By Monica Collins
Dear Dog Lady,
I've been living on the 2nd floor of a three unit apartment building for a year now. We have a shared backyard between the house and the detached garage. My downstairs neighbors keep their dog, a German shepherd named Cleo, in the backyard during most of the day. She's a big barker. In part, this is because they don't play with her much or take her on walks. It's not my place to get fussy about that, nor do I have time to train or care for someone else's dog. And I don't want to ask them to keep Cleo inside all the time. But the one thing that bothers me is Cleo's barking at me when I come home and pass from the garage to the apartment (or vice versa).
I know she's grown fond of me, as she no longer barks when I'm in the backyard or when she first sees me. Instead, she allows me to pet her, give her belly scratches, and she'll try to play with me. She's fine as I approach the house and get to the landing, but once I start slowly heading up my stairs away from her, she'll run to her corner by her owner's door and start barking at me until I'm up to my floor. I was hoping you could offer some advice on what or quick tips that I could do to ease her so she won't continue to bark at me when I'm walking up my stairs.
-Mikayla
Dear Mikayla,
Your letter broke Ask Dog Lady's heart. As you describe Cleo, she is a big dog in need of exercise and attention.
And this advice might break your heart too: Ignore her. Yes, the best way to get Cleo to stop is to walk by her without even looking at her. Your spurts of attention while in transit to your apartment stoke her needs so she hounds you for attention.
Even though you don't want to get involved with training her, could you at least speak up for her? Talk to your neighbors politely about the barking problem. Maybe they need to know how it affects you. Your concerns about Cleo might sensitize them to the dog.
Dear Dog Lady,
I really enjoy your column. I just read about a woman reluctant to adopt a dog because her friend's dog passed away and the friend was inconsolable. We have adopted many dogs from shelters and when they pass away, I say to myself: At least they know they were loved for the last months/years of their lives. Our family has adopted ill dogs and senior dogs. Many people passed them by and missed a wonderful friend. We wanted to adopt a dog that would be here till our son went to college, but that did not happen.
Our son is 16 and we have buried Hymie, Moose, Haley, Ruby and Nugie. Ruby was only with us 9 months as she was bred to make puppies and abandoned. She had mammary cancer, but at least she knew someone loved her for the last nine months of her life. It is very difficult when a beloved pet passes away, but we adopt again as there are more dogs in need love. I hope the woman will reconsider adopting a dog.
-Sarah
Dear Sarah,
Actually, your sweet letter made Ask Dog Lady want to run out and adopt a shelter dog. We should all be as fortunate as you to have these innocent creatures living with us. Some of the animal abuse stories in the news - to wit, a recent one about two dogs tied up to a tree and abandoned in Arnold Arboretum - just make you want to wonder what's happening in the world. Child abuse stories make you wonder more.
Best we can do is keep our animals and children close.
Dear Dog Lady,
Can you help me with my current dog problem? My dog Abby, a three-and-one-half year collie-Labrador hybrid, has gotten the name "Crabby Abby" because she growls -- well more like moans -- when people try to pet her. She has never lifted her lips, nor has ever actually snapped at anyone before but I'm worried that someday she might. For instance, she growls at my roommate who has done nothing to harm her and, in fact, spoils her more than I do. The only person she doesn't growl at is me. When someone or anyone tries to pet her she starts licking her lips, tail goes down and she starts to growl/moan and then retreats behind me in a defensive demeanor. It worries me that one day she might push past what she is doing now.
-Travis
Dear Travis,
Be the pet patrol. Ask people not to pet your dog, which is fine if you're distrustful of Abby's reaction. Carry treats and train Abby. Dispense a goody every time someone pets her and she doesn't make a sound. Maybe your dog doesn't want to be manhandled from above. Doesn't mean she's crabby; just means she's being who she is.
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