Advice on Pets, Life, Love
By Monica Collins
Dear Dog Lady,
My roommate and I are in our mid-20s. He has two Chihuahua-mixes he adopted with his ex. The relationship is now over. My roommate identifies very much as a "Doggy Daddy," which would be great - except I don't think he gives the dogs the care they deserve and need.
The dogs are not crated, but confined to two rooms when he leaves at 8:30 every day, and often doesn't return until 6 to 7:30 at night, sometimes later. I asked him to put down pee pads for them because they couldn't stop having accidents. He lives a sedentary lifestyle, so they get a short 10-15 minute walk in the morning and at night when he returns. Beyond that, they are confined to our city apartment at all hours, including on weekends, even though there are dog parks nearby.
The dogs are also very isolated from other dogs, and get aggressive with any bigger dog on walks. He refuses to address this. What can I do? I have brought up a dog walker or doggy daycare many times, but he says he doesn't have the money (I live with him and have difficulty believing this). I have never been a dog owner, so I don't know how to assert myself to him. Please provide me with any advice you might have - these dogs are only 3 years old, and I can't stand to think that this is how they will live the rest of their lives.
--Kendra
Dear Kendra,
You can begin by leaving a print-out of your query with Dog Lady's answer under his door.
Your roommate has to understand you're not being a snoopy busybody by posing this question; you're humanely sticking up for the animals, which need better care. Leaving little dogs from 8:30 in the morning until early in the evening with only a pee pad for company is not any way to care for the creatures.
The dogs may be small but that doesn't mean they're any different in their instincts, needs and wants from the biggest, boldest Great Danes. Indeed, Great Danes don't require as much exercise as Chihuahua-mixes. The little guys have a lot of energy to burn through.
If you decide not to leave this under his door and expose "Ask Dog Lady" as the scolding conscience, you should simply be brave enough to say something. If he counters that you don't know what you're talking about because you have never had a dog, say you know this much: Dogs need exercise and socialization to thrive. Also, any monetary investment he makes in his pets will pay off handsomely in happier, healthier dogs.
Dear Dog Lady,
I just read your column about adopting senior dogs. I adopted my Lexi when she was 6, 7 or 8 (they were not sure of her age; she was a breeder dog). At the time, I said, "Eight? That's old!!"
Well now she is 11, 12 or 13 and acts younger than when we first adopted her. Having her rotten teeth removed gave her a new lease on life. She steals the bigger dogs rawhide bones and gums them with vigor. She runs and leaps in joy when I get home from work. She is only showing her age in two ways: a greyer muzzle and face. We also think her hearing is starting to go. But at the rate she is aging, she could make it to 18 or 20-years-old.
Everyone should consider a senior shelter dog: They are very well behaved, not chewers, and are laid back. Some shelters even have "seniors for seniors" with a reduced adoption fee.
--Alison
Dear Alison,
Great reminder and thank you sticking up for the seniors. Dog Lady's beloved Shorty lived until he was nearly 16. "Seniors for seniors" is a wonderful marketing slogan for shelters. Many older dogs are the easiest to care for because they are house-trained, slower and wiser. Caring for older dogs, of course, can also require patience and money for veterinary care. Unfortunately, some negligent fair-weather dog keepers turn in an aging dog to a shelter as if the pet were a Chevrolet with 100K mileage. Makes "Ask Dog Lady" so sad to think about it.
You've got the right idea to enjoy your guy right up until the minute fate intervenes. Many dog keepers start watching the clock when the dog turns 10, which is the usual demarcation line between middle-aged and senior for small and medium-sized dogs in the canine world.
However, there is no reason to mourn prematurely for an aging dog as you've so ably expressed.
Dear Dog Lady,
Why does my Maltese constantly nibble on everything?
--Suzanne
Dear Suzanne,
Because everything is left out all over the place for the Maltese to nibble. Everything smells of you and everything is so tempting. You could buy some small bully sticks or other dainty dog-friendly chewy to substitute whenever the Maltese begins to nibble. Your dog needs to nibble. Make sure she chooses wisely.
Visit askdoglady.com and read the new blogs, "Shorty Knows" and "The Dexter Diaries."