Advice on Pets, Life, Love

Dear Dog Lady,

I have a four-month-old Shitzu. The problem I'm having with him is that he chews on everything. My main concern is that he chews on electric cords. He has chewed on my computer cord and other cords. When I catch him, I tell him "no" and I tap him with paper, I try to keep cords away from him but when I'm not around he gets to the TV and cable cords. Please tell me what I can do to stop him from chewing on everything especially cords.

Ms. Lady T

Dear Ms. Lady T,

Your four month-old puppy is totally clueless. With such a baby, you have to be responsible and think for the dog. You must keep him away from anything capable of electrocuting, strangling, suffocating, poisoning and otherwise harming him. Get it? Crunchy cords taste like chicken to a puppy. Keep puppy away from anything you don't want him to gnaw. Also, invest in suitable dog chews, such as indestructible rubber Kong toys or bully sticks. Offer an alternative instead of swatting him -- a mean and lazy method.

Please, do your research. Get a crate (politically correct word for cage) and read about crate training. Keep your puppy crated so you can train him properly. Also, you have to trust this guy fully before you let him roam.

It's a good start to write "Ask Dog Lady" but, please, read much more about dogs and their training. And spell the name of your dog's breed correctly, which is a sign of respect. The correct name is "Shih Tzu."

Dear Dog Lady,

I have a rescue dog, Millie, and she won't take a treat from my hand. She will eat one off my shoe, my knee, the floor or anyplace else but she won't accept a treat from my hand. Do you think she fears human hands because of a traumatic experience? What should I do to make things easier for her? Or does this matter? By the way, I look for your column and enjoy reading it very much.

Dear Harry

Chances are good Millie was dealt a bad hand somewhere along the line. You might never erase the sting but you can try. For one thing, when facing her, don't hold your hands up in a threatening manner. Accepting your hands strengthens the bond between you and your dog. When we communicate with our pet, we offer signs through our hands to sit, stay, roll over, and drop it.

A certified dog behaviorist might have more pointers on how your spooked dog can make friends with your hands but here's a starter strategy: Your hands must become the font of all good things for your dog. Make sure your hand movements are always smooth and non- threatening. When you go to pet your dog, do not dive bomb from above but scoop sideways, stroking the chest area between the two front legs.

You can always offer a treat but use your hands for sticky good. As a beginning exercise, rub them with a premium dog-delightful meat (Evanger's chicken or Merrick's turducken). Just sit in a chair and hold out your hands covered with sweet meat and see if Millie approaches. She'll probably be skittish at first but it won't take long before, yup, she's eating right out of your hand.

Write: askdoglady@gmail.com