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Ask Dog Lady

Thursday Aug 24, 2017

Advice on Pets, Life, Love

Dear Dog Lady,

We have a family of five: my wife, our 10-year-old son, 15-year-old daughter, and 12-year-old son. For years, the kids bugged us about getting a dog. We kept throwing out excuse after excuse until we finally caved in this summer. We were ready or so I thought. There is no denying we are all captivated by puppy Merlin, the half-Labrador, half-? we adopted from the North Shore Animal shelter this summer. My wife does most of the walking in the morning. When the kids are home they're supposed to take the dog out for a big romp every day. And they do. The problem we have is that everyone is Merlin's trainer. My daughter wants him to sleep with her, my wife wants to keep him in his crate in the kitchen. My son tells him to sit before feeding him; my other son just plunks down the bowl. I fear poor Merlin is confused because he leaves little puddles on the floor. What do you suggest?

Frank

Frank

Dear Frank,
Somebody in your family must become Merlin's Alpha dog. You up to the task? After all, you are concerned enough to write Ask Dog Lady. Too many cooks have spoiled the dog. It's terrific that everybody in your family wants to take part in Merlin's care. However, a single Alpha chief should coordinate Merlin's education. This leader will not necessarily be the one Merlin chooses (dogs always find their leader in a pack). For now, someone must step up.

Call a family meeting and discuss. On the agenda? The care and feeding of Merlin: Who walks? Who feeds? Who housetrains? Who teaches him to sit and stay? Who bunks with? Everybody can take part but one person oversees and watches out for Merlin and coordinates the care and feeding of the dog until Merlin can be trusted not to leave piddle puddles around the house.


Dear Dog Lady,

I grew up with dogs, but took in a rescue cat 13 years ago, my Maggie. She has been with me through thick and thin, and when my boyfriend left me, she climbed up on my lap as I cried. "Guess it's just you and me, girl!" Animals sense when something's wrong.

Stephanie

Dear Stephanie,

Companion animals of all species provide ridiculously simple comforts in times of stress and woe. Thanks for sharing this cat story.


Dear Dog Lady,

I adopted Griselda, a nine-pound female spayed rat terrier mix, from the MSPCA about one month ago. She's two or three years old. I leave her home with Gus, my five-year-old male rat terrier, for about nine hours a day from Monday to Friday. The little female is left in a crate and, on most days, she messes in the crate while I am gone. She has also had two to three accidents outside of the crate. Those were my fault for not keeping closer tabs on her. There have also been two or three times when the crate was clean at the end of the day. She does not mess anything during the night. Am I expecting too much too soon from her?

Patty

Dear Patty,

Yes, you're expecting too much and you're not giving Griselda a chance to be successful. By keeping her in the crate for nine hours at a stretch without a break, you assume your rat terrier has a bionic bladder and bowels. You give her little choice but to soil her new digs.

You should hire someone responsible and trustworthy who can come in and take your dogs out during the day. The break will do them a world of good.


Dear Dog Lady,

When my daughter and son-in-law and their Cairn terrier, Benjamin (Ben), moved into my home, the terrier had the habit of peeing whenever someone new entered the house. Two of my friends, with dogs themselves, started bringing treats for Ben. They would give the treats to him as they entered my home. Ben stopped peeing because he was looking forward to the treat. To this day, when a visitor comes to my house, I give him/her a treat to give to Ben. This diversion may also be tried to stop the barking. (Of course, treats can be cut in half so that the dog does not gain weight.)

Eleanor

Dear Eleanor,

With dogs, distraction is the mother of reinvention. Your friends were so clever to divert Ben from any anxious peeing with yummies. Enough treats and positive reinforcement from visitors causes Ben to forget he ever felt nervous. Dogs are smart but their attention usually spans from one furry critter and yummy comestible to the next. The trick is for humans is to stay one step ahead of the dog.

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