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 Content courtesy of Steve Dale, author of My Pet World. Steve currently hosts Pet Central on WGN-AM, interacting with radio listeners from Chicago and from around the world. His guests are leading experts on topics such as pet behavior, nutrition and veterinary medicine.
► Will baby be safe with pitbull in the house? Q: My granddaughter is expecting. I'm worried for my new great-grandchild because my granddaughter has a pit bull. I don't want anything bad to happen. What do you think? - F.M.R., A: First off, congratulations! No breed or mix of dog breeds is inherently threatening to babies. But the breed of a dog, or at least some physical characteristics, can matter as toddlers begin to walk. For example, a golden retriever has long hair to pull and a tempting tail to tug. A rottweiler, on the other hand, has no long hair or tail to yank. Colleen Pelar, author of "Living with Kids and Dogs Without Losing Your Mind" (C&R Publishing, Woodbridge, VA, 2005; $16.95), says kids like the idea of tying the ears of basset hounds together. That's why adults must always supervise when kids and dogs are together. With its ears tied together, an ordinarily mild-mannered dog may not be so even tempered. I'm not certain if you're asking about all dogs with regard to babies, or whether you're worried because your granddaughter's dog happens to be a pit bull. I can understand your concern given the bad press about pit bulls. However, I believe pit bulls -- like all dogs, or people, for that matter -- are products of their environment. Sadly, when you adopt a dog, you may know nothing about the pet's early upbringing. "Still, what matters most is how any dog - no matter what the breed happens to be - feels about running, jumping, screaming kids," says Pelar, of Springfield, VA. "The hope is that your granddaughter has previously exposed (her) dog to children, and those experiences have been positive. If so, you probably won't have a problem. However, if the dog is unsure about young kids, please ask your granddaughter to seek help from a trainer to begin to rectify the problem before the baby arrives. It may not be politically correct to say, but if the dog is very fearful or reactive around young children, I would think about re-homing," Pelar comments. "The dog will be happier without a child in the house, and your granddaughter's family won't constantly be on edge." Q: While my family and I were outside playing, our cat walked up to my son and sprayed him like the cat was marking his territory. What's going on? - M.O., Warner Robins, GA A: Well, your cat may indeed have been marking his territory, according to Nashville, TN-based feline behavior consultant Pam Johnson Bennett. "Your son may have been standing at the perimeter of his territory. You don't indicate many details here, but if you have a squealing 4-year-old, your cat may have been upset," Johnson Bennett comments. "Or maybe the cat was simply disturbed and marked your son because the commotion was too much." When cats are outdoors, all bets are off. "Their territory outdoors may require defending because it's a constantly changing environment," adds Johnson Bennett, author of "Think Like a Cat" (Penguin Books, New York, NY, 2000; $16.95). "Your cat may feel particularly insecure outdoors, at least at times - and this was one of those times. Of course, if your cat is not neutered, spraying is far more likely to occur outside or inside." Q: The 2-year-old dog we adopted eats his stool - mounds of it! The dog is an 80-pound shepherd mix. Why does he do this and how can we stop him? - K.F., Lindstrom, MN A: To your dog, a turd is better than a Mounds candy bar. Your pet may have simply discovered that stool-eating (the fancy scientific word is coprophagia) is fun, particularly in the winter when it's cold enough for droppings to freeze into 'poopsicles.' I know this habit sounds disgusting, but your dog doesn't see it that way. Some dogs may be genetically predisposed to eat their droppings, and this behavior often occurs when dogs are bored in the back yard. Other dogs learn the behavior as young pups when forced to live with their own excrement (in pet stores and puppy mills, for example); they learn to clean up the only way they can. One theory is that some dogs watch us pick up their droppings, and do the same thing - sort of. Some suggest the problem is a matter of absorption of enzymes, and dogs who eat their droppings therefore lack something in their diets. An enzyme supplement, such as Prozyme (available through some vets and online), may help. As for solutions, For-Bid or Deter (available through vets and online) can be sprinkled on a dog's food. It tastes good going down but awful after coming out the other end. Theoretically, sprinkling seasoning salt on pet food has the same effect. Another tactic is to booby trap your dog's droppings with hot sauce. However, many dogs are smart enough to smell the trap, and I don't endorse this as humane. My best answer? Pick up after your dog. Take your pup out on leash and use a plastic bag or pooper-scooper. After a few months of this, some dogs reform their ways, some don't. Q: Princess, our 12-½-year-old poodle, has been tearing up books and newspapers. She touches nothing when we're away from the home during the day, but when we leave in the evening, it's another story. We've tried spanking and scolding her, but nothing works. What can we do? - M.R., Franklin, TN A: Please, don't spank your dog. The only lesson she'll learn is not to trust you or to trust human hands. What's more, Princess can't possibly understand that the spanking is for previously ripping up books and papers. Showing her the books and papers as you scold or spank her might lead her to think that books and papers prompt this angry response from humans. Darlene Arden, author of "Small Dogs, Big Hearts: A Guide to Caring For Your Little Dog" (Howell Book House, New York, NY, 2006; $25.99), points out that it's important for Princess to have a geriatric evaluation from your veterinarian to determine if a health issue might be affecting her behavior, which at her age is particularly possible. Anxiety caused by diminishing senses (hearing and eyesight) may or may not be contributing to what's happening. Arden also points to new research indicating that dogs who suffered from separation anxiety early in life are more likely to have the same problem as they age. Then again, perhaps your family is simply away from home too many hours for Princess to deal with. If so, at least play with your dog or walk her before you leave in the evening. "Also, keep books and newspapers out of her reach," says Arden, of Framingham, MA. "Replace the reading material with dog toys she'll like, such as Kong toys stuffed with doggy toothpaste or biscuits." If your vet thinks anxiety may play a role in Princess' behavior, you could placate your pooch with a Plug-in diffuser called the Dog Appeasing Pheromone (available through vets, pet stores and online). This provides a kind of aromatherapy for dogs. Q: Our 13-year-old Himalayan cat pulls out the hair at her flanks. This started a few months ago. Our vet gave her two shots (of methylprednisolone, a steroid) but she's no better. We all think the problem is an allergy. Any other suggestions? - C.A., Muskegon, MI A: "An inhalant allergy can develop later in life but it's rare. A food allergy is somewhat more likely," says Dr. Edmund Rosser, veterinary dermatologist at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, East Lansing. Either you didn't give the methylprednisolone time to work, or perhaps the drug really didn't do any good, which indeed lessens the likelihood that allergies are involved. Pulling out hair from the flanks may also may be behavioral, or related to a not-so-obvious medical issue, ranging from hyperthyroidism to arthritis. Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Gary Landsberg, of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, has researched cases like yours. He says that in 15 of 21 cats studied, the cause of hair removal turned out to be medical. However, there may be a behavioral explanation. Has anything changed in your cat's environment? Did a relative come to visit? Have you added a new pet to the home? Do you have new office hours that alter your cat's routine? Even re-arranging the furniture can set off some cats. If you can't think of a thing that's changed, and your cat passed a detailed physical exam, it's time to consider food allergies and ask your vet about a food trial. Your cat will eat a novel diet (suggested by your vet) for a few months. Meanwhile, enrich your cat's environment by providing lots of toys to play with when you're not home, and participating in interactive play when you are home. Also, since Himalayans tend to be tubby tabbies, keeping your cat's weight within normal range is helpful. Also, frequent brushing is important to make sure her coat stays in good shape. Q: We treat our 12-year-old Labrador/Akita mix like a member of the family. She follows us from room to room, and we let her outside when we're in the garden. We love her very much. During the winter, we usually leave for four weeks and kennel the dog. This year, however, we're leaving for just over five weeks. We could leave our pet with a neighbor who dog sits, but this would cost quite a bit more money than usual. Do dogs really know the difference between four and five to six weeks? Where do you think we should leave our dog? - C.R., Bloomington, NY A: We all know dogs who celebrate as if they haven't seen us for 10 years when we return from a 20-foot walk to the end of the driveway to get the mail. It's one of the many traits that make dogs so endearing. True, dogs don't mark time as we do, counting the hours or days, but they do comprehend time at some level. Any kennel worker can confirm that many dogs hold it together for the first days their families are gone, then begin to show signs of stress. First, do you really like the facility where you kennel your dog? Does the staff offer exercise and lots of attention? Is the facility well-maintained? Most important, does your dog appear happy, healthy and unstressed when you've picked her up from the kennel before? If all your answers are an unqualified 'yes,' another week and a half probably won't matter. However, I can't help but wonder if you're asking this question because you have some doubts. Besides, truth be told, in most cases, a home environment is the preferred choice for most dogs. Some dogs really are perfectly content in a kennel, in part, because the facility does such a good job. Still, if your dog enjoys being with your neighbor, and if you're confident that the neighbor is responsible and is frequently at home (in a kennel, someone is always there), a home environment is best. Certainly, financial considerations are real and I'm not suggesting the kennel is necessarily the wrong choice unless you have misgivings because your dog has returned stressed and/or unhealthy in the past. Q: I live in a small apartment and I want a Siberian husky. My cousin, who shows huskies, thinks I'm crazy. I do jog every day, and I realize these dogs need tons of exercise. Should I even attempt this? - S.H., Boston, MA A: Take a husky who lives in a mansion but gets stuck in the back yard all day, without socialization or a chance to do anything except find a way to jump the fence - or take a husky living in even a small apartment but with a chance to get a daily run - which huskies love - and a chance to socialize with people and dogs along the way - which huskies relish - I'd choose your small place anytime. More importantly, so would any husky. Q: Over a year ago, we adopted our 2-year-old dog from a shelter. He loves other dogs, but only when he's off-leash. When he's on a leash, he growls at other dogs, even those he knows. Why does he do this? - B.M., Webster, NY A: "When there's uncertainty in their environment, dogs default to one of three choices: flight, fight or freeze," explains Chicago, IL trainer Jamie Damato. "The flight mode is no longer an option on-leash, and without a choice of movement, some less confident dogs immediately go into a defensive mode." What's more, you've been 'trained' to expect your dog to have difficulties when coming upon other dogs on-leash. "That expectation travels to the other end of the leash and you might even be yanking on the leash in expectation of the poor behavior," says Suzanne Clothier, of St. Johnsville, NY, author of "If A Dog's Prayers Were Answered Bones would Rain From the Sky: Deepening Our Relationship with Dogs." Clothier adds, "Be proactive and teach the dog to follow what you say, and what the appropriate response (when your dog is on a leash) should be." Damato says the best way to do that is to desensitize your dog to other dogs while on-leash. To do that, begin using (small pieces of) hot dogs or other high valued treats. Your pup gets a goodie by acting appropriately on-leash when around other dogs also on leashes. Begin by rewarding for your dog for sitting and other calm and appropriate behaviors when a second on-leash dog is maybe 20 or 30 feet away. Gradually, inch closer to that other dog. If your dog begins to lunge and growl, you're too close, so back off. Gradually, over a few weeks, inch closer to these other dogs. Once your dog gets close enough for a sniff, plan to meet friends' dogs on outings - dogs that your pet gets along with when they're off-leash. If you don't begin to see improvement, ask a trainer or behavior consultant for hands-on help. Q: A few months ago, we adopted a Jack Russell terrier. She often growls when we pet her and shows her teeth, though she's never made an attempt to bite. Also, her tail is wagging. So, does she want us to pet her or not? She's otherwise a friendly and wonderful pet. Do we just respect her wishes? - S.M., Ft. Lauderdale, FL A: "Yes, do listen to your dog, and respect her feelings," says Blairstown, NJ canine behavior consultant Pamela Dennison. "But I also feel your should be able to pet your own dog whenever you want to; it makes for a safer home. A growl really is a warning. Tail wagging or not; how do you know your dog won't bite? Say, your dog is lying down, but before you begin to pet her, ask her to sit or to come to you. Then, offer her a treat. Also, feed her each piece of kibble for all her meals by hand as you pet her. Dennison, author of the "Complete IDIOT'S Guide to Positive Dog Training" (alpha Books, New York, NY, 2005; $14.95), says you can also clicker-train your dog for a friendly response. Click and treat, and offer more treats every time you click the clicker. Then, click whenever you receive a response you like, and often (not always) reward your pet with a treat, as well. In your case, when your dog allows you to pet her, click and treat. However, if there's a growl or another inappropriate response, say "no" and walk away. If you continue to reward the behavior you want, you'll begin to see it more often and see the behavior you don't want gradually disappear. Q: Can eating street salt be bad for dogs? - B.C., Chicago, IL A: Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, of Denver, CO, known as a star of "Emergency Vets" on Animal Planet, says, "A dog would have to eat a whole lot of street salt to become very ill but it can cause stomach upset. That's one reason why it's a good idea for dogs to wear booties, or for you to wipe off the salt rather than to have the dog lick it off." Steve Dale's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com. He can be heard Sundays on WGN Radio,
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