dogs together who have never met in my dog's home environment with lots of people and kids around. I don't think it's a good idea at all. I just think putting two dogs together under these circumstances is looking for trouble.
Please give me suggestions. I hope you totally agree with me.

Mary Beth

Dear Mary Beth,

Yes, Dog Lady totally agrees with you. It's dicey to introduce two dogs at any party with noise, merriment - and tons of cooking meats -around them.

Ask your dear husband to disinvite the greyhound. Tell him to blame you if he needs an excuse or, better yet, blame Ask Dog Lady. Assure him, it's a really nice idea to want the dogs to be part of the first-weekend-of-fall fete but it would just be too stressful for them and for humans. Your husband probably said "yes" when put on the spot by his dogged pal who should have known the difference between BYOB and BYOD.

Have a question? Write askdoglady@gmail.com. Check out askdoglady.com.