Dear Dog Lady,

I live in a Boston apartment with no backyard. I walk my beagle and diligently pick up after him. Do other people have the right to tell me I can't walk my dog in what I perceive to be public, city-owned space, i.e. grass walkways between the street and the sidewalk? And what, exactly, does "curb your dog" mean?

--Tracy


Dear Tracy,

The phrase "curb your dog" is Depression-era. The civic entreaty legendarily originated in New York City in the 1930s-not exactly the time of the horse-and-buggy but there were fewer cars and more gutter space. Today, with clogged streets and curbs blocked by vehicle tires, the quaint order now means to steer your dog away from private property-buildings, fences, stairways-and playgrounds where children congregate. Directing your beagle to the grassy strips between the streets and sidewalks is legal and appropriate-unless there is signage telling you otherwise. Using the length of sidewalk closest to the curb is fine provided you pick up as you claim to do diligently.

Unfortunately, when you walk a dog in public you can become a sitting duck for comments from detractors. Best you can do is to be polite, carry extra bags to pick up any stray poop (Dog Lady does this as an investment in her dog), and refrain from engagement. Try to walk your beagle among dog-friendly folk so you'll never walk alone.


Dear Dog Lady,

I've had one date with a guy I immediately like and he's asked me out for another. He talks about his Labrador which is fun for me because I am a big dog person. On our date, he was describing how other dogs yap and run around his Lab. He laughed about it. I did too because the stories were funny. But I wonder if his dog is neutered. Maybe that's the reason the other dogs are all excited and nervous. How do I bring up this subject? I feel strongly that every pet dog should be spayed or neutered

--Sandy


Dear Sandy,

When dating, tact can be the better part of valor. And "intact" is the polite term for an unneutered dog. No matter what you call it, best not broach the subject at this neonatal stage of the relationship. In polite company, you have no right to ask about the genitalia of his pet-or anybody else's for that matter. Whatever decision he has made for the Labrador remains his personal terrain.

Also, if you rashly bring up this delicate matter, Dog Lady assumes you will turn off your new guy. What man on a second date wants to discuss the Big Snip-Snip in casual conversation? You two should be flirting and bantering about favorite movies, Web sites, TV shows, vacations, work successes, light romantic and family history, blah, blah, blah-not canine castration. In time, if you meet the Lab, you can inspect the situation for yourself.


Dear Dog Lady,

I have Sadie, a Border collie mix-said to need a lot of exercise or a job. What does it mean to give her a job?

--Judy


Dear Judy,

If you have rolling acres and a flock of sheep, it's a cinch to find a job for your Border collie mix. Without these work tools, the task is somewhat more challenging, although dogs adapt remarkably well to various jobs, including Frisbee catcher, agility course runner, squeaky toy chaser (the current profession of Dog Lady's dog).

Giving a job to a dog simply means to engage the dog in gainful pursuits to pique its interest. Sadie will be a working girl in no time. What is her passion-beside eating and sleeping?

Sporting with squirrels, galloping after rubber balls, or playing games of their own design-dogs craft careers based on their temperaments. Do you want Sadie to fetch your slippers? You merely have to show her how and reward her again and again for a job well done (dried liver chunks are big paychecks in a dog's world).

And here's a letter about a creative dog that found gainful employment for herself.


Dear Dog Lady,

I thought your readers might be amused (or even find it useful) to hear the story of an old friend and her golden retriever, Maisie who invented a job for herself.

Out walking one day, Maisie's mistress had dutifully gathered Maisie's leavings in a plastic bag. Maisie all of a sudden (but gently) took the bag in her mouth and then began to look for something. She was scouting for a garbage can. Finding a suitable receptacle, she relinquished the bag back to her mistress. This routine continued until the end of Maisie's life. I would think this would be relatively easy to teach many dogs and I know many dogs like actual jobs.

--Jim


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