Archives of Q & A's 1999

Please enjoy the archives of letters to Dr. Cookie. We hope you will find the questions & answers entertaining, informative, humorous, inspiring, and insightful!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a one year old Chihuahua (male) and I have recently adopted a Boxer (neutered) who is about three. The Boxer is very friendly towards the Chihuahua and tries to smell him and lick him, but the Chihuahua is very afraid of the boxer. He growls and snaps as soon as the Boxer comes near, and is always on my lap, on chairs or hiding under the bed. Generally he is very friendly towards dogs (he is very used to playing with them) but he is intimidated by big dogs. How do you recommend I help him overcome his fear

Dear Ross,

You are probably dealing with 4 problems: 1) your Chihuahua was not well socialized to big dogs before the age of 3 or 4 months; 2) he is scared of the bigger dog; 3) your Chihuahua was there first and the Boxer is invading his territory; and 4) they are both males and the Chihuahua is used to being king of the castle (dominant, despite his diminutive size).  Ideally, they should have at least been introduced on neutral territory.  These things take time.  Get your Boxer to down/stay when the little guy is near.  Give them both a special treat (cheese is usually popular) only in each other’s presence.  Handouts on Introducing New Pets, Dominance Behavior in Dogs, Territorial Behavior in Dogs are available on the QuickFix Page and would be a good investment for the future peace in your home!  

Hi,

We have a Basset Hound that goes absolutely crazy when we try to clip his nails.  He tries to bite, run away, cries, etc.   Do you have any ideas?

Dear Jody,

Sometimes less is more.  First get him used to having his feet and toes touched, then touched with gentle pressure.  Take it very slowly for a couple of months if necessary.  When he seems relaxed, trim one nail and give him a treat.  That’s it.  One nail.  Take it from there.  Details can be found in the QuickFix handout on ‘Trimming your pet’s nails’!

Hello Dr.,

I recently watched "Pet Love" on the Discovery Channel, which claimed that the reason some cats were more able to become domesticated was because of a certain "calming" hormone that prevented them from being afraid of humans.  Could nervous cats lack some element of that hormone, or could there be a dysfunction of some sort with the releasing of that hormone?

Dear Jodi,

There are many things that contribute to a cat’s temperament and attitude toward people.  Genes play a major role, as does learning (i.e. the cat’s experiences with people from an early age onward).  The circulation of hormones, including cortisol, contributes to a cat’s reactivity and emotionality.  But these hormones are only a part of a pet’s makeup.  Hormones wax and wane, they are released in cycles, and so it is unlikely that they can explain away a cat’s overall attitude.  In addition, some of these hormones are released during and following periods of stress.  So, which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Was the cat’s cortisol level high because it was anxious or was it anxious because the cortisol level was high?  There is a wide range of temperament among domestic cats.  Hormones can’t explain everything.  Thanks for your interesting question!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We own a two-year old Lab and we moved to a new apartment on Labor Day. Recently, our dog has begun chewing anything he can get his mouth on including TV remotes, books, clothes, etc.  We are obviously not around during the day while he is doing this and we have tried pointing out the chewed mess and yelling at him as punishment. He never displayed any chewing tendencies this severe before (the occasional socks-but we could live with that) and we are concerned about the continued destruction. He has become best friends with the dog next door and they play constantly. When we let him out he immediately goes over to their door to search for his friend.  Could this be a contributor to the chewing?

Dear Daniel,

Moving can put everyone in to a bit of a tizzy and it can take time to settle down.  Destructiveness in your absence probably hints at the anxiety he feels when he is left alone (separation anxiety).  He needs to be tired and empty before you leave. Tips and additional background info can be found in the QuickFix handouts on ‘Separation Anxiety’ and ‘Destructiveness’.  The dog next door could be part of the solution if they get to play before you leave and not when you return…And please do not punish him when you come home.  It is too late.  The damage is done (literally) and you are only teaching him to fear your return and therefore increase his anxiety!!!

Dear Dr. Schwartz:

As a veterinarian, how do you feel about non-certified people hanging up a shingle and practicing "animal behavior" after attending a few seminars and reading a couple books? 

Dear Fellow Veterinarian ,

This is one of the reasons that board certification was so important to this relatively new specialty of veterinary medicine.  This field has now become an art as well as a science that requires advanced training and years of practice. I admit it is frustrating that there are so many self-proclaimed ‘experts’ around.  All we can do is our best and hope that pet owners will know that there is a difference in quality of care and in expertise.  Veterinarians around the country are increasingly aware of how important this specialty is and we are grateful for your referrals.

Hi Dr. Cookie,

My husband and I have a little Maltese who is about 10 months old.  We drop him off at my mother-in-law's house every morning, and pick him up after work (she stays at home during the day).  About 2 weeks ago, when I went to pick him up after work, he began to run around barking loudly, and started nipping at my mother-in-laws pant legs.  Then about a week ago, he started doing the same thing at home, when I tried to take him out the door to leave in the morning, he would growl and bark and run back to my husband and bark at him angrily.  He has always barked nipped etc. at the person who he is leaving, never me, who is taking him.   Do you have any insight?

Dear Kristen,  

You say that he has always barked at the person who is leaving and now he has learned to apply this behavior to other contexts.  Aggression tends to generalize (show up in unrelated situations) if it is not immediately corrected.  This little guy needs some obedience training ! Teach him to sit and down and practice coming and going with him on a leash.  He is acting out his excitement in an undesirable way.  It is up to you to teach him how you would like him to behave (my handout on ‘Obedience Training’ teaches you to apply commands to every day problems!).

Dear Dr. Cookie:

My 2-year-old cat Butler has been spilling his water a lot lately.  He moves his dish around when we're at work or in bed asleep.  He's done it every day for the last week or so.  He used to do it only when the bowl was dirty or had little water in it.  But I give him lots of fresh water (Brita-filtered, at that!) every day now, so I'm not sure why he's doing it.  I thought he may do it for attention because he feels neglected, but we've been paying more attention to him lately than ever before!  And I can't think of anything that's changed.  Any ideas? 

Dear Patricia from Bedford, Nova Scotia, 

This is a fun game!  Hmmm, what shall I do now?  Let’s go spill some water, that’s cool, and Mom will come running as a bonus, neato!!! You could get one of those dog bowls that doesn’t spill, or you could put his water dish in the bathtub so you won’t care if he spills it, or you could get a little table top fountain for him so he has running water to play with too!  Enjoy!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a Dusky Cheek conure who has a severe screaming problem. I've tried isolating him and he stops for awhile but when brought back out, starts screaming again. My boyfriend and I are at a loss. I also tried squirting him with a squirt gun and that seemed to work for awhile. But I didn't want to make him afraid of the water. Like I said, I'm out of ideas and it's ruining my relationship. Please help!!!

Dear Tracy,

Did he start screaming before or after you started seeing your boyfriend?  Birds are very social and emotional creatures.  Conures, among others, are screamers and your bird is upset.  Instead of squirting him, play with him!  Build him a little birdie playground with ropes and toys.  Get your boyfriend to feed him little treats in response to remaining calm and quiet.  Be patient, he may think of you as his mate and your boyfriend is stealing you away!

Hi,

I have a rabbit who lives in an outdoor hutch most of the year.  It has a small entrance into an enclosed area that is supposed to be for sleeping(especially when it gets cold out!).  Well, our rabbit poops in this area, and we can't get him to stop.  Do you have any ideas?

Dear Jim & Jody,

Well, you may have decided where he should be sleeping and where he should be defecating but apparently he does not agree and it is HIS house.  Keep his hutch clean and don’t worry about it!

Hi Dr. Cookie-

My homework this week from my Animal Behavior Class is to find out the answer to the question, "Why do cats purr?" 

Dear Bonnie, 

Cats purr because they can!  It is the result of alternating vibrations of the vocal cords and pharynx, as well as the diaphragm.  Cats purr when they are content, but also when they are anxious.  Purring is a gift a cat gives you for your love and devotion.  Each cat has his or her own style and volume.  I can identify each of my cats by their ‘motor’!  How lucky am I?!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Please recommend a small breed of dog for my nonsporting, stay-at-home family. Primary caregiver: 12-year old son with a lot of love to give.

Dear Marylou,

There are many small breeds and many small mixed breed dogs (visit your local shelter!) that would make a wonderful addition to your family.  Terriers are usually high energy dogs and may not be what you seem to want.  All puppies have high energy for at least the first year.  And all puppies should be raised as if they will grow into 150 lb Rottweilers, regardless of their predicted adult size.  Having said all this, consider a Beagle, a Pug, a Shih Tzu, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Miniature Poodle…just a few that come to mind!  Enjoy your search and remember that beauty is only skin deep, temperament and health are the major criteria.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a almost 3 year old Cairn Terrier Male. He is like an alarm clock. 6 am he's up and wants to be walked. He'll jump up and down like he's having a tantrums. How can I get him to sleep in on weekends??

Dear Claire,

It sounds like he has you well trained!  You need to do 2 things: 1) Take him for a longer walk in the evenings and play with him so he is really tired before your bedtime; and 2) Don’t give in to his tantrums, no matter what!  Attention, good or bad, is still attention!!!  

Hi,

Have a 1 year old female tabby, 8.5 lbs.   Has been in the home 2 months.  Keeps cranking her head around and licking a raw spot on her back.  Local vet gave a cortisone shot but cat keeps licking the same spot.  Does not lick other areas of her body raw.  Lives in an apartment with one adult human.

Dear Connie,

Some cats will over groom themselves when they are anxious.  This excessive self-grooming is a compulsive behavior that responds well to a combination of behavior modification and, if necessary, medication (cortisone is usually ineffective).  You have recently acquired this kitty and she is still adjusting to you, but it sounds like you both need some help to ease the transition.  Please let me know if you’d like to set up an email consult…

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Last year we got 2 new couches.  The cats have urinated on both of them.  Now we have to keep them locked up at night.  My husband is getting very frustrated with them.  What would cause this?  We have never seen them urinate on the couch, so it’s hard to discipline them…

Dear Jody, 

Territorial urine marking is seen in as many as 13% of the pet cat population.  One of the favorite targets is new objects, such as new furniture.  You will find many helpful pointers in these QuickFix Handouts: Territorial Behavior in Cats, Inappropriate Elimination in Cats….  I would definitely have your veterinarian take a urine sample from both cats to make sure there is no underlying bladder or kidney problem.  Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Crystal is a 5 year old tortoiseshell spayed female cat.  She is an outdoor cat, and has her own cat door.  Everything was normal until two nights ago when she came charging in the house as if a herd of wild elephants was after her.  My husband and I went outside to see if perhaps the neighbor cat was after her (he is male), but there was nothing in sight.  After a little while she went back outside, but within minutes was back in again doing the same thing.  Now things have gotten progressively worse and as of this writing she will not go outside at all, and if we bring her with us she stiffens up and struggles to get down to run back in the house.  I took her to her local vet yesterday, and he examined her and couldn't find anything physically wrong with her, and he seems to think that perhaps an owl might have scared her, and my husband said maybe she had been struck by lightning or something.  She has not used the bathroom since yesterday morning even though I have a littler box in the house.  I am truly worried about her and do not really know where to turn or what to do.

Dear Jean M.,

It’s a big bad scary world out there.  That is why I do not recommend that any pet be let outside unattended.  Your cat has been spooked by something out there and is behaving defensively.  Keep her indoors, in one comfortable safe room with her own food, water and litter box.  She will urinate when she is more relaxed.  If not, have her re-examined after 48 hours (or sooner if she is acting sick, and not just afraid).  Remember she is an outdoor cat that is not used to using a box very often, but she will get used to it.  Follow her own good sense, keep her indoors!  By the way, animals are injured and killed by lightning but this shows definite lesions and symptoms, none of which you describe!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 6 yr old German Shorthaired Pointer. His tail was never docked. This has never been a problem until recently. We just moved into a new home that seems to have many walls and doorways, which he wags his tail into. He swings his tail so hard the tip of it begins to bleed. He then "paints" the walls with blood. This has been happening almost daily for a month. Are there risks involved in docking his tail now? If so, what are they? Can it scar him psychologically? Our veterinarian believes this may be the only permanent solution. He feels if we bandage his tail and allow it to heal completely, it will only be a matter of time before it happens again.

Dear Steve,

Well, this hasn’t happened in 6 years, so I figure if you get it to stop it may not happen again for another 6 years!  Tails are in constant motion so they can be slow to heal.  I would rather see you bandage that tail then cut it off!!! There are surgical glues, creams that dry as invisible skin-like seals, and several other options to explore (including daily bandages).  Tails are such wonderful things, it would be a shame to give up so soon!  Tails are important tools for social communication between dogs and people to dogs too.  Tail amputation might not harm him psychologically but it would be better to avoid unnecessarily removing it and submit him to a procedure that could be avoided.   Let me know how you do!  

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Since we got him, it’s hard to find something my 6 yr old Boston Terrier like to eat.  He is a very picky eater.  He will eat moist food sometimes but not all the time; he won’t eat dry dog food.  We are feeding him scraps because that is the only thing he will eat.

Dear Megan,

You have answered your own question!  Doggies that black mail you into feeding them table scraps don’t need to eat dog food, do they?!  Speak with your veterinarian about choice of brands, quantity, etc. For folks with your problem, I generally recommend: 1) no scraps, 2) two meals a day, remove the uneaten portion after 15 minutes, and 3) stick with the well-known brands recommended by your veterinarian!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My husband and I have a female Shiba Inu  about 7 1/2 months old.  About 2 months ago, we bought a Norwegian Elkhound, now about 4 months old.     We have been having aproblem with them fighting.  It isn't serious fighting.  You can tell it's play.  But it never stops.  I knew that there would be some fighting for the dominant position but it is still continuing after 2 months.  The Norwegian Elkhound is now bigger than the Shiba and I'm afraid that one of these times she's really going to mistakenly bite too hard.  What should I do?

Dear Rebecca, 

If it is play, it sounds like they are having a good time!  Young dogs need a lot of exercise and these two sound like they are good friends!  My dogs do the same thing (both females, one large breed and one small; photos on the way on the Family Photos page, still under construction!).  If it is dominance, and part of it may well be, leave them alone.  No one is getting hurt and they will work it out!  Enjoy!

Hi Dr. Cookie!

I have a 16 mo. old Rottweiler. I can not  motivate him to run with me, all he wants to do is be dragged along no matter what speed I go. He will walk beside me very well,  but he won’t go in front of me or run along side of me.    He was saved from the POUND and I would like to keep him but I need a dog that will jump in the bed of the truck and run with me.   I live in Ottawa Ks. and have no dog trainers around here to help me so if you can give me any advice it will help.

Dear Terry,

Here are some of my thoughts: 1) Have your veterinarian make sure the dog has no hip or knee problems; 2) Rotties are not marathon runners, they are not built for speed; 3) This is a young dog who is just getting to know you, give him time! 4) Just like any athlete, dogs need to go into training to get in shape, so start slowly, WALK! 5) If he does not want to run, DO NOT FORCE HIM TO RUN WITH YOU, YOU WILL INJURE HIM PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS INJURE HIS TRUST IN YOU! 6) No dog should be riding in the back of an open truck, keep him inside the cabin where he is safe! Please! 7) Why can’t you love this dog and keep him anyway, accepting him for his own abilities?  Take him for long walks, then go on your run, knowing that your buddy is happy and secure at home.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have 2 kittens - 8 and 10 weeks old.   The white one (Duchess) is extremely friendly and sociable.  The tuxedo one (Duke) is a fraidy cat. As soon as you get close to him he runs under the nearest piece of furniture.  Duke will hiss & tremble if you manage to pick him up. Eventually (1-2 min) he will calm down and let you stroke  him but the first chance he gets to leave, he'll take it.  He will now come onto the bed when he thinks we are asleep, but as soon as you move he runs away.  What can we do to help him? 

Dear Shelley,

Leave the poor little guy alone!  Not all cats are as tame as Duchess.  Let him come to you on his own terms when he is ready.  You could try feeding him while you hold the bowl but don’t even touch him for a few weeks until he relaxes. Forcing him to be held right now may backfire.  Be patient.  And don’t compare him to Duchess. 

Dear Dr. Cookie:

 I have 2 kittens who are out of control at night.  Can I buy a cage & put them in it to sleep?

Dear Angelique, 

Why don’t you make sure they are tired before you go to bed?  Wake them up if they are sleeping in the early evening, play with them, and if necessary, let them sleep in a guest bathroom or spare room with their own litter box.  You could, of course, just close your bedroom door.  They’ll adjust to your schedule in time…

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Why does my cat lick my skin?  Does it have anything to do with salt ? It doesn't seem to matter whether or not I use hand creams.  When I made up a very salty solution and  put some on my skin she tasted it and soon thereafter jumped off my lap. 

Dear ‘kobwebs’ ,

Your scientific analysis is admirable but the explanation is simple, Dr. Watson.  Your cat’s licking is a form of affection.  She is grooming you!  Enjoy!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a Brittany Spaniel that constantly chews on its front paws, I wonder if this is a nervous condition or what?

Dear Greg,

Mostly what. Licking the paws could be a form of obsessive-compulsive behavior, but it could also be an allergy-related symptom.  If your veterinarian can exclude this possibility, then get back to me!

Dear Dr Cookie    

 I have recently purchased 2 Cocker Spaniels and ideally want to keep them outside in a kennel but i am worried in case they don’t bond with humans. I take them for a walk twice a day and can see them constantly

Dear Janet,

Since you are asking my advice, I will be straightforward in giving it.  I do NOT advise leaving dogs outside, unattended, even in a fenced in area.  Your fear that they will be less well socialized is well-founded but there are other behavior/health/safety issues related to this practice.  Let them out for brief periods, walk them at least twice a day, and keep them with you where they belong!

Dear Dr. Cookie

Our 12 week old kitten plays in his sandbox and meows. He rolls in it like he enjoys it. He seems to be eliminating ok. This behavior has been going on for 2 days. It has us concerned. He is also VERY hyper. What do you think?

Dear C. Francis,

I think he is a goofy kitten who needs more play time, a variety of toys (make your own!), and possibly another kitten to play with!  I also think you should keep your camera loaded and nearby to record his silliness so you can look back and laugh! J

Dear Dr.,

My daughter lives with us and has a cat named Jasmine.  She hasn't gotten Jasmine fixed and therefore she's had 2 litters (I plan to take jasmine myself and have her fixed soon).  Anyway, Jasmine behaved normal with her first litter but, this litter she is being mean.  She has them in my bedroom but she won't let them explore and socialize with the family and our pets.

Dear Diane,

Mother cats can become very anxious if they feel overwhelmed by too much activity around them (that includes visitors, even people they know), or by what they perceive as threats (other pets, for example).  Keep her in your bedroom, close the door, and leave them be.  She may also be sick.  Have her examined by your veterinarian for the presence of any postpartum infection…and get her spayed as soon as those kittens are weaned.  Enough is enough.  Your daughter needs to take responsibility for her cat, or she is not her cat, is she?

Hello,

My neighborhood seems to be full of dogs that people free every morning to do their "dirty work" in everyone else's yard.We have spent hundreds of dollars to make our yard look nice and although I love dogs (we have a 5 lb poodle) they are killing my bushes. One Lilac bush is  almost dead from the large dogs hiking his leg on it.  Is there anything that I can do to keep these dogs from killing my plants? 

Dear THMmom,

I sympathize with your problem, having gone through similar aggravations.  However, short of keeping the pressure on your local Animal Control Officer to enforce the leash law with your negligent neighbors, there is not much else to do.  Consider putting a fence around the bushes, or transplanting the lilacs and other plants that are more sensitive.  Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a Miniature Poodle who always has his penis protruding from his penal covering.  The vet told me that he hasn't been properly groomed.  Well after he was groomed, a week later it was out once again.  I don't know what is wrong. 

Dear Holly,

Your dog’s erections have nothing to do with how well he is or isn’t groomed.  If he is not neutered, he will have several erections daily.  However, in some dogs, the prepuce can be a bit tight and extend an erection. More than likely, he needs to be neutered and you need to stop rewarding his sexual behavior with your attention!  

Dear Dr. Cookie

We have a 5 month old Miniature Poodle who goes crazy when our daughter practices the violin. We had hoped that this would get better as he got accustomed to the sound but it has not. He does not run away from the sound but rather runs towards her whenever she begins playing and begins to bark and howl. Even if we separate them by two rooms he still hears her and whimpers. Is this painful to him ? 

  Dear Megan,

Well, I don’t know how well your daughter plays BUT a dog’s ears are certainly far more sensitive than our own.  It may indeed be physically uncomfortable for him but he should tolerate it in time.  Why don’t you take him for a walk while she practices?  Or play with him? Or practice obedience?  At the very least, practice a down/stay and give him a rawhide bone to chew out his frustrations! 

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a male and a female English Setter I would like to breed but my male just can't get things in the right place, if you know what I'm talking about.  He mounts her and then that's it - there is never an insertion or anything close to it.                                                   

Dear Greg,

Inexperienced males can take time to figure things out.  His behavior is normal.  I don’t know how old they are but the female should be close to 2 years old before she is bred.  You can help him by guiding his penis manually.  Speak with your veterinarian for more information. If you are not an experienced dog breeder yourself, it might be best to have these dogs neutered & leave it up to the professionals.  Your dogs do not need the experience to be better pets...!

Dear Doctor::

We have 1 Labrador  who is now 4 years old. He is a male, black, fixed. His name is Loupo. We bought another Labrador 4 weeks ago, a female, blond, 12-weeks old. Her name is Chloe. They play in the fenced-in yard, though Chloe doesn’t yet the difference between play and hurting. Loupo had obedience-training 3 years ago, when he was about 8-months. Today, I tried to walk both of them outside our fenced-in yard. It was good for a while until Loupo spotted other dogs in the street. He was uncontrollable. Choker, restraint pull or what, he went wild towards the other dogs. Chloe attached to the split-leash tumbled along. It was sheer Hell. The neighbours pulled-in their dogs and scolded me for having a vicious dog. What am I doing wrong? Why did this happen?   Thank you so much Dr.

Dear Werner ,

Loupo’s aggression toward other dogs could be any or all of the following: territorial aggression, intermale aggression, pack defensive aggression, dominance aggression, poor socialization with other dogs.  When was the last time he was walked through your neighborhood?  When was the last time you practiced obedience with him when things were quiet?  It seems important to first define his problem and then work with him to correct it.  I am available for telephone & email consults.  Together, we can help Loupo and perhaps prevent Chloe from copying her ‘big brother’!

Dear Dr Cookie,

I gave my daughter a 8 month old Oriental Neutered Male cat  She also has 3 little boys aged 4, 3 and 6 months.  He won't come out in the day time, but when the children are asleep he was coming out and joining them, lying with them and seemed quite settled.  They had him for a week with no dramas, until one day he got on their bed and defecated on it, since then he urinates on it if he gets the chance.  Is he too distressed and should I remove him?  He seems scared of the children. I've told them to shut the bedroom doors, but he has started to hiss at them if he cannot hide under the bed in the daytime. Thanking you in advance for your help,

Hi Chris from Australia.  It may be too much too soon for this little guy.  How much contact did he have with children during his first few months of life?  This affects him now.  He has just arrived in a new home with a lot of unfamiliar energy and it is normal for him to be anxious.  He needs to feel sheltered in one room so he can build a safety zone from there.  He is marking his territory and that too is understandable, if not desirable.  Order the QuickFix Handouts on Inappropriate Elimination in Cats, Kids & Pets, Moving to a New Home, and Territorial Behavior in Cats.  These will give you all the info you need.  And if not, let me know!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 21 pound 3 year old cat. With two cats, keeping Shekina's food separate has been a challenge. When he was on diet food, it became a constant (losing) battle to keep him away from the other cat's food. The other cat now eats in his own "fort" - we switched Shekina back to regular food and he seems happier than he was, but he is still ALWAYS hungry and begging for food. At feeding time, he just meows incessantly and then sucks up the food he is given at a disturbing pace. Sometimes, right after eating he'll meow incessantly too. We're worried about his size and hate the fact that he so focused on his food. This food battle has been going on for more than a year. Any suggestions?

Dear Jeni,

Cats can become obsessed with food if 1) it is the highlight of their day, and 2) they are rewarded for vocalizing/begging with food.  Dig in your heels and ignore his nagging.  Play with him instead, make him chase after dry food one piece at a time as part of his feeding.  Feed both cats (before he asks you for it) in a different room so they have their own portion.  Control his quantity of food, and his obnoxious behavior, and he will begin to lose weight.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Louie is almost 2 years old.  A beautiful Cocker Spaniel that I adopted from the Humane Society when he was 1 year old   He becomes totally fixated on moving shadows and will tear up grass with his teeth in a mock attack on a shadow.  He seems to be extremely obsessive to the point of not being able to divert him to other interests - even food.  When we go out, I take a ball or frisbee for him to play with and try to keep his attention with that but he prefers shadows.  It doesn't seem healthy.

Dear Vickie,

Shadow chasing, in the extreme form you describe, is an obsessive-compulsive behavior that may be controlled with psychoactive medication and behavior modification.  Louie needs help and so do you.  Please contact me to set up a telephone consult? 

Hi Dr. Cookie

I am looking for a definition of what my vet called our newly adopted adult cat: an "alpha" tomcat. he is a very large male. He was neutered yesterday, but I am still wondering whether his large size &/or social conditioning before we adopted him will make him aggressive with our other 7 adult cats.

Hi Sue.  There is no such thing as an ‘alpha tomcat’.  Social hierarchies in cats are far more complicated than in dogs, or even people.  Their ranks are determined by individuals involved, where they are, and even what time it is.  It is impossible to predict how he will interact with your other cats although size is not necessarily a reliable predictor.  Order the QuickFix handout on Introducing New Pets and Territorial Behavior in Cats to learn more!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 4 month old Shiba Inu puppy. She is great, however, she very fearful of me. She plays with my daughter, and comes to my wife sometimes when called. but I scare her.   I don’t speak in a loud voice to her, and I massage and pet her when I can, and I also give her treats.  She has only been with us a week and she's being less timid around the house. and playing more often than she did at first. We have also stared socializing her with other dogs and people which she does very good at.  

Dear Franky D.,

She may be behaving submissively toward you, which is similar but not quite the same as fearful.  Speak softly, avoid direct eye contact, crouch down rather than stand over her, and give food rewards for approaching you.  She may not have had much contact with men in her formative socialization period but she should come around with your patience & love.  Enjoy!

Dear Doctor,

Recently our neighbors across the street have been fostering a 1 yr old unneutered male snow-shoe cat. I have visited this cat regularly and have fallen in love with it. Unfortunately, my mother says the cat is too old to be neutered without the chance of spraying, and therefore denies me the chance to have this cat. I would love to have this cat for my own.  Is it too late to get this cat neutered so that it will not spray? It has had no problem with spraying before, at least from our neighbors report, but I also have a 4 year old rather large Russian Blue neutered male cat. Will he pose a threat to the spraying as well?

Dear Emily in MI,

Thirteen percent of pet cats mark their territories with urine.  Some of them are neutered, some of them aren’t.  You can’t blame hormones for everything, although they are part of the solution if not the prevention.  Take the cat, have him neutered.  Introduce him gradually to your big Blue (QuickFix topics to order will give you great tips: Introducing New Pets, Moving to a New Home with your Pet, Inappropriate Elimination in Cats) and chances are good things will be fine!

Dear Doc.,

I have 2 English Mastiffs. My 10 month old male is a show dog and we go on 3 day dog shows.  He WILL NOT go to the bath room! We are talking 3 days!!  And as soon as we are home he goes.  What can I do to help him?

Dear Emmaree,

Some dogs are very particular about where they choose to urinate or defecate.  He is still a puppy and traveling away from home to an exciting and unfamiliar environment with so many adult dogs will make him uncomfortable.  He should outgrow this problem, however, this is a good example where training a dog to void on a verbal cue comes in handy!  Tips are given in my handout on House Training Your Puppy or Dog.  Enjoy!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I've got a new cat (a 8 month old female, spayed, shots) from an animal shelter a couple of months ago as a companion for my other cat (5 year old male, neutered, shots) following the death of his companion cat. They bonded after 2.5 days. They get along famously, play together, sleep together in my chair. She sleeps on my lap, and curls up next to me. But this new cat, Grace, neither purrs nor meows. She has opened her mouth to hiss, but no noise, just a vacant gape. She appears to be completely mute. The vet hasn't mentioned any physical anomalies. Are purring and meowing learned behaviors?

Dear Ellen,

Vocalizing is an instinct but there are learned components.  For example, cats learn to ‘meow’ for food! In your case, she may simply be going through a period of adjustment and when she is more relaxed, the purring will emerge.  She may have had a viral infection that affected her upper airways, including the larynx and pharynx, which might also affect the sounds she makes (although this should be a temporary situation).  Finally, she just may be a cat who vocalizes very little.  Glad that things are working out for the new ‘couple’!

Dr. Cookie:

My 7 year old black neutered tom cat brings home pieces of clothing as gifts. He comes and goes via a cat door and is happy, healthy, not too aggressive and even puts up with my baby boy. Anyway, somewhere between midnight and 3 a.m. nearly every night, he drags home pieces of clothing, rags, stuffed toys, and dish towels (he's really big on dish towels). He will try to drag them through the cat door, but mostly drops them in the front or side yard. I even wear some of the t-shirts he has brought. The only problem we have is that, during the summer, he brings live snakes into the house (gardner snakes, only, thank god).

Dear John from Moscow, Idaho,

Well, this is a new one! Perhaps he was a clothing designer in a past life? Or perhaps a flea market dealer? This is very interesting redirected predatory behavior. Sounds like quite a bright boy! You could get a cat door that only allows him out but not in so you can control some of the stuff he collects...or you could just keep him inside :-D !

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 3 year-old neutered male cat whom we got from the pound when he was about four months old. He was unusually aggressive as a kitten, biting my ankles for no reason, and curling around to bite my arm if I picked him up. And if upset he was more likely to attack than to retreat. He grew into an extremely big, powerful animal who never became sociable, did not care to be picked up or held on a lap, and had a very low tolerance for prolonged contact of any kind. We areexperienced cat owners, having had a number of cats of varying temperaments, so we decided to keep him and see if he might calm down as he got older. Well, he is somewhat better with us than he was, but recently we had two successive house guests who stayed in a room he thinks of as his, and he was a menace: hissing, spitting, circling, stalking, blocking their way, hissing at us when he couldn't get rid of the guests, and looking really wild-eyed.He does not even tolerate people who come to the door. I can see no option but to put him down, for the safety of all concerned, but I am having a terrible time with it. I have never put any animal down beforeexcept when it was clearly at the end of its life. This one is young, physically healthy, and beautiful, in his wild way. It is up to me to make this decision, and I currently feel like a traitor, patting him and yet sending him to his death.

Dear Maureen from Grimsby, Ontario,

Many young cats, including my own, go through aggressive phases. If these are treated early enough, the aggression can be significantly decreased. In your case, he is showing severe territorial aggression toward ‘intruders’ in your home. You seem to be fine with him otherwise, despite his untamed behavior. A simple solution would be to crate him in a cat ‘condo’ or a room of his own when you have guests, or even to board him at a kennel or your veterinary clinic. You could even hold him back with a harness and leash although I would be concerned that he turn on you if he can’t reach the guests... euthanasia is not your only answer. Consider contacting me for a consult to discuss all your options. Even if it is just to help you make a painful decision, I am here.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Our cat ( a stray that adopted us in October) had a hysterectomy 8 weeks ago, after she weaned her 1st and only litter (now 13 weeks old). Her mood has changed dramatically, she used to love to sit on our laps, purred constantly, followed us everywhere and was very sweet. Now she hisses, bites, and ignores us and the two kittens we still have and stays away from the house for many hours at a time. Is it hormonal? Will she get over it?

Dear Laurie in France,

It is normal for a mother cat to become aggressive toward kittens at weaning. This is what keeps them away from her so her milk can dry up and she can get on with her life! It is also the time that the kittens begin a life of their own. She may be resenting their presence if she is not a cat that likes to share her territory. You might be better placing the kittens in good homes. She could also be reacting to something outside, and so it might be an idea to keep her indoors once the kittens are gone. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 1 year old cat who is not going all the way into the kitty litter. Instead she goes half way in, then sticks her bottom over the edge of the tray (it's quite high) and
poops on the tracking mat below. The kitty litter has a cover and to use it she must climb in through a hole.

Dear Rachel,

Some cats object to the build up of odors in covered boxes. She may be trying to tell you something! Keep that box extra clean!!!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

My friend has a 3 year old, male, neutered Pomeranian named Fox. He seems to be afraid of everything. He is afraid of feet and brushes and baths, which leads his owners to think he may have been abused. He growls at people often, every time he is picked up, or if someone is putting on his leash. It usually seems like a case of "all bark and no bite," but the other day, when I was babysitting the 12 year old boy in the family, he growled at me and bit me, in a growling and snapping frenzy, breaking the skin in several places, etc. I got him to go to his crate, and locked him inside, until the parents came home only minutes later. This dog can't be taken to public places, has a really hard time meeting new people, can't even be picked up without snarling and snapping, and is a nervous wreck all the time. He has bitten everyone in the family numerous times. Everyone still loves him so much, and he seems to trust them, but anything can set him off, and suddenly, he's barking and snapping at people, and sometimes there doesn't even seem to be a clear reason. Being only 4 pounds, they claim he's not "a real threat" to anyone. My friend, who owns Fox, tells me she's just accepted that this is the way he is.

Dear Meghan,

I find it significant that you are more motivated to seek help for the dog than are his owners. The major problem with toy dogs is often that they are treated like toys when they should be treated like dogs. They don’t know how small they are and are usually not trained the way a big dog would be. Yes, there are certainly solutions. The first would be for you not to jeopardize your own safety by exposing yourself to this little terror. The next step would be to encourage your friend to contact me so she can deal with this problem once and for all.On the other hand, it is only a problem if the owner thinks it is a problem. At the very least, it sounds like you are a good friend to have...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I brought a 10-week old Siamese male kitten home last week. He spent the first few hours investigating, and was shown his litter box and food area. My concern is that when he's not sleeping, playing, eating or being stroked he meows all the time. Is this a feature of the Siamese cat, or could there be something wrong? Either way, is there anything I can do to try to stop him meowing constantly?

Dear Victoria,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Siamese cats. Owners of Siamese cats say they are very vocal. This may well be part of the breed, although I suspect that keeping them occupied and challenged with play and attention will decrease their vocalizations. There has never been a study to really determine whether they actually vocalize more or just more loudly. Certainly, the Siamese voice is distinct. How about another kitten to keep him busy when you can’t?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a one year old female cat, named Mashka. She's usually a great cat, except in the evenings. She starts meowing non stop. It seems as though something is
bugging her. She's neutered so I don't think she's in heat. What is going on with her and what can I do to help her.

Dear Juliette from Los Angeles,

Cats are normally more active at dusk and dawn. I am glad she is staying indoors. This also means you need to compensate for the activity she craves...keep her busy!

Dear Dr Cookie,

I have an ex-tom cat who is about 4-5 years old (he was an adult when we had him desexed) and has a few quirky personality traits. Firstly, when we feed him, he sometimes looks at the food and then at me and won't eat unless I pivot the bowl 180 degrees (the bowl has 2 compartments). He is then quite happy to eat. I tried putting the food in the side I thought hepreferred and sometimes he eats straight away, but more often than not I have to change it. He will also walk away from the bowl I put it in to another bowl and will then meow until I put the food where he is. Also, the back door and the front door are directly opposite each other and he will come in the back door and meow and look at everyone until someone opens the front door for him to go outside (when he has just come in and the back door is still open!) Also, sometimes when I am home alone and he is outside, he will meow until I come and look for him and then he runs to me and rubs up against my leg.He is an affectionate cat who meows and purrs a lot and we all love him heaps and don't mind about the above, but I was just wondering why he might be doing these things as none of our other 3 cats do it.

Dear Kris from Cairns, Australia,

This big boy has you well trained! His ‘meows’ are attention seeking behavior and you have now been trained to perform a sequence of behaviors just because he pushes your buttons! Don’t respond to the behaviors you don’t like, and respond to the ones you do. And give him attention before he asks for it! Sounds like a great guy, enjoy him!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

In June, we found an 8 lb male poodle mix in the road in front of our house. After unsuccessful lost ads, we took him to our vet who said he was about 2 years old. He was certified healthy and we gave him all the necessary shots and had him neutered. Since we already had 4 dogs and 8 cats we put him up for adoption. We had noticed possessive behavior with toys and his bed prior to the adoption. (the bed behavior was almost a sexual ritual-fluffing and humping the bed) He would growl and nip if you came near him. The people who adopted him brought him back after a month threatening to have him put down because he bit the woman when she moved his bed. He is house broken and crate trained and a delight most of the time and very affectionate. He has the cutest personality and gets along well with both cats and dogs. However, this week he grabbed a small chocolatebox and when I reached for it he came at me. That night my husband found him asleep in the closet on his jeans. When he went to pick him up he went through the same aggressiveness and nipped my husband on the hand. This morning he was humping a quilt and when my husband nudged him with his foot and said "StopSammy." , he was bitten pretty badly on the ankle. It is like he has a split personality. We don't know what to do at this point. Do you have any suggestions? We really don't want to have him put down.

Dear Sammy's Mom,

This little guy doesn’t know he only weighs 8 lbs. He was neutered late, which means that he has lots of memories of his sexual urges and experience even though the hormones are no longer in circulation (hence the masturbation and part of his 'attitude'). He has also never been ‘put in his place’ with appropriate obedience training. He needs work, and probably a lot of it. The question is whether or not you have the time to invest in him. Consider my handouts on Obedience Training, Dominance Behavior in Dogs, and Possessive Aggression. They will tell you what you need to know and do... Good luck!

Hello Dr. Cookie,

My 10 year old grey tom cat sits around and licks plastic bags. He does it multiple times daily. Sometimes he'll purr while doing it. He does it randomly -- so it isn't on a schedule or anything [like always doing it after eating or sleeping]. A friend said that it is a deficiency that
the cat thinks he can satisfy by licking plastic. Is there any truth to this?

Dear Stacey from Boston, MA

No, this is not related to any nutritional deficiency. More than likely, it is a form of obsessive compulsive behaviors. I would be happy to make a house call to help you with your boy. I am concerned that the behavior could progress to his swallowing the bags...please email or call me at your earliest convenience? Meanwhile, put away your bags!

Dear Dr. Cookie

Dog behaviorists here in Maine feel that excess protein in dog food contributes to aggression and anxiety. They recommend cutting the dogs protein after 1 1/2 years old to less than 20%. What is your opinion regarding this.

Dear Reen from Maine,

Well, I know that there are no board certified veterinary behaviorists in your state so the people you have spoken to may be dog trainers that claim to know more. It has been proven some time ago that protein has nothing to do with behavior problems, unless the animal is deficient in protein by starvation... Dogs should be on an adult formula food shortly after they are neutered and certainly by the time they are 1 year old. OK? OK!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 5 month old Jack Russell Terrier that I have had for about 3 months now. I have been trying to house train him, but I work a lot and I don't have much time to focus on his training. Over the last month he has developed a nasty habit of backing up until his anus is touching the wall and than defecating until the feces slides down the wall to the floor. Why would he be doing this and what can I do to prevent further damage to my walls?

Dear Adam from Tampa, FL

This is a form of territorial marking with feces. Respectfullyt, I must comment that you are not fulfilling your obligation to him. If you do not have time for him, why did you get him? If you are have no time to house train him, how about his obedience training? JRs can become little menaces if you don’t get a handle on them. Focus on this dog. Order my handout on house training, which includes crate training as an option. Focus on taking him to obedience training, or order my handout on the same. Or focus on finding him another home! At least consider hiring a dog walker to help him get through the day... Hope things work out!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have 2 twin brother cats about 9 months old, both neutered. They are terrified of my live-in boyfriend. They were away from him for several months while I worked in a different city, but now we are living together again and they won't come out when he's in the apartment; they sleep in their carrier or the litter box. The other night we came home and they were on the chair with no place to run, and they were shaking as he got close and when he reached down to pet one, he got so scared he piddled. They aren't scared of anyone or anything else, not even the vet. He promised to be nice to them, but I want to know if there's any hope of desensitizing them so we can all get along. How should I go about doing it? Or should I give up? Please help!

Dear Alyssa from North Dakota

I wonder if your boyfriend scared them, unintentionally or not, when he reappeared in their lives. If you need to ask him to ‘promise to be nice to them’ he may not have been (perhaps the cats are aware of a problem that you have not yet discerned?). They may have been particularly scared when they moved to your new place and this could have sensitized them to any intruders. Confine them to one room and let them regain their confidence. Only you should go in there for a few weeks. Then, bring them out one at a time when things are quiet and hold them while your boyfriend pets them and gives them a special food treat. I can give you a step by step plan with all the details but I’ll need more info so please don’t hesitate to set up an email consult, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a beautiful red Australian Cattle Dog. He is great companion with a lovable personality. When he was a puppy, he was obnoxious and playful towards other dogs, until a Rottweiler I was keeping attacked him. There were no injuries, but since then, he is afraid of all other dogs (except for the huge German shepherd my dad has). Even my grandmother's Shih-tzu has him rolled on his back and submissive. I love my dog, and always will, but is there a way to take away his fear of other dogs?

Dear Justin McGraw,

Your puppy was traumatized and is acting defensively. His submissive behavior is his way of being safe rather than sorry with any unfamiliar dogs. This is not necessarily a bad thing! Keep exposing him to other friendly dogs so he can build healthy new relationships. He will relax with dogs he knows and perhaps lose some of his fear over time.

Dear Dr. Cookie--

My 7-year old mixed breed is very sweet and well-behaved, and adores walks.Suddenly, though, when we go out together she sits down at the bottom of the porch stairs and absolutely refuses to go further. She does this only when my husband or I take her alone. When we all go together or some other friend or neighbor goes along she happily leaves the yard with us. I'm at wit's end because I know she really enjoys walks (so do I!). Why would she suddenly impose this weird restriction upon herself?

Dear Bryna from North Carolina,

It might be wise to have your veterinarian examine her for any underlying physical problem, just in case. In middle age, she may have some stiff or sore joints for example that make walking without real incentive a bit of a challenge. If she checks out alright, you could bring smalls bits of a dog biscuit (remember, Dr. Cookie believes that an occasional cookie is a good thing!) or tidbits of cheese along as incentive. Vary the walk and take her to a local park where she can play with other dogs. Summer heat could be affecting her, too. Let me know how you do!

Dear Dr Cookie,

Our neutered 8 year old male cat "Joe" has started "mating" with teddy bears, fluffy dog slippers, any stuffed toys lying on the floor. He has just been doing this for the last two months. He was neutered at around 5 months old. Is this behaviour normal? Can we do anything to stop it? Does he ejaculate? Please help because we don't need anymore teddy bears bred - we have enough as it is!!!!!

Dear Fleur & Hannah (concerned mum & daughter!!),

Tell your daughter to pick up her toys! ;-D I have a detailed handout on this topic you would find interesting...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We adopted 2 littermate cats about a year ago. They were 2 1/2 year old at the time we got them. One developed medical problems and is no longer with us. The remaining cat, Boo-Boo was very lonely with the loss of her sister and about a month later (early April), we adopted a male kitten. The two have been getting along fine, but recently (since early June), Boo-Boo has been defecating in an inappropriate location whenever we leave the house for more than a few hours or close the bedroom
door at night.

Dear Stephanie & Tim

Separation anxiety does exist in cats but your boy kitten might be harassing her in your absence (male kittens play more roughly than females). You may also need to keep that box cleaner, and in fact you should have at least 1 box per cat. A detailed discussion of Inappropriate Elimination in cats can be found in a handout on the QuickFix page.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 8 week old Lab pup tries to mount people's legs. It's embarrassing to them and to me. Why would such a young thing do this and how can I discourage this behavior?

Dear Gemma the New Puppy Mom

Dominance behavior is normal but should be discouraged when directed toward people. QuickFix handouts you should order: Obedience Training (will help you to apply the skills to every day situations such as the one you describe) and Dominance Behavior in Dogs. The handouts are a valuable resource for pet owners so try ‘em, you’ll love ‘em!

Hello, Dr. Cookie,

I wonder if you could give us some advice. We have a 1 year old male Westie who has had a perfect temperament. Over the last few weeks, however, we noticed quite a bit of aggressive behaviour towards other dogs. At first we thought it was only when he was on a lead but it is getting now to the fact we are worried whenever he is let off (which is every day up the downs). Due to the fact we are expecting our first baby in a month we sought advice last week from our vet explaining he situation, and
he advised us that neutering would not be necessary at this time.

Dear Nicola from the UK,

Neutering will certainly help to curb interdog aggression and I’d advise this as soon as possible. However, hormones are not entirely responsible for his aggression. He should also be better controlled overall so some serious obedience training would be in order. This is important to do prior to the arrival of your child. Information is available in the handouts on Introducing Pets & Kids, Obedience Training...Keep him on a leash until things are sorted out, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 9 and 1/2 year old Yorkshire Terrier, but the little monkey eats her stools constantly. I tried everything with her. Our Vet told us to try this powder stuff, which we gave Gypsy but it did not work. She has been doing this for ever, we try and pick them up as soon as she does them but sometimes she is faster then we can pick them up.What can we do?

Dear Brenda from Gatineau, Quebec (Canada),

The only thing that works reliably to stop coprophagia (the ingestion of stools) is to prevent the opportunity. I suspect that if your Yorkie was on a leash you would be able to pull her away from the stool, and give her an alternative delicious treat to enjoy while you pick up her little package. If necessary, walk away from the area and return to clean up once she is back inside. A complete discussion on Coprophagia can be found in the handout on Elimination Problems in Dogs. Bonne chance!

Hi Dr. Cookie:

I have a 2 1/2 yr old terrier. He is an extremely loving and caring dog. However, he has been killing squirrels and birds. Last week he caught a kitten and killed it. A couple of days later he ran over to sniff a dog and then grabbed it by the neck and shook it. Thank god the other dog was okay. I spoke to a behavior specialist at the humane society. They basically said that due to the fact that I have a one yr old and am currently trying to conceive that they do not recommend we keep him. How do I know if this is just a dog being a dog or predatory aggression that could turn on my children? He is a very loving member of our family and to have him put down seems cruel. Please give me some insight I would be forever grateful. I have been sick since speaking to the humane society and can barely eat or sleep.

Dear Kym,

Predatory aggression is a natural instinct in dogs. Terrier breeds were primarily bred to hunt small game or pests that burrowed into the ground (terra=soil). For instance, the Jack Russell was bred to hunt rats. But most dog breeds were developed to hunt something (Dachshunds were bred to go after badgers, Poodles to retrieve water fowl, Foxhounds to go after fox...). When the predatory instinct is uncontrolled, as it is in your dog, you need to look into gaining better control over the dog. Restraining him on a leash, in a penned in area of your yard, bells on his collar, even walking him with a basket muzzle may be necessary. Give him another ‘hobby’ such as agility training or field training (hunting after ‘fake’ prey). His aggression toward the other dog may have been instigated by his recent predatory escapades but it could be another type of aggression, too. Not every dog that is a skilled hunter will attack children but statistically the risk of aggression generalizing toward other defenseless creatures remains. Before you do anything drastic, please read my detailed handouts on Predatory Aggression and Children and Pets. And get some sleep!

Dr. Cookie,

Our Lab has a habit of licking her forearm down to raw skin. We have had two collars already. The leg will heal and we remove the collar and she goes at again. What can we do!

Dear dlfloyd,

Psychogenic licking (formerly called acral lick granuloma) is a form of obsessive compulsive behavior. However, it is important to make sure there is no other skin pathology. You report that the leg does heal when she is prevented from licking herself so I suspect it is a purely behavioral issue but a biopsy might be worthwhile to confirm this. Obsessive licking responds well to behavior modification and psychoactive medication. Won’t you please consider contacting me to set up a telephone or email consultation?

Dr. Cookie,

We have a 1 year old 5 lb. male Maltese. Three weeks ago we bought him a playmate, a 7 week old Shih tzu/Bichon cross male who came from a litter of 8. From day one, the pup showed his teeth and nipped aggressively towards our Maltese. The puppy goes for our Maltese's neck under the jaw trying to take out a chunk of skin but usually ends up with a mouth full of fur. As of a week ago our Maltese has been letting the puppy know that enough is enough. He growls and shows teeth but this seems to get the puppy more angry and he refuses to let up. When my husband and I pull the pup away from the hind legs, he goes right back to the Maltese with more spite. This is definitely not puppy play and I think our Maltese knows it also. Our Maltese will timidly try to approach the pup at times but the pup goes to bite him, showing teeth and growling. We treat them both equally, as in what one gets... the other gets also. The pup appears to have no fear of our Maltese and we are frightened that when the pup grows, he will do serious harm to our Maltese. I have spoken with the breeders and they are just as stunned by that behavior as we are, as both these breeds are known to be non- aggressive.

Dear Dan & Linda from Canada, eh!?

Aggressiveness can occur in any dog breed. Your puppy sounds like an unusually assertive dog. Despite your best intentions of finding a companion for your Maltese, I suspect he would say he was perfectly happy before this little terror arrived. Be kind to your first baby. Return the Shih tzu so that he can be placed elsewhere (as a single dog in a home with no children and with owners who have lots of experience). I am always concerned when I hear of this much aggression in such a young pup. It is never a good sign of what can be expected down the road.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I went away for our Honeymoon and I left my cat with my Aunt for 2 weeks. My cat is "Pumpkin," she is about 5 years old, and she is very attached to me and I am very attached to her. I would talk to her a lot and say "how are you my little pumpkin" and sweet things like that. I felt bad about leaving her - my aunt has an old cat and now she has a dog. My cat was scared of the dog and my Aunt said Pumpkin was always hiding. My Aunt called me today and said Pumpkin died. I am so sad and shocked. She found her in the basement under the steps in a half opened little closet. She said her paws were crossed and her head low and her eyes open, but she wasn't breathing. My Aunt did not tell me until today and I need to know why, how she died. I know she was under a ton of stress being there and was heart broken without me. She was a very pretty cat and healthy. Can you tell me what happened?

Dear Sabrina,

What a sad story and on your honeymoon, too! Sweetie, I don’t know what happened. You could play Monday morning quarterback and wish you had left her elsewhere, or perhaps not at all. Sometimes, though, extreme stress can trigger a medical problem that was subclinical, meaning there was a problem that had not yet surfaced. An autopsy might be helpful in determining the cause of death and this might help you to get over your guilt. I know how painful this must be, but you must let her go. She is at peace. This was not your fault. You have a right to live your life and be happy. Pumpkin’s loss must not be allowed to detract from your new life. Keep your happy memories of her with you always. And concentrate on making new ones of your own.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Love your column. I have 14 cats. All strays which are all fixed. One of my cats, a calico has a hard time around the other cats. She starts to growl which sets off the others, who in turn attack her. She gets so upset and frightened that she urinates on top of my stove and sprays all over the house. I really don't want to put her down but she is wrecking the house

Dear Robin from Newmarket.

I hope you will not put this little calico down. It is not her fault that she does not fit into your colony. That’s the luck of the draw. I suggest that you find her another home, or set her up in her own room where she can feel safe in her own little territory. Fourteen cats is a lot of cats. Consider that you are lucky that only one is misbehaving and having adjustment problems. Help her, please don’t harm her! Thanks, I know you won’t!

Hello Dr. Cookie,

Six days ago we caught some feral kittens about 5 weeks old. We will foster them until old enough to adopt out. All 3 are loving to my husband and me. One is still afraid around strangers. This kitten is also a female who is larger than her two brothers. When they play fight she easily dominates the littlest kitten. She plays rough, bites and will not let him go when he cries. Do I need to fear she will hurt him? They are in a cage with about 11 square feet of floor space. I take them out at least once a day to run around the kitchen while our adult cat is closed in the bedroom. Do they need more space or run time?

Dear Pat Paris,

There is a phenomenon called ‘masculinization’ that occurs when a female is born in an otherwise all male litter. We don’t know exactly what happens but the suspicion is that this female is bathed in testosterone in utero...Your little kitty sounds pretty butch but she could also just be taking advantage of the runt, who happens to be a male. Sometimes, it is best to separate the weakest so that they can catch up on their own time. Consider placing the little guy with another foster litter or simply place him in his own pen with lots of dangling toys. Hope you find good homes for these little guys! Congrats on your efforts.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

My mother's cat, female, approx. 5 yrs. of age, was in an open window with a screen in it. Another stray cat was outside. Mom's cat started meowing a lot. She went to the window to see why she was meowing...her cat attached her and bit her arm. It frightened her, she grabbed a pillow and put it up to the cat. The cat attacked the pillow. Mom closed the window and has not opened it since. Her cat is the most wonderful, loving cat I have ever met. She brushes her and picks her up. Very mellow cat. Could you tell me why the cat bit her? Mom is afraid of her now. I need to explain why kitty bit her.

Dear Sandi,

Redirected aggression occurs when the intended target is unavailable. The aroused cat then lashes out, quite literally, at the nearest available target. Your Mom was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her cat was probably outraged by this territorial intruder, which is a big deal to a cat! It can take them several hours or even days to calm down in extreme cases. If this window looks out onto an area where outdoor cats frequently parade, it is probably best to make that window inaccessible or put a frosted acrylic cover over the lower pane that allows light to come through but no clear view of what lies beyond.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 1 year old female Great Dane. We rent a basement suite to a couple with a 6 month old male Great Dane. He is quite aggressive in play and at one point wore a muzzle due to the fact that he bit our Dane's neck and left several puncture wounds. They feel it is okay for our dog to correct him but "to a point". If it appears she is over zealous, as the young male refuses to submit, she is pulled away and held back. At this point the young male generally gets very aggressive and "goes after" the female. He also does a lot of barking, growling, and biting to entice play behavior. I feel she should be dominant and backed up for dominance, they feel he should be dominant per his personality and eventual larger size. Is there a right way to deal with the situation before it escalates?

Dear Nancy,

Eventually, the male Dane sounds like he has the temperament to take over not just your female Dane but everyone else, too, and over indulgent owners are not helping him or you. Play aggression is generally inhibited and does not usually result in such injuries as you describe. It is unwise to interfere when they are trying to work it out because it delays resolution (see my handout on Dominance Aggression, includes details on how to resolve this situation). However, if they are getting injured I think it would be wise to keep them separate and let this boy get it on with other dogs that can put him in his place on neutral territory such as a park. He may be dominant but your dog has territorial priority. If his owners are unable to control their dog at this age, what is coming down the road? You might want to consider tenants with a Beagle... Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have two Himalayan cats, aged 8 mos. They are not litter mates but were born and raised in the same household. The male was castrated at 5 mos. of age. At 6 mos. he started spraying the walls where the food and litter box is. I have not noticed any other areas. Being a Veterinarian, their litter box is kept clean. Any suggestions?

Dear Docrw673,

Some cats are prone to marking with urine, and if the circumstances are right, they will do so. This has nothing to do with whether or not they are neutered, although neutered cats have one less motivating factor (sex) to mark. I notice the following: you have 2 cats but say you have just 1 box! You should have at least 1 box per cat and if there is a problem you should have more. Also, how close are the food dishes and litter? They should be very far apart (6 ft. or more) since cats will often not void where they eat. Start with these suggestions...

Dr. Cookie,

Do you have any information on a high frequency sonic deterrent for donkeys that bray throughout the night and early morning? I live in an agriculture zoned area which is mostly residential with one acre lots. The adjacent property has many animals, of which the braying donkeys wreak sonic havoc. I am at wits end and thought something with high frequency would provide a Pavlovian effect to curtail the noise. Is there any merit to my idea? Do you have any suggestions? The owner of the animals is not very helpful.

Dear Ann & Allen,

Braying donkeys can’t be much fun when you are trying to sleep (or any other time for that matter!). I don’t have much confidence in sonic deterrents for behavior problems in general. Why they are braying? If these donkeys are not neutered it may be mating season. Contact your local Animal Control Officer who is trained to intervene on your behalf with your neighbors.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a healthy pure breed yellow Labrador Retriever. Recently I have had to drive him places and for some reason his mouth gets full of saliva and it is almost like he is frothing. He usually shakes his head to clear his mouth and by doing that his saliva is thrown all over my car. Is there a smell in my car that bothers him? Can I do something to help?

Dear Manesh,

Sounds like one of 2 things. Either he is getting a bit carsick (excessive salivation can be a symptom of nausea) because he is not used to car rides, or he is really excited about going for a ride (drooling can also be a ign of excitement)! Does he seem anxious, or is he a big goober Lab that is all pumped up and ready to go? Take him for short trips more frequently, making sure you go somewhere fun. He should get over this in no time...

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have 2 Golden Retrievers. Noel is about 3 years old. She was adopted from the Humane Society when she was about 18 months old. I had two initial problems her. The first July 4 that we had Noel (last year), we discovered that she was fearful of loud noises. To say she was freaked out would be an understatement. I contacted our vet and got her a prescription for medication to keep her calmer during the holiday. This helped somewhat, but Noel simply has not been the same dog. Since then, she has been more inclined to behave nervously and frightened - she pants, paces and follows me everywhere.Two weeks ago, our neighbor's son was firing a paint gun. It makes a noise akin to a firecracker. Noel was frantic - long after the couple of noises. She even tried to dig under the fence in our back yard (this has never happened before). Since that time, she has become unable to tolerate anyone outside of the family to be in the house. Also, her fear of new people has gotten worse. She pants, paces, refuses to listen to basic commands, and follows us around constantly (to the point that my own nerves get frazzled). She will go to her crate, only to come back out, as if she just can't stop the movement. Noel refuses to leave my four-year-old daughter alone. She trails her everywhere she goes, often knocking her down in her need to be closer closer closer. Even my oldest dog has been seen trying to 'shake' Noel. My fear is that Noel has become so frightened that aggression is not far behind. I have done some reading about behavior modification techniques and also wonder about medication that can help her. What more can I do?

Dear Tami,

What you describe is a generalized panic disorder triggered by an initial terrifying event (Fourth of July). You describe a classic phobic response that has since generalized to many triggers. I would agree that in such a complicated case psychoactive medication may be part of her treatment. Many dogs have excessive fear responses to loud noises and this can often be treated with a behavior modification problem. In Noel’s case, however, her anxiety level is so high and she is sensitized to an escalating degree. Please contact me so we can set up an appointment to help your poor puppy...Fourth of July is here again!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a 5 month old Shiba Inu. Cody is very fearful of strangers. He began this behavior about 3 weeks after we got him at 9 weeks of age. I have socialized him from the time we got him, i.e. puppy preschool for 6 weeks, I take him to the park, my grandson's baseball games and practice, etc. I currently have a trainer working with him and he advises using the phrase "Cody, make friends” and giving him a piece of cheese. This works well with family members and friends but he will not take a treat from a stranger. I walk him 3 times a day and many people approach him. I was trying to coax him up to people but just recently have stopped and just let him stand by and check them out.

Dear Muffin 0228,

Many pups go through a shy phase. I would not force him to interact with everyone. Sometimes, a shy pup can be pushed the other way with too much socializing...it might be wise to build his confidence and limit his social exposure for a few weeks. I don’t see the usefulness of the trainer’s phrase but it would be helpful to reward his friendly behavior. Cheese might not be his favorite or he might be sick of it so make his food tidbit something very yummy (a tiny piece of freeze-dried liver for doggies is something my dogs love!)... Make him sit and stay to earn his reward, which is opposite to running away from people. Above all, be patient!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Hello from a fellow Montrealer! We have 2 male cats, Oreo who 5 years old, and Tiger who is 3 years old. The problem is with our little Tiger, he likes to chew on electrical cords. I went around the whole house and hid & taped away all the electrical cords. And which ever wires I could not "put away" out-of-site, I sprayed with bitter apple. Tiger, as it turns out, doesn't mind the bitter apple taste! This is a very dangerous thing that he is doing...I read in a book to try put some Tabasco sauce on the wires. I'm worried about doing this, it seems particularly cruel. What do you suggest? I just adore my cat and am
so worried that he will hurt himself!

P.S. Love your website, what a terrific resource!

Dear Alissa from Montreal,

Well hi there, eh?! I definitely agree that this is a high risk behavior. The problem with aversive tastes applied to electric cords is that a) the cat could develop a taste for Bitter Apple® as well as Tabasco®..., and b) he still needs to bite into the cord to get the ‘punishment’. In my opinion, the best solution for this dangerous habit is to prevent opportunities. That might mean closing off rooms and placing commercial wire covers on the cords (the kind they have in offices so chairs can roll over them...). Also, give him other stuff he can chew (more variety in toys, a patch of grass you grow just for him...).

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I adopted a 2nd Greyhound 1 month ago. She has had 3 urine accidents and 1 poop accident, she does go outside to the bathroom but also goes inside with no warning of her having to go. She seems well adjusted otherwise, she eats and gets along with everyone in the house, I wonder if she is a "problem" dog or just need a little more time to adjust to us. She is crate trained, but I hate to keep her in there all the time.

Dear Schmidt63,

My heart goes out to retired racing Greyhounds. What a hellish existence they live until they are adopted into loving homes. Patience, she has only just arrived. Don’t keep her in a crate, keep her with you! Take her out for a walk every 2 hours and give her lots of praise for voiding outdoors. Remember she was not a pet and never house trained. Just give her ample opportunity to earn your praise (lots of walks) and she’ll catch on. These sighthounds have more nobility and sensitivity than any of the people that ‘use’ them. You already know that. She will prove it to you in no time!

Dr.Cookie:

We have a 4 month old Rottweiler/Shepherd male we acquired from a shelter 2 mos. ago, had Parvo when we got him but is physically fine now. Wish I could say the same for the couch and mattress he ate holes in, not mentioning the WALL he has ate or the carpet!! Also potty breaking problems. Behaviors are at night (have tried kenneling but he cries and scratches at door until pads bleed). I have had many types of dogs of my own, as well as did fostering, but am at wits and budgets end. This pup belongs to my son and they are buddies, he gets lots of attention, has a large yard to play in, is walked daily, and taken hiking once a week, has toys galore and a playmate, my 6 mo old spayed Chow/Shepherd. Any ideas other than a second job and hair replacements for the ones I'm pulling out?

Hi Donna,

Golly gee! Take a deep breath, it’s going to be okay! This pup has classic symptoms of separation anxiety which occur at night when he is kept away from his favorite people (because they are sleeping and can’t pay attention to him). Separation may be more of an issue with shelter dogs, for obvious reasons, but they almost always calm down in a loving home. Besides, he’s just 4 mos. old, and what you describe is not uncommon in unsupervised puppies with energy to burn either. Try putting his crate in your son’s bedroom, or leashing him to your son’s bed. Give him a little rawhide bone at bedtime and make sure he is tired enough and ‘empty’ before his lullaby.

Hello Dr. Cookie,

I have two 1 and 3/4 year old adorable Lhasa Apsos. They are for the mostpart very good dogs. The problems that I have with them is their excessive barking when outside in our fenced in yard and they see neighbors in their yards. Don't know how to stop them from barking so much? We moved into a new home last August and the problem we are having is that they can be outside in our yard for hours on end and then they come in and urinate on the carpet. They also do this if they are left out of my daughters room and the rest of us are sleeping still and they have been left outside already. They are also still going to the bathroom in our basement - game room area when we are gone from the home. I really don't want to get rid of them, but we are remodeling our home.

Dear Kim,

These 2 problems are related in that you never got these pups on a leash walking schedule so that you could reinforce them for eliminating outdoors. Dogs that are left outside and unsupervised for extended periods (more than just a few minutes) frequently regress in house training (if they ever were house trained) and become barkers. Remember that Lhasas were bred to be watch dogs, so in a way they are doing their job. But if they had other activities (2 long daily walks on a leash, obedience practice with you every day, structured play, etc.) they wouldn’t be so reactive. Order these 3 handouts on House training your puppy or dog, Territorial behavior in dogs, Why it’s important to walk your dog. It will give you all the information and tips you need.

Dear Dr.,

We have a new male puppy, 7 weeks old who is a Lhasa Apso. He is absolutely adorable & smart but loves to bite. I have spent major $$ on toys for him to chew, however, he is biting our hands, arms, toes, ears - basically anything he can get his teeth on. Any discouragement only seems to motivate him to thrash back and forth with our flesh in his mouth, causing great pain. At first it was cute, now it's painful & concerns me. We have tried ignoring him when he bites, saying no bite and holding his mouth shut, but to no avail. I think that he sees our hands and bodies as just another play toy, he isn't mean but underestimates the power of his teeth & bite. Our veterinarian says that we should have him neutered early - and that should help. May God richly bless you in all that you do,

Dear Julie,

This much persistent aggression in such a young pup worries me, too, particularly when he ‘retaliates’ against punishment. Neutering will not impact his basic temperament. He is a very dominant little guy but he is also undaunted by your reprimands at only 7 weeks! Your correction of holding his mouth gently shut is appropriate but he needs more convincing. You should be prepared (whenever he behaves this way and react immediately) to do the ‘alpha roll’. Wearing gloves as protection (if you can, in advance of his tantrums), swiftly roll him onto his back in a submissive posture and hold him there until he goes calm and limp, which might take up to 10 minutes or so. Don’t let him roll over until he is limp or he will be reinforced for his efforts. This exercise is appropriate only for very young puppies. If you do not see any change in the next 2 or 3 weeks, you should return him to his breeder.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 14 year old male cat (Snow) is white, deaf since birth, and now diabetic within the past year, will not stop urinating every day in various areas of my carpet since he was diagnosed being diabetic. He has had many tests done for urinary infections, kidneys, liver and all have proven negative. I also have another cat,a 9 year old male tabby, who became diabetic months after "Snow" when he was diagnosed with pancreatitis. This cat is also taking Flagyl® for chronic diarrhea (colitis) as a result of his pancreatitis. "Snow" will defecate in his litter box. However when he urinates, half the time he will either use his box or use various spots on my carpet. No matter how often I clean the litter box (once a day) or completely remove the odour in the area he has chosen to use with prescribed cleaners from vet clinics, he ends up finding another favorite or new spot to use. I have tried using another litter box, different litter and that doesn't work either. I can only tolerate so much before I would have to resort to euthanasia. He is completely destroying my wall to wall broadloom carpet and I can't afford any more money on more tests. I know of course I will have to choose to put him down if he won't stop urinating on my carpet and I've resorted to trying everything. Please help me if you can.

Dear Robin in Toronto, Canada!

Diabetes is often difficult to control in cats and is frequently accompanied by behavior changes such as inappropriate elimination. I also wonder if Snow is not turned off from the box because of his house mate’s diarrhea problem. His acquired aversion to the box may also be related to the change in odor in his own as well as your other cat’s diabetic urine. Just one extra box won’t do when he has multiple targets. Invest in some aluminum foil roasting pans (cheaper than regular litter boxes) and fill with your usual litter filler. You might also cut up some cheap carpet remnants to line the pans with (eventually cutting this away a bit at a time) since he may now prefer carpet. There are many tips to try and these are covered in detail in my handout on Inappropriate Elimination in Cats. At the very least he should be confined to one room to limit his undesirable habit. Please consult this before you resort to putting Snow down? You certainly have your hands full and must be feeling a lot of stress.

Dr. Cookie,

Hello!! I recently brought home 2 kitty littermates that were left in a parking lot. My veterinarian and I figure they are around 10-12 weeks old. The second night at home I noticed the male kitty suckling on the female. I know this is a result of the kitten being taken away from its' mom too early. Is there anything that I can do to help "wean" my new little kitty?

Dear Kelly,

Kittens are generally weaned by the time they are 2 months old (although strays will sometimes nurse longer, if their mother allows them). Suckling behavior can persist as a comfort behavior (kind of like eating chocolate when you feel down, well, it works for me anyway!). I don’t really think you should worry about your new babies. He will outgrow this but you could simply pick him up and pet him until he falls asleep, making sure, of course that he doesn’t continue the behavior with you!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I recently purchased an adorable 8 week old female German Shepherd puppy. She is very friendly but extremely hyper. Would obedience training help calm her down? How old does she have to be before I can enroll her in an obedience class?

Dear Sheila T.

Obedience training should begin with you from the time you take your puppy home. But obedience training is not enough to ‘calm her down’. She needs several long walks a day, controlled play time with you (using toys and obedience skills), as well as social time with other dogs. Puppy classes vary in their enrollment age so ask around. Ideally, she should begin as soon as she’s about 1/2 way through her shots. So start on your own! My handout on basic obedience is excellent and will give you important tips on how to apply training.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I am writing to you because I have a Chow Chow about 9 years old who is giving me problems with our mail person. At first I thought it was the uniform. But on occasions they do not wear a uniform just plain street clothes and he still wants to eat them. If he is on his chain he will try to get lose and attack. and if I keep him in the house he will do his best to get to the mail person I have to fight him to stay away from the door. The dog is a real good dog. And most of the time he does not act like your normal Chow. When he is around other people (children) he is the biggest baby.

Dear Spitfire,

Your Chow Chow is no different from other dogs that are territorially aggressive. Dogs that are tied up on chains may become more aggressive than other dogs and I do not recommend it. There is a step by step program to desensitize your dog to the mail carrier and it is available in a handout on the QuickFix page (Territorial Aggression in Dogs; Obedience Training, too). Meanwhile, don’t leave your dog out there when the mail is due,- take him for a walk! Protect your poor mail carrier!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Our 15 year old cat has just recently begun to urinate in the corner of our bedroom. While he is elderly, mobility is not really a problem. About 3 months ago he was diagnosed with the early stages of kidney failure, but as recently as two weeks ago his blood test had not shown a progression of the disease, but rather a slight improvement. His BUN is well within normal range, and his creatinine is only slightly elevated. Is this problems behavioral, or a sign that the vet might be misinterpreting the problem?

Dear SNON,

Inappropriate urination may be a problem in renal failure cats in advanced disease, however, your aging cat may be losing litter training because of an additional problem such as a lower urinary tract infection or anxiety (source?). Get back to the basics: clean box, add box to the corner, urine sample, etc.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I found a stray male cat in winter when it was real bad out and brought him inside. He was really lovable and affectionate and good. A couple months ago-he started attacking me--first-he would grab my ankles with his claws--sometimes-he would attack several times at once-leaving bleeding holes in my legs-then he would be really sweet again--but while he was attacking-he looked crazy-his eyes looked strange. This only happened once in a while-i would just be standing-not even bothering him. So, now he stays on my porch on the chair. I put food out and water and he is so happy to see me and I pet him - then come in and cry the rest of the day because I love him so much and I am afraid he will get hurt outside. He was outside for 7 hrs yesterday and he still attacked me real bad.

Dear Nanci,

Not all cats are tame to the same degree. Some stray cats are very adoptable, others are not. We don’ t know his history so it is difficult to pinpoint the type of aggression but it could be a form of dominance aggression. If you are intent on keeping this difficult cat, leave him on the porch with a cat door. Minimize your contact with him. You must not jeopardize your own safety or health. And consider all the other very beautiful and gentle cats at shelters near you that would love you back as much as you love them...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have taken in a shelter/rescue ferret that our local ferret society doesn't have room for at the moment. He is an adorable boy, thought to be about a year old. He was found wandering through the city, alone. He has had a metal tag pushed through his ear like an earing and all for of his canine teeth pulled out. When I first removed him from the carrier, he smothered me with kisses, and he does this every time he sees me, but when he is alone he hides and becomes terrified. When he is allowed out he hides under the bed unless I am holding him. I understand he was mistreated and I am giving him time, but the problem we are having with him is that he refuses to use the litter box and when we do put litter in, he eats it. I have tried to say "no" and move him to the box when I see him about to "do his deed", but this scares him and instead he jumps from the box and hides in his bedding, where he finishes what I didn't let him start. He is on the adoption list now, and although he is the most loving animal, I fear that if we can't train him and stop his fear of being reprimanded that it will be hard to adopt him out.

Dear Crystal,

Punishment is not the way to go for house training, especially when there is a history of abusing this poor little creature. Try confining him in a ‘kitty condo’ cage and change his litter to another substrate (even shredded newspaper may do). He will be able to build confidence in his own space. Take him out when you can hold him. Keep food/water separate from the litter. Time and patience and positive reinforcement only should do the trick! Best of luck with your foster work and good for you!

Dear Dr. Cookie

Joe is a neutered male tabby cat and he adopted me 3 years ago. He was my neighbor’s cat (she had 8 too 9 cats at the time) who decided he wanted me to adopt him and I found my self falling in love with him. Joe adapted well to my house and became an indoor cat. He got along fine with my two cats(Amir and Princess). In fact Amir and Joe are best of friends and play together like kittens. Joe is very possessive of me and will follow me all day if he could. The problem is he will use my leg as a scratching post, and when he cuddles in my lap he will get up and scratch my leg. I tell him no and end the cuddling time, which he hates, but does not seem to stop the behavior. Also the other cats are not allowed on my lap (Joe's rules). For Princess this does not matter for she is half wild(she was a stray) and likes being on her own most of the time. Amir on the other hand would like to be on my lap, but when he does Joe will push him off my lap or join him.

Dear John,

As dominant cat, Joe has priority over the favorite resting places, which include your lap. The other cats will naturally defer to his wishes. As for using your leg as a scratching post, saying ‘no’ is not enough. Place a scratching post close by and immediately direct him to using it instead of your leg. He may have a preference for sisal, shag, cardboard in vertical or horizontal planes so see what works! He sounds like a great guy.

Hi Dr. Cookie!

I have 2 indoor cats, one is 15 yrs and the other is 3 yrs. They get along pretty well except when the 15 year old goes outside in the yard with us. When we come in, the 3 year old goes absolutely wild. She attacks the other cat with a vengeance and is out for blood. The older cat becomes so scared, she is afraid to move.

Dear Lwrnonc,

Two choices: 1) Keep them both inside! and 2) Keep them both inside!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Alice is a beautiful Himalayan and was about 8 months old when she was given to me after being a stray near my brother's home. This was about a year and a half ago. On the day she arrived, she meowed nonstop. I figured it was her way of lettingme know she was scared and anxious. After a month or so, she quieted down. Since I live in and urban area, we found a harness to fit her and let her go out on a 15-20 ft. small nylon cord. She's checked on often to ensure she's not tangled up and that no strays are confronting her. For the last month or so (since the weather has turned warm), Alice has started to meow very loudly several times a night, anywhere from 2:30AM to 6:00AM. At the beginning it seemed if one of us would turn on the faucet so she could have a drink (she won't drink out of standing water) she would quiet down. When that didn't work, pouring a little bit of food into her dish would pacify her. We started to think maybe it was the attention she was craving, so we would put her into bed with us and pet her or play with her string. Lately nothing works except letting her go outside. If we do that, neither of us get any sleep because we are worried that she has gotten tangled or that some animal might hurt her, so we are constantly getting up to check on her. We are both very tolerant people, but this lack of sleep is shortening the wick on the temper. I know that some of your responses to similar problems is to ensure that she is sleepy when we go to bed. There are days that we have been outdoors with her for almost the entire day and she hasn't slept hardly at all that day, and she still exhibits this behavior.

Dear Kathy & Jeff,

Yes, you do need to make sure she is tired so that her sleeping schedule coincides better with yours. However, cats and dogs don’t sleep 8 hrs straight. They normally wake for a short time every couple of hours. In giving her attention when she vocalizes (water, food, play) you have reinforced her attention seeking behavior. The best way to deal with it might be to confine her to a room where she can be comfortable with water and litter and let her learn that vocalizing no longer gets your attention. You will have to hang tough for a while and absolutely not go near that room or the problem will be even harder to extinguish. Also, it might be best to keep her exclusively inside so she'll be less confused about her restrictions.Sweet dreams!

Dear Doctor,

I live on a 5 acre ranchette with 16 dogs and my 3 horses. The dogs are all rescues that have been dumped in the desert to die and wandered upon my gate. Since I cannot turn away these animals I take them in and they are now my family. They typically get along fine until one or the other gets excited (Redirected aggression ) and a huge fight occurs ( pack style ) or one or the other decides to try and up his place in the pack hierarchy. There are 3 dogs in particular who seem to get ganged up on more then the others and some have been badly injured as a result. I'm afraid that one day I won’t get to them in time to break it up and one of these lower in the pecking order will be killed. Is this common for them to actually KILL another after living with them for over a year? Is there anything I can do to prevent this without separating them? It appears all the females in this pack are the troublemakers. They are all young dogs under 3 years. I do have kennels where I can separate them but I hate to do it.

Dear COWGURLUP,

The fact that all the young troublemakers are under 3 yrs old is the key issue here. They are all young adults in their prime and vying for the best rank they can achieve. By interfering in their conflicts you are preventing them from coming to their ‘decision’. As difficult as it may be you should try to stay out of it, or, if you are concerned for the severity of their injuries, separate the weaker ones into a separate pack and confine them as necessary (at least for now). It is difficult to control such a large group. Even wolves in the wild would break off into smaller groups than this. You might also consider trying to find homes for the ones that are being overly victimized. Separate or downsize, it’s up to you. And get everyone neutered!!! Good luck!

Hello,

We brought home 2 puppies a couple of weeks ago from the shelter and believe they are a brother and sister Chow/Lab/Shepherd mix. They are about 10 weeks old and have been very well behaved up until the last few days. They play with each other but lately they have been getting rowdier and play nipping at each other. Can we stop it? Should we stop it? We also have started taking them on walks by themselves as they are much better behaved that way.

Dear Brett,

Puppies can play with each other the way they must not be allowed to interact with people. So in a sense it is an advantage to raise 2 together. The disadvantage is in trying to teach both of them to become civilized. Just like parents of human twins, you have more of a challenge but it should pay off in the long run since they will have a companion. The only difference in raising one or two puppies is the time and energy involved. Long walks, early obedience training at home, play with other doggies, all the other things that I’ve mentioned elsewhere in this column. Individual and joint attention are both important. Look through the handout topics on the QuickFix page and select any and all that you need to help you through it!

Dr. Cookie-

Long story, short. Buddy is a mixed Chow that was left to die on a chain by our heartless neighbors. We lived in an apartment and could not have pets,but fortunately found Buddy a home. That home couldn't keep Buddy, so he was then shipped to another home. This home has worked out for over 4 months now and we thought everything was great, but apparently Buddy is having flashbacks from his former life or something...he continues to wake up EVERY NIGHT at about 2:30 a.m. and bark nonstop. They have tried tranquilizers, but he still wakes up at some point and starts barking. These people are older and cannot handle this much longer. They are ready to put him to sleep or find him another home. Buddy does not need to move again. His life has been so unbalanced for so long. He's only about 2-3 years old. HELP!!!

Dear Emily,

Poor Barking Buddy! He has been bounced around so much he must have many issues to deal with. I suspect that his barking is an expression of anxiety. Dogs do not sleep through the night like people do and wake frequently for short periods. Buddy’s anxiety will not be controlled with tranquilizers alone. His new owners have to make sure he truly is tired by the time they go to bed. Long walks and play time are essential. They should also provide him with an alternative outlet that will redirect his anxiety, such as a rawhide bone, so he need not resort to barking. There are many other things to try but if his owners are ready to give up, perhaps it is time for YOU to move to a home that will allow you to fulfill the bond you seem to have with this brave little dog.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My dog is 10 years old now, doesn't act a day over 5, but is beginning to have accidents on the carpet. In the last 2 weeks he has urinated on the floor during the night. I let him out around 10 pm and then at6 am but he still doesn't seem to be able to hold it. Also he seems to be drinking alot more water.

Dear Joyce from Arkansas,

Regression in house training can occur in adult dogs of any age. For example, if a dog is not walked on a leash so that his owner can praise him (and thus reinforce house training) but is simply let out on his own, training can be forgotten. In your case, however, his inappropriate elimination is coupled with a sudden increased thirst. These are symptoms of a number of medical problems which incude urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes. Time to see your veterinarian as soon as possible for a precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment, ok?

Hi!

I live in a household with 3 cats and 2 dogs. My Yorkshire terrier Joshua is 1 year old and has developed an extreme problem directed mostly at the 2 older cats.If he can see both myself and either one of the cats at the same time, he becomes very aggressive toward the cat in sight. Tonight he bit Pinocchio, who is about 5 times his size and I was very scared one of them would be hurt. He is a very kind and loving pet, normally.

Dear Carolyn,

Joshua may regard your 2 older cats as rivals, perhaps because he sees them as his immediate inferiors in the pack hierarchy. In other words, he is more aggressive toward them because he does not consider the other pets as threats to his place in the family pack. He may be guarding you as his ‘mate’. Pinocchio may have to teach him some respect or you may need to control Joshua so that he understands that his aggressive behavior is unacceptable.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 15 month old neutered Schnauzer has recently started hiking his leg on objects in my home. Usually, the objects are things that are "out of place. (i.e. a file box that I was using beside my computer, a coat that a child dropped beside the entry door.) He was very easily housebroken, so this behavior has me stumped!

Dear Karen,

At 15 months, your dog is a young adult just entering his prime in the social order. That would happen with or without his testicles! He is marking novel items in his territory. You may need to be extra tidy for a while and keep him under closer supervision, even on a leash and near you in the house, until he gets out of this undesirable pattern.

Dr. Schwartz,

My name is Darlene and I have a Cairn Terrier by the name of Scruffy who is 18 years of age. I know that the time is coming where I will have to be without him which is why I am e-mailing you. I have talked about this subject with my counselor and my pastor. I am trying to find the best way to deal with the passing of him when it is time and the missing him process. We have been very blessed these 18 years of his life.He has never been sick a day in his life except for the past year and a half when I see his age creeping up on him. I did bring him in to the doctor's two weeks ago where his heart sounded fine and that he was just acting like a elderly dog.

Dear Darlene,

It is never easy to say good bye to a lifelong friend. However, I am concerned that you are spending so much time projecting your grief onto a future event. By worrying about the future, you are missing the present! Today is the only thing that counts, Darlene. Tomorrow is another day that is not promised to any of us. Stay in the moment. Your grief may not be for Scruffy alone, but for all the memories over the last 18 years of your life. Some of these memories may be painful. My advice is to stop reliving them, let them go. You can’t live in the past either. Live today, not yesterday, not tomorrow. Today.

Dear Dr Cookie,

I have a 5 year old mongrel that has just started self mutilation during thunderstorms, last night he nearly chewed through one of his rear legs narrowly missing an artery and needed extensive veterinary treatment. What can we do next time there is a thunderstorm?

Dear Carol from the UK,

One of my handouts includes a detailed discussion of excessive fear responses (Phobias) to thunderstorms. Your dog should do well if you follow the program outlined. However, the retraining process will take some time and patience, and we do not want him to be injured during the next few storms. Speak with your veterinarian about a prescription for an antianxiety medication for short term use.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My neighbor's 2 cats have designated my son's play area in our back yard (it is a 10x10 pea gravel area) as their toilet. I am 7 months pregnant which make the clean up of the poop EVEN more difficult. WHAT can I do? I have come to the point where my son is NOT allowed to play in the back yard.

Dear Trapped in the house,

Your problem is not limited to concern about your son’s play area. Cat feces may pose a health risk to pregnant ladies. Some cats (a minority!) are carriers of a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma which can be transmitted to the fetus and cause serious problems. I suggest you speak with your neighbor and discuss your concerns. If the result is disappointing, contact your local animal control officer who will be sympathetic to you. Meanwhile, you may need to remove the gravel since it is already soiled and these cats (and perhaps others) will likely return. They now have a preference for gravel so don’t replace it. Your son will be happier playing on grass or patio pavers anyway, don’t you think?

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Why do cats sleep so much?

Dear Steve,

Because they can! Cats are adapted to peak activity at dawn and dusk. This rhythm of activity, called crepuscular, probably coincides with the best times for hunting at cooler times of day. Cats are also sprinters, good for short bursts of speed, and in between all this, there is nothing better than sleeping on a soft pillow in a sunbeam!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

You mention raw hide bones quite a bit. It was always my understanding that they are bad for dogs. Pieces can break off and then when swallowed, they can swell up and cause problems. Can you comment on this?

Dear OVRTIME,

This is actually a popular misconception. There are far more emergency surgeries performed to remove, socks, underwear, children’s toys, coins, buttons, and rocks than rawhide bones. These are made from the hide of cattle and are digestible. They are of greater benefit than any risk. Some dogs get extremely possessive of them and their owners feel they can do without the rawhides. Other dogs get a pasty stool from eating a large rawhide bone but in most cases, rawhides will save your day (and dogs love them too). If you don’t give them something that they want to chew, they will find something you don’t want them to chew. Right?

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We have a 1 year old Lab. She is a great dog. We have a problem with digging. She will be lying in the living room, chewing her bone, nice and calm, then all of a sudden get up and start digging on the rug. We have tried everything to stop this behavior.

Dear Shelby's Mom,

Sounds like displaced digging to bury the bone to me! Why don’t you give her smaller rawhides that she can finish in one sitting? Then she won’t feel the urge to try to hide it for future enjoyment...!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We have raised our 5 year old Himalayan on a boat and he is very attached to my husband. Two problems: how would he react if we leave
him behind when we go sailing for 4 or 5 years and how can I control his seasickness?

Dear Leigh,

Why don’t you bring him along? Since he was raised on the boat and attached to you, why leave him behind? His seasickness would likely disappear in no time as he gets his ‘sea paws’!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We have a 2 year old male West Highland White Terrier, Just recently he has developed a serious dislike to Boxers. We had an 8 week old Boxer we had to give back to the breeder due to this problem. He has also attacked Boxers while out walking and we are know scared to let him off his lead. He seems ok with other dogs, this is why we can't undrstand this dislike of boxers as he has never had a bad experience with one and played with them when he was a Puppy.

Dear Aidan,

Seems to me that his selective dislike of Boxers was created with the puppy you brought home. It is very important to introduce new house mates gradually, and on neutral territory if possible. Dogs are able to distinguish breeds. For example, my sighthound Aliya is obviously partial to Greyhounds and others. This probably goes back to a memory of their mothers. I’d advise you to keep him on a leash and do some serious obedience training with him, going back to basics. Put him in a sit/stay when a Boxer is spotted and reward him with a tasty treat for being a good boy. If you want to let him off lead, a basket muzzle would be appropriate.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a 4 year Mini Lop rabbit that is supposedly female. About 3 months ago, she began to get aggressive. Whenever we let her out, or go to feed her, she sniffs us, then grabs onto us with her front paws and begins to "hump" quite viciously and tries to bite us. This usually only happens at night. She has another habit of slamming her hind legs on the cage in the middle of the night for hours on end. This started about a year and a half ago. She is an indoor rabbit, gets plenty of love and exercise, and is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.

Dear Cheryl and James,

Your honey bunny is displaying distinctively male behaviors. I wonder if she is actually a he? See your local veterinarian to verify the bunny’s gender. It would be appropriate to neuter ‘him’ and if it is a female, your veterinarian should do a thorough examination, including urine analysis. Gook luck! Let me know what happens...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have 2 female cats, 1 yr old littermates, but have to watch them constantly because they love to chew electrical wiring. They leave everything else alone, but go after power cables before anything else. Is there a way to stop them for their own safety and to give me peace of mind? I have many power cables in the house, and the vet suggested putting covers on all the wires. Is there a better way?

Dear Bill,

Pet proofing your home is the first rule for pet owners. In cases such as yours you need to a) make these wires/cables inaccessible, and b) give them more attractive alternatives. You may need to keep doors to certain rooms closed, rearranging furniture to block outlets, or covering the wires with commercial cable covers. I wouldn’t advise using bad tasting substances because they would still need to chew the wires to get the effect and they might even develop a liking to the taste. Zero tolerance here, for their safety...

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a 7 year old cat that has me trained to put all leather shoes and coats away. I also sold my leather sofa before he could ruin it. My friends sometimes come over, take off their expensive boots and forget that I told them about the cat. My cat bites and scratches the shoes so badly that if permitted, he will tear them apart. Is there anything that can be done? If he tries in front of me (rarely), a "no" works really well. I'm not always there, so many innocent shoes have been destroyed!

Dear Teresa,

Your beastie boy is in to leather so give it to him! Instead of ‘giving’ him the occasional ‘treat’ (shoes, boots...), go to your local fabric store or shoe repair shop and buy some leather. Hang it in strips from a wooden rod to play with him, give him larger swatches to destroy at will. If you satisfy his urge to attack his preferred target he should not be as interested in more valuable objects!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 2 year old male Bull Mastiff that my husband and I rescued from the breed rescue program (we're the 3rd owners). He is scared to death of any new person he
sees, especially males. Anyone new, he will put his tail between his legs and hide for hours. He is just as sweet as can be once he gets to know you and tolerates children very well. When he hears a baby cry however, he gets extremely nervous and paces around like he's going to get in trouble or something. He is a very nervous dog,(being that and is very thunder and lightening phobic. When a car drives by, the reflection of the sun from the car moving across the wall really freaks him out. On the opposite side, he is extremely territorial with other dogs, and is very violent with them. He has locked on to 2 dogs now with the intent to kill them. He has killed my mother in law's cat, and basically wants to kill anything smaller than him. I want to know if a basket muzzle would be the answer?

Dear Jenob,

Your description suggests that your dog was not well socialized to people or to other dogs. Certainly, the gender of the person or dog he is meeting also summons up other instincts and behaviors, however, his social phobias are accompanied by other phobic responses ( to thunder, flashing lights). Panic disorders and phobias can be treated and I would encourage you to consider a consult with me. A basket muzzle is ‘damage control’ but he should not be let off leash in any case when he is a recognized menace. Your dog is too big and, apparently, too dangerous to risk letting him run free when you know he cannot be controlled, so far. If this is his 3rd home, there may be a reason for it.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 4 year old Burmese cat that overgrooms in particular parts of her body - mainly hip area & base of tail. She is a totally indoor cat. We both work and she is left at home during the day. We have considered getting another cat for company but are not sure. What can we do?

Dear Richard and Jane,

Psychogenic licking is a symptom of stress in cats. The stress can be psychological or physical. In the absence of an underlying medical problem, you should first try to resolve her current problem without introducing any additional stresses (such as a new cat!). I would be happy to discuss your cat’s excessive grooming in more detail in a telephone or email consult. We can lick her problem together!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have an 11-year-old spayed female calico indoor cat who is doing fairly well, considering she has had chronic renal disease for the past 6 years. After my husband uses Dial Soap to wash his hands or shower, Mitzi has this peculiar habit of first sniffing his hand or leg, rubbing against it and then giving him a little "love nip"; she then falls onto the floor and acts as if she has had a mega dose of catnip! He's the only one who has this effect on her - can you explain it? (If I was the jealous type, she'd be out of here!) Another odd problem she has is, while she eats her prescription soft diet, she eats - pauses to lick herself-eats- licks-eats-licks-ad nauseum, thus succeeding in getting a good amount of food on her. This behavior has been going on for a few years.

Dear Terry ,

My husband’s cologne has the same effect on me (and I only don’t react that way if someone else is wearing the same cologne either)....! :-D Must be something in that soap, mixed with his chemistry, that does it for her! I suppose you could switch to Dove (my preference!) if it ever does make you jealous...! As for her licking/eating thing, if it is a real concern you could try getting the kidney diet in dry form!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a problem with my 6 month old neutered male cat, Tommy. He is extremely aggressive towards dogs, whether the dogs are in the backyard or even next door. He has attacked a Rottweiler, a Staffordshire Terrier, and the neighbour’s spaniel. We are getting 2 Alaskan Malamutes next week and I am concerned that the cat is going to attack the pups. I don't want the puppies hurt and I don't want the cat hurt by the pups (they already weigh 10kg).

Dear Angela in Sydney Australia,

At the very least, restrain your cat on a harness and leash so that he is unable to attack the pups. Chances are he will accept them in time but it is difficult to know without more details. It is possible, for example, that his attacks are an offensive defense (sort of like fear aggression in a preemptive strike) or he could be behaving territorially. Keep his nails trimmed to minimize harm to the pups. One day, Tommy may push a dog too far and his behavior will be punished. His lesson could be learned the hard way. You would be wise to limit his roaming outdoors...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 2 month old Pug by the name of Bruno who likes to bite my feet and also those who visit our house. How do I discipline him?

Dear Eloisa,

Say ‘no, bad boy’ and throw a toy for him to chase instead, or give him a rawhide bone to chew, or take him for longer walks so he is tired and not interested in chasing your feet. You should definitely not play any games that encourage him to nip, mouth, or chase people. Order the handouts on Play Behavior in Dogs, Chewing/Destructiveness in Dogs, and Obedience in Dogs. All will be very helpful.

Dear Dr. Cookie

My 3 year old Pit Bull has been chewing all his toes and toenails, and they are getting raw. Why, and what can I do about it?

Dear Worried Mom.

Nail biting in dogs can be an obsessive compulsive behavior but he may also have an allergy to something in his environment. Your veterinarian will rule out any possible medical problem and if you are sure there is none, contact me for a consult.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have a 14 month old German Shepherd, his name is Malachi Von James. Four months ago my mom died and I inherited her Border Collie mix, spayed female. Malachi and Roxy get along well, a little jealousy her and there, but there are really no problems. The past month or so Malachi has been lifting his leg and urinating on one of my chairs, this is usually done at night, because I find it in the morning. And also the other day while we were at work the kitchen floor was torn up in one spot and I'm almost sure it was him and not Roxy. The vet suggests neutering Malachi for the territory marking, but I would rather not do that at this time. I can crate him all night, but he is getting rather large for the cage. Do you have any suggestions?

Dear Andrea,

My sympathy to you for your Mom’s death. It does not seems that Malachi is responding territorially to Roxy since he began his marking months after she arrived. I agree with your veterinarian. If he is of no real breeding value (there are too many unwanted dogs out there!) then he should be neutered. If you do not want to have him neutered, we can discuss other options. Meantime, the handouts on Separation Anxiety, Destructiveness in Dogs, and Inappropriate Elimination will provide you with more details.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I am very concerned about a situation that I am aware of where a full grown Schnauzer is kept in a crate (small one with all sides, top & bottom closed - only light is the small steel door) sometimes from 12 to 15 hours. I am concerned about this precious dog. I am worried about her well being, not to mention her health. Is this cruelty this dog? Could this be physically harming her or maybe causing her urinary system problems that could be life threatening in the future.

Dear B. Hall

This is a delicate situation. Long confinement can lead to urinary tract problems, not to mention discomfort and loneliness. Professional dog walkers can be hired to break up a long work day, or neighborhood children and neighbors can be paid for this service. If you are unsatisfied with the owner’s response to this suggestion, you should consider discussing this with your local animal control officer who can investigate the situation without naming any names, at your request. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Hi - I am looking to adopt a dog from the SPCA.. Yesterday I went to look at dogs and there was a 3 month old Pit Bull mix..he was very sweet and loving...the profile listed him as gentle, submissive, calm, loving, good with other animals, good with kids, and nice disposition. Are Pit Bulls innately inclined to fight and attack, or is that just hype from how people train them?Am I inviting disaster into my house?

Dear Catherine,

The ‘problem with Pit Bulls’ is the subject of ongoing debate. Pit Bulls were bred to fight bulls for the entertainment of people (!)and have very impressive physical traits to accomplish this. In the state of Massachusetts, they rank in the top 10 biting dogs (along with German Shepherds, Chows, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers...!). However, it is always a question of instinct and learning. Most of the Pits I have seen have been lovely but police officers and animal control officers see another segment of the Pit population entirely. Some Pit Bulls would be problems regardless of who raised them, and most would probably not be if they were raised as pets and well socialized to people and other dogs and animals. The SPCA and other shelters tend to be very strict with the animals they put up for adoption, particulalry when they have any Pit Bull in them. I’d say if they think he is gentle and loving, he probably is!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

About 4 months ago, we picked up a stray cat. We took her to the vet soon after, and found out she was pregnant. We kept her anyway and she had 6 healthy kittens. All the kittens are now weaned, and are completely wonderful, loving, and calm. My only concern is for "Whitey", the smallest of the litter. She is much smaller than any of her sisters, and about half the size of her brother. Although she plays very hard with the others, she is not interested in human contact. Do you think she will ever settle down and want to be petted, or is it possible for a cat to just be born "wild"? I really love this little girl, even though she is scared of me!

Dear Shelley

The runt of the litter is often, although not always, affected by delayed development (physical or psychological). In some cases, there may be neurological problems. On the other hand, you may simply be seeing one of the many ‘temperament types’ in a range of normal social behavior in cats. Not all cats are tame, and some are born wilder than others. I’d give her a chance as a pet. Once her siblings are gone, she may well seek you out for closer contact. If her mom and littermates are social, she probably will be too in time with the right owners.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I've have a 4 month old Miniature Pinscher that gets extremely wild whenever I'm gone. He has torn my carpet in several places and chewed on the wall corners too. Punishment doesn't help at all. The past 2 days I've left him in my bathroom, but somehow he injured a paw on both days (trying to escape) and got blood EVERYWHERE in my bathroom. What should I do about this? Is there an anti-depressant for dogs? Prozac, Valium?

Dear Ron,

How about my handouts on Separation Anxiety and/or Destructiveness in Dogs instead?! You sound like an inexperienced dog owner who could use a few tips. For example, there are very few cases when punishment does any good especially when it is applied long after the problem behavior is performed. I am very concerned that your pup is so unhappy and is injuring himself. If he is injuring himself in your bathroom, I don’t think that crate training would be the answer either. I would also not recommend medication for such a young pup when there are certainly simply solutions that we can discuss in a consult, ok?

Hi Dr. Cookie!

When we pet our 8 year old Schnauzer, she begins whining and cowers and rolls over on her back. We did have 3 dogs but the other 2 died in the last 2 years and she is by herself. The whining is so annoying and even worse when we first get home.

Dear Sue,

Take a step back and try to be objective. Your poor little girl has lost her closest friends and is all alone, completely alone when you go out. Her whining and submissive roll is a symptom of how anxious she is when you leave her. She is not the most confident doggy to begin with. She is beside herself when you come home. Is her behavior better or worse than other dogs that bark and circle and jump in greeting? To me, they’re the flip side of the same coin. Be calm and gentle when you return home. Reassure her that you always will. Order the handouts on Separation Anxiety for some specific tips...

Dear Dr. Cookie

My cat enjoys getting on the hood of my car at night especially after I just washed it. He leaves muddy paw prints all over it. Is there a way to discourage him from getting on the hood of the car?

Dear Chet,

OK, you have 2 choices: 1) Tell your cat to stay out of the mud, or 2) Keep him indoors!!!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have adopted a number of "special needs" cats - all were previously abused. They've had broken bones, teeth knocked out, etc. They are all now thriving and doing quite well. All are spayed/neutered and strictly indoor cats. . One of the males - Sydney, a red Manx - occasionally will urinate on a rug, wall, etc. when he sees a strange cat in "his" yard. I've heard of using black lights to detect urine spots. I do not always catch him in the act, and want to make sure I have not missed cleaning up any of this.

Dear Julie,

Ultraviolet light is used to detect voided urine in the home, which is particularly useful when we don’t know which cat in a multicat household is urinating out of the box. It only works when the suspected culprit has been treated with fluorescein dye, given orally or injected subcutaneously by your veterinarian. The lamp alone is useless and the dye is not meant to be given continually so I don’t think this technique applies to you... The handout on inappropriate elimination in cats will give you some easy tips on how to prevent him from returning to his favorite spots, which is a better plan for you to follow.

Dr. Cookie,

Four months ago I adopted a wonderful Shiba Inu. She is eight years and such a joy to have around. I have noticed on a few occasions that she is trembling or shivering very slightly from her torso to her ears. We live in Southern California, I can't imagine that she's cold. She wasn't in a situation where she would
be afraid, either. Do you know what this could be, or is there anything I should be monitoring with her?

Dear Estela,

It would be helpful to know more about the context in which she shivers. Is it in anticipation of food? a walk? If it does not occur in anticipation of something, and in the absence of cold or fear, speak with your veterinarian. It would be advisable to run some blood tests to make sure all is well, and to begin taking careful records (date, duration, exact context and specific behavior) in case this is seizure activity. Let me know how it goes, ok?

Dr. Cookie:

I have two Sphynx and I'm writing you because I'm having severe scratching problems. I've talked to my vet and he recommends declawing, I've done a lot of research on it and I am against that, but I am at my wits end. They're 9 and 10 months old. My husband built them a house that they can climb and 2 scratching post (all made out of wood and covered with carpet). They use their other scratching posts too, but they are also using my brand new furniture, drapes and lamp shades. On the advice of someone else I put tin foil on the corners of couch where they like it, but they also like that and tear it off and shred it. Also, I do clip their nails once a week, they let me, but it doesn't seem to help with the damage.

Dear Shari,

Your cats’ behavior tells you two things: 1) they like the posts you made, and 2) they love the furniture! You may need to remove the drapes and lamp shades temporarily. Use their choice of location (sofa corners, etc) to reinforce use of the scratch posts. Try other surfaces such as sissel, cardboard, and burlap. They are telling you what they like (surface texture preference) and where they like to do it. Use this information to your advantage. The handout on whether or not to declaw your cat and Destructiveness in Cats will give you detailed guidance. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Recently, our 1 year old cat began urinating in her sleep. She only does this when she is sleeping, and only when she is in a very deep "twitchy" sleep. Her vet thinks that she has a weakened bladder sphincter muscle, and is trying to find an appropriate treatment for her. What are the possible causes and treatments for this condition?

Dear CCTGAFF,

Deep sleep has 2 phases. One is associated with profound muscle relaxation and the other with brain activity and inhibited muscular contractions. The latter is called the Rapid Eye Movement phase (REM) and is associated with dreaming. If this was truly due to neuromuscular incontinence, we would expect the urinating to occur in the deep relaxation part of sleep and/or when she is awake. She urinates during REM sleep, however, and so I wonder if she is not urinating in her sleep. At one year of age, she is still a kitten and is almost done growing. If she is not spayed, get it done. In any case, I would advise no treatment right now. I suspect she will grow out of it in time. Wouldn’t it be great if we knew what they were dreaming about? Promise me, whatever you do, don’t hang her soiled sheets out the window!!!

Dear Doctor,

How old do you feel puppies should be when they leave the litter? It is important to me, want to do the best job that I can. Oh, almost forgot, they are "Cocker Poos."

Dear Ellie,

Puppies should stay with the bitch and littermates until 7 or 8 weeks old. This allows them to benefit from important social interactions during a critical phase of development. By 8 weeks, they should be placed in good homes so they can be situated during an optimal time to become socialized to people. Socializing with other dogs should continue, however, as soon as they are half way through their vaccinations. This applies to Cockapoos, Schnoodles, etc. :-D

Hi, Dr. Cookie!

I'm going on a 3 wk trip to Seattle and was wondering what would be better for my 2 Dachshunds. Either leave them at a kennel for three weeks or bring them with us. The kennel has a 14 foot indoor/outdoor exercise area. On the trip, we will be driving through Wyoming, Seattle, California, as well as the Nevada and Arizona deserts in July, so it will be hot. What would be best for the dogs?

Hi Scott!

There are disadvantages/advantages in either case. These are discussed in detail in my handout on ‘Traveling with Your Pet’. Do what is best for you, and what is best for your dogs, and hopefully that will be the same thing. Have a great trip!

Dear Dr. Cookie

I´ve a female cat about two years old. She was sterilized about 6 weeks ago. In the last 2 wks, she attacks me- screaming, scratching, and biting. Her mood changes within seconds I´ve noticed that she smells something before the attacks. She is sniffing on my hand or in the air. Her veterinarian prescribed ‘birthcontrol pills’ for 5 days but there has been no change.

Dear Emma,

In order to treat a problem, a doctor needs to make a diagnosis. About 15-20 years, progesterone tablets were prescribed for a number of behavioral disorders but have fallen out of favor because we now know so much more about pet behavior and how to treat problems, and because these hormone tablets were associated with a number of serious side effects. Your cat could be reacting to an odor that frightens her (perhaps associated with the clinic and her recent surgery?) but we would need to set up a consult to discuss this in more depth.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 10 month old male black Persian. Within the last week he has taken to biting my arm then trying to mate with it. It seems as if any amount of petting him well set this off at night, during the day he does not display this behavior. He has not been fixed, and although I did not plan on having him netered I am beginnig to see the wisdom in having it done. Will this stop this type of behavior?

Dear Joseph,

Yes, you certainly should have him neutered. It will help but males that have sexual experience may continue to feel the urges even after the male sex hormone testosterone is removed from circulation. So, have him neutered AND play with him at night rather than petting him. Get him busy doing other fun things and get out of the current pattern that could perpetuate the masturbation!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I feel awful having to ask this but... is there a surgery that can be performed to take away a cat's voice? We have a wonderful, 2 yr old male Cornish Rex. He is deaf as a post & that's probably why he is so loud. And, when I say loud, I mean really, really loud. He can wake us up from the basement (we sleep on the top floor of a two story house) with 3 doors closed in between. Help?

Dear Mark,

Why don’t you simply make sure he is TIRED before you go to bed? He’s probably been sleeping on/off most of the day. Get this kitten playing with toys he can chase, toys dangled from a string, balls to fetch up and down those stairs. Then, don’t isolate him over night. His vocalizations are made worse by separation from you (distress calls). Synchronize your activity patterns and things will improve.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My cat is an inveterate overgroomer. The only suggestion I had from my vet was 'fleas'. I did the works: flea bath, bomb etc. The only thing that happened was that my cat's hair problem got temporarily worse (it seemed to irritate her skin). Last summer when I was able to let more of the outside air in she grew back all her hair. However this winter she once again began pulling out her hair again. Do you think dry skin could be the cause?

Dear Kurt,

In the absence of any medical problem, psychogenic licking is the probable cause. This anxiety-relieving behavior is akin to biting finger nails in people. She needs to have more activity, more play time, more attention. Have you considered taking her outside on a harness and leash for walks? If none of this helps, psychoactive medication is generally curative, so let me know how you do.

Dr. Cookie,

I took my 5yr. old Himalayan/Siamese mix to the vet because he was eating his litter. She ran blood tests on him, and everything came out fine. Is there anything else I should be doing? Thanks, >^..^<

Dear Pat,

Pica, the ingestion of non food items, is unusual in cats. Did your vet check your cat’s thyroid level? Are you sure there are no internal parasites? If nothing else is of concern, try changing the litter filler. If you are using clumping sand, use regular clay, shredded newspaper, etc. for at least as long as he’s been doing this, then try gradually returning (if possible) to your current preference. If he stills does this despite your efforts, we should set up a consult. Obsessive compulsive behavior of this kind may be harmful to his health and should not go unchecked.

Hi, Dr. Cookie!

I have a neutered male cat who atempts to spray when he sees other animals and cats outside. He is not allowed out and has a sister cat who also is fixed. What should we do outside of putting him down?

Dear Cherrie,

My goodness! Would you really not give him more of a chance? I don’t know how long he has been spraying and have very little information, however, I can tell you that help is definitely available. Read through the collection of letters, check out the archives, order a QuickFix Handout, schedule a consult with me! Your pet deserves help. Please!

Dear Doctor,

I have a 2 1/2 year old Shih-tzu and a 1 1/2 year old Lhasa Apso (both neutered males). They are marking in the house. How do I get them to stop doing this? I do not catch them doing it so I am not sure if it involves one dog or two. Do you know if there are any products on the market, like a spray, that I could put on areas in the house to deter them?

Dear Susan,

In my experience, commercial sprays are ineffective in most cases of urine marking for dogs or cats. It is important to deodorize (the best you can) the locations, however, and you could do something simple like place their drinking water or food bowls at the target areas. If they are doing this in your absene, it could be a symptom of separation anxiety, but at least keep them confined to a crate or restricted to another area in your absence. A consult with me is advised so we can really figure things out.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

My 18 year-old Siamese cat (neutered male), Ascot, has always been vocal. Recently, he's taken to howling --- at ear-splitting decibels --- when I leave the room to, say, go upstairs to bed, or to the basement to do the laundry. He even howls while drinking his water ('sounds like a cross between gargling and yodeling). BTW, he has very limited eyesight due to cataracts).

Dear Karolin,

Older cats can sometimes become more anxious, and feel more vulnerable, when physical ailments emerge. Sometimes medical problems can be latent for some time before symptoms appear. Have your veterinarian examine him thoroughly and draw some blood to evaluate his current status. Senility does exist in some aging pets, even in the absence of problems from the neck down. Try calling him to come with you so he is not surprised when you suddenly ‘disappear’! If his distress calls continue and no physical problem is discovered, consider scheduling a consult so that we can give both of you some peace of mind!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

When my 1 year old very friendly cat is sitting on my lap and rubbing her face against me, she also presses her teeth very lightly into my skin (hand) for a second, not hard at all. I was wondering what that means. Is it a signof affection?

Dear GS,

Love bites! An inhibited bite associated with extreme affection in many social mammals. People do it, too!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We had to put down our male Akita, Bear, last week due to old age....Happy 14 years old. Our female Akita, Yuki, is lost without him. We take the dogs for a long walk 3 times a week. Yuki is 5 years old now and I'm thinking of getting a Shiba Inu, male. Do you think she will adapt well to a puppy 8 weeks old? I will be going to look at one on Wed. Please help. Or should we consider another Akita? Just not sure about aggression......but she seems so lonely on her own. We miss our Bear very much.

Dear Therese,

Grieving for the loss of a cherished friend is painful, even when you are somewhat consoled that Bear lived a long and happy life. In an effort to regain our emotional balance, we often try to take control in some way, such as taking action to fill the void. Are you really ready for another pet or are you just trying to distract yourself from dealing with the sorrow? This may be an opportunity to take some time to dedicate to Yuki for a while, or to your spouse, or to yourself. Take some time to recover, to face your feelings, to go through the mourning process. You will be able to make clearer choices when you have centered yourself and time has helped to heal you all.

Hello Dr. Cookie:

I have a 2 yr old, wonderful Devon Rex named Zack. He was altered at about 6 mos. of age but 2 wks ago he began using my arm as a humping post. Is this unusual in altered male cats?

Dear Rich,

Masturbation is not uncommon in neutered cats that have some sexual experience (or at least sensations) prior to being neutered. In the spring, all kinds of hormones and brain patterns are awakened. To start with, don’t let him! Push him off you, say ‘no’ firmly, and direct his thoughts and actions to something more appropriate like a ball. Don’t be a sex object! Just say ‘no’!

Dear Dr. Cookie

We have two cats, a male (Scooter) about 5 years old and a female (Sophie) about 4 years old. We moved about six months ago. They have 2 litter boxes adjacent to one another located downstairs. We use the scoopable litter which are cleaned every day. They are "pooping" half the time in the litter boxes and the other half, anywhere else except. We have tried many types and brands of cat litter, to no avail. The litter boxes were originally located upstairs and they were pooping on the floor, in front of the litter box. They are both indoor cats since adopting them. We love them dearly but the pooping is wearing on us.

Dear KDJMHOWE,

Moving and adjusting to a new territory is stressful for everyone, including your pets. It is important to make as few changes as possible. Changing the litter filler is a mistake at this time. Try to place the boxes in similar places to your last home. Add additional boxes, giving them an option to urinate in one location and defecate in another. It would be a wise investment to order the handouts on ‘Moving with Your Pets’ and ‘Inappropriate Elimination in Cats’. This should resolve if you take informed action. Good luck!

Hello, Doctor.

My 10-year old daughter is doing a science fair project. She wanted to do it on cats and asked me 'why cats sleep so much'. Thank you for your time.

Dear Norman and daughter!

Why do cats sleep so much? Because they can! Cats generally conserve energy during the hotter times of day (which is adaptive to their native environments) and become more active when their prey are more active, too. Cats are sprinters, built for rapid bursts of speed and energy (although it may not seem that way in kittens!), so the rest of the time they take time to rest!!! Pets are supplied with ready made food, water, and shelter. That gives them lots of spare time compared to wild cats that have to fend for themselves. In my next life, I’m coming back as a house cat!

Hi Dr. Cookie,

We have a three year old mixed breed (shepherd/lab) spayed female. We love Sammy dearly and she is a real member of the family, but she is a problem outdoors. We never went to obediance school, and I grew up on a farm where the dog was a dog and no one had many expectations. I am now living in a big city and have to walk my dog in city parks that are shared with the public. The problem - we let her off leash and if some poor unsuspecting person (usually one without a dog) walks through the area that she patrols (this can be very large, as she has a very keen eye) she runs toward them barking and will follow them until they are out of the park. Alas, not all people are dog lovers and those who are indifferent or even worse, frightened are in for a follow, accompanied by loud barking - get out of my park!! I've had people stop in their tracks, wave their arms and scream. She will not come when called and she will not let me approach her. HELP!!

Dear Catherine,

Not everyone is a lover of dogs, it is true, but some of these passersby may be right to feel threatened. If your dog cannot be controlled off leash, then why do you let her off leash?! Go back to basics and prevent big problems of all kinds, ok? Find out about group obedience classes in your area and/or order my handouts on obedience, territorial behavior in dogs, etc.

Dear Dr.Cookie,

Last August I adopted a 7 month old male Siberian Husky. He was returned to the shelter 3 times before I adopted him, 2 for destruction and 1 for allergies. I am having all sorts of problems with him. I took him to obediance school and he did fine there. He listens while on his leash but when he is off the leash he doesnt. If I leave him alone in a room for 5 minutes he chews anything made of paper. He will go in the garbage cans at night and steal tissue. He eats the cat’s food and not his own . When he is in his crate, he broke most of the welding on the front of the cage and managed to get his head out. When he did he chewed a box into shreads from around a Scroll saw, chewed off the power cord, dragged 2 power drills into his cage and chewed the cords in half, dragged in a 2 x 4 foot rug and shredded it and found roofing nails in a box and dragged them in the cage too. This was all in a 6 hour period. If I leave him out he is destructive but if he is in the cage he is worse. Both I and my husband work all day and I have been leaving him chained in the yard until I get home. He is digging holes everywhere back there too! I have a chance to give him to another family that says they "need" another husky for theirs, but I would hate to pass him off again.

Dear Debra,

A 7 month old pup needs a lot of exercise, ongoing training, opportunity to socialize with other dogs,... if the best you can offer him is obviously not enough then another family who knows the breed and can offer him a built in pal may be better. Leaving a dog chained in the yard is dangerous because the dog is exposed to danger yet cannot flee; it is unacceptable because the dog is socially isolated in a limited environment; it predisposes to severe types of aggression, and to the destructiveness and unruliness you already know so well. Do what is best for the dog. This dog is not for you. Seems like cats are a more appropriate pet for you. Enjoy them!

Hi Dr. Cookie!

I am having problems with my 5 year old Persian cat. I got her about 1 month ago and knew she was pregnant . She’s had her babies but she will not let me near her [or] the babies!

Dear Darlene,
Maternal aggression is a normal behavior. It is an important survival mechanism to defend helpless babies from intruders that could harm them. This cat barely knows you. Give her all the space she wants and needs. Let her come to you slowly when she is ready. She will be less defensive of the kittens when they are a bit older. Then get her spayed!

Dear Dr.Cookie,

I have a 1 1/2 yr. old Austrailian Cattle Dog. She used to be a very sweet loving dog, but for the past few months she has been visciously attacking and biting me. She will be fine and if I try to pet her or touch her it sets her off. She has been with us from the time she was 5 weeks old and has never been mistreated.We have a male about a year older than her and he is not like this. She allows other people to pet her but not me. Her biting sent me to the emergency room yesterday. he is my constant companion always under my feet, sleeps with me,etc.. I just never know any more when or how bad I am going to be bit. I am considering having her put to sleep before she seriously harms me.What is your opinion?

Dear Rebecca,

From your brief description, it sounds like your young dog is showing dominance aggression albeit in very severe form. She is most aggressive toward you because you are her most serious ‘rival’ for social status among females in your pack hierarchy. There are a number of steps that should begin immediately to reassign her rank in a gradual and nonconfrontational way, including keeping her off your bed. I would not want you to be bitten in the night or at any time and to that end I suggest that another important first step would be NOT to touch her. This would not be forever, but you cannot jeopardize your own safety. I urge you to seek professional help with a local veterinary behaviorist or with me. At the very least, the handout on Dominance Aggression will provide important information. I remain concerned, however, with the intensity of her aggressive displays. Psychoactive medication may be helpful in your case because she is so explosive and because you are considering euthanasia. I wish you the best of luck with your dog and please let me know how else I can help.

Hi Dr. Cookie!

I have a 5 month old Rottweiler pup. She is housetrained and very well behaved. Just recently though she has been urinating sometimes when she get excited. The first time she did it was when we took her back to the vet to have the stitches removed when we had her spayed. It does not happen all the time and she acts like she doesn't realize she is doing it. I was curious if this condition could be a side effect of having her fixed or could it just be a behaviorial problem that other dogs her age go through?

Dear BlackSnake,

Submissive urination is seen in pups, particularly females, as part of a greeting display to more dominant animals or simply during times of stress and excitement. Certainly having her stitches removed at a place that has come to be associated with some anxiety and discomfort for her would trigger this behavior. She should grow out of it as her confidence grows so please don’t scold her for this! For complete tips on submissive urination, visit the QuickFix handouts page...

Dear Dr. cookie,

In October I found a 4 week old kitten abandoned in a grocery store parking lot. She was very scared, and it took over an hour and a half and three people to catch her. wWhen I brought her home she and my 8 month old cat immediately fell in love and he began to act as her mother, cleaning her and being very attentive. she is very happy and healthy, but she is terrified of all humans. I have tried hand feeding her and spend at least an hour during the evening playing with her. If I catch her while she is asleep, I can pet her and she purrs and will let me cuddle her.

Dear Jessamy,

Listen to what she is trying to tell you herself! Let her come to you, in her own way, in her own time. By pursuing her you are reinforcing the trauma of her capture! Be patient, be loving... and let her be herself. She is not a toy, she is a living creature with her own preferences. Love her the way she is, whether she falls into your expectations or not! Every cat is different so try not to compare, OK?

Dear Dr.,

We have recently taken on 2 rescue cats, Lucy (female 8 yrs old) and Trigger (male 6 yrs old). Lucy has settled in well, however, Trigger is becoming more introverted and is now starting to become aggressive, hissing whenever we approach. We were advised by the shelter to keep them temporarilly in one room to help them feel secure in their new surroundings. Lucy is now becoming more adventurous and venturing out of the room,whereas Trigger cowers in the corner. These cats have been together all their lives and have no problems with each other.

Dear Mags and Wendy,

How recently is recently? If it is less than 4 weeks, give it at least another month or so before worrying too much. It may take him as long as 6 months to really come out of his shell. Spend time with him in the ‘safe room’, hand feed him, play with him. Has anything spooked him on his initial trips to explore the rest of the house? Do you have small children that may have frightened him? Did he hear a loud noise and associate it with you? Sometimes it doesn’t take much to cause a regression in adjustment to a new home. See how he does in the next weeks and get back to me...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I am having a problem with my 10 1/2 year old Cocker Spaniel, Roxanne, and a new person in the house. Roxanne and I have been together for 10 years, just
the two of us. My girlfriend moved in about 2 weeks ago. Roxanne will now sometimes growl and snap at my girlfriend. See does not do it to me. She has done this to me on rare occasion in the past (maybe every 6 months), and I just figure it's a bad day and leave her alone. But it is now happening multiple times a day. Last night I started gating Roxanne in the kitchen when she exhibits this behavior (like sending a child to their room). When she would come over for a few hours and then leave, Roxanne never showed this extreme behavior. Roxanne will now start growling even when my girlfriend is petting her. Roxanne also used to sleep with me on my bed, just the two of us. Now my girlfriend is in her spot. I tried to have all three of us in the bed. Roxanne also exhibits this behavior in bed, but not all the time. Since the bad behavior has become more frequent, I did not let Roxanne sleep in the bedroom last night. I feel bad for both Roxanne and my girlfriend.

Dear Jim,

Poor Roxanne is right! Roxanne was queen of the castle, essentially your mate, until you suddenly dethroned her. I’d be growling at the new ‘queen bitch’ too! It also sounds like you indulged her totally through the years and tolerated aggressive displays toward you, too. Take it slowly. You can’t be queen one day and scullery maid the next. You need to do this gradually. And you also need to associate your girlfriend’s presence with good things, not with social isolation. Consider an email consult with me. Things will be better in no time...

Dr. Cookie,

Can a 6 month old Beagle be trained to a concealed electronic barrier?

Dear Ann-Marie,

I have to admit, I’m not wild about mixing electronic gadgets and pets all together. I feel uncomfortable with delivering electric shocks to an innocent animal and I feel that you are better off installing a sturdy fence. I also feel very strongly that no one should rely on any fenced in yard because your puppy needs to be walked for at least 45 minutes twice daily (with quickies in between of course), and given every opportunity to play with other dogs and to socialize with your family and other people. Also, no barrier is full proof. This does not keep intruders out and may not prevent a determined dog from breaking out. Never leave any dog unsupervised for more than a few minutes (if that long!) regardless of what kind of fence you decide on!

Dr. Cookie,

I have a 5 yr. old Siamese/Himalayan mix who just recently started eating his litter. I have found what looks like hairballs, but are actually litter that he vomited up. Is there an underlying reason for this behavior? Thanks. >^..^<

Dear Pat,

This is unusual behavior in cats who are usually very selective about what they ingest. Pica, the ingestion of nonfood items, can sometimes be an indication of an underlying medical disorder. Have your veterinarian run a full array of lab tests, (including blood, urine, stool) to make certain there is nothing brewing. Meanwhile, change to a different litter to see if that helps...you might also just use shredded newspaper (recycle!) with a sprinkle of your usual litter to encourage continued use ... Let me know what happens.

Dear Dr Cookie

I have a lovely ginger female spayed cat who is just about a year old. We went to South America for 6 weeks and left her in the care of a flat mate who has lived with us since Nellie was a kitten. When we got back from holidays, Nellie had more or less moved in with our neighbours. Over the last couple of months she has been spending more time at home, eating her meals and hanging out with us if we are outside. But she doesnt spend much time inside and doesn’t sleep with us anymore. I tried closing her cat door of a night time so she couldnt get out - but she started spraying inside and was distressed at not being able to leave. What I really want is for Nellie to stay at home overnight and sleep with us again. Also is there any truth to the tale that female ginger cats are strange?

Dear Pru,

Well, if you read my replies to other folks you know how I feel about letting cats outside... I don’t think this has anything to do with your flat mate or neighbors. Simply, your young cat is maturing and expanding her territory. If you want to change her daily rhythm of activity, keep her awake during the day (and out, if that is what you choose) and inside at night. By ‘ginger’ I suppose you mean orange tabby? And no, there is no evidence to support that this coat color (or any other) is associated with a particular temperament!!!

Dear Doctor,

I have a 2 year old Shepherd mix. Since the time we got her she has had numerous unfounded illnesses. She gets sick and stops eating. She is the most nervous scared animal. She has some type of allergy along with nerve problems we believe. Our vet has tried a variety of things. This dog is scared of everyone and everything except us. She doesn't go for walks or anything else out of her backyard. The car even scares her to death. She has had endoscopy and they feel she had a friable duodenum but no tumors polyps etc... We have not even been able to leave her with anyone. She has been on and off Prednisone and only stays relatively healthy on it. We have tried a drug called Clomicalm® which does nothing. And she is on three Carafates every day of her life. Although it has its own set of awful side effects. Can you recommend some type of mental health therapy drug or any idea to her physical problem.

Dear Kim,

I am sure that your veterinarian is doing the best s/he can, however, there comes a time when specialists are needed. I don’t know where you are located but I would certainly seek a referral to the nearest veterinary teaching hospital or other veterinary center. It is hard to know which came first, the emotional aspect of her disease or the physical symptoms, or are they part of the same problem? Psychoactive drugs should be used when a diagnosis is made, not just to treat nonspecific symptoms... I would be very happy to help coordinate her care but it would be very important to seek the advice of experts on her physical health as well, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We recently adopted a 2 year old male Doberman. We got him through the Doberman Rescue League here in Ohio. He is neutered and very healthy. He has been to a 2 week obedience program and is progressing nicely, however, he loves to chew on blankets, pillows and socks. One person recommended I yell and scream at him, kind of like an alpha dog in the pack. I have tried the bitter apple spray as well. No luck. He has a milk crate full of heavy duty toys to chew on..balls, you name it. I don't llike leaving him in his crate while we are away, but if I let him loose he will have a field day.

Dear Becky (Tbird's mom),

Does Tbird do this when you are home or when you are away? This could be a form of separation anxiety if he does it in your absence. If not, it could be an obsessive compulsive problem. Rescue doggies sometimes have sad stories to tell, if only they could! His chewing has nothing to do with obedience and I hope you will not yell at him. Bitter apple won’t help because he can easily find a peice of fabric that has not been treated. Keep him crated in a large crate while you are away (make sure he has a long long walk before being confined) and give him an extra special rawhide bone to chomp on. He should settle down in the next few weeks. If not, give me an update or check out the available handouts... I also congratulate you on adopting a shelter dog. I am consultant to the local Dobie Rescue and, despite your current problems, I hope you stick it out. They are definitely worth it.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I adopted a Greyhound-mix dog from the pound eight years ago. She exhibits all the signs of a dog with territorial aggression and recently bit a neighbor when I was not at home and my mother was walking her. She is a wonderful pet, even allowing our new Yorkie pup to bark directly into her ear for hours without flinching. Anyway, is there any medication we can put her on that might help?

Dear Paula,

Territorial aggression is a natural instinct, however, that does not mean that it need progress to an actual bite. I cannot agree or disagree that the bite was due to territorial instinct since you have not described the ‘signs’ nor the circumstances surrounding the incident. Even if this is a territorial behavior, psychoactive medication is not the answer. Establishing leadership over your dog, by using obedience skills to teach her standards of acceptable behavior, and the prevention of problem situations, is the way to go. Handouts on Territorial Aggression and Obedience are available and will give you valuable pointers.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 1 year old Pit Bull/Shepherd, adopted from my local shelter in November 1999, is a puller. I walk Duncan twice a day (about 45 min,) and she also runs around inthe fenced yard. I used a conventional choke collar on her but she still pulled, basically to the point that she nearly asphyxiated herself and tore my arm out of the socket. To avoid injury I have switched back to a conventional collar until I find a new solution. Some of the remedies that have been suggested are pronged collars (they look HIDEOUS), head halters, and other contraptions. I would like to know what type of collar you would recommend and any other techniques you might suggest. Duncan and I get along great and have truly bonded. I am patient with her and the rewards from your advice have been immense. Thank you for your help.

Dear Raquel and Duncan,

I am flattered that you are such a fan! I’d like to see you practice ‘heel’ by holding a special yummy tidbit in your closed left fist (don’t give it to her for a long time, just use it to keep her heeling for at least a block or two). They don't call me Dr. Cookie for nothing! Practice in your yard as well as during walks. Toothed or prong choke collars can be effective but I’d like to see you try the headhalters first. These collars need very little effort to remotely force the dog’s head into a lowered submissive posture and remind her of who should be leading whom! There are other training tricks so if these don’t work, consider an email consult.

Dear Dr Cookie,

We have two 9 month Devon Rex cats (both male), an 8 month Siberian Husky and an 8 year old Rottweiller (both female). Since getting the cats (who absolutely adore each other), we have kept them inside at all times, whilethe dogs stay outdoors. The dogs often sit at the back door (which is made of glass) staring at the cats inside, whilethe cats tease them by hissing and pressing up against the glass. On one occasion, one of the cats accidentally got outside by breaking through the fly wire (the door was temporarily open as I was hanging washing on the line) and was nearly eaten by both dogs. Fortunately I managed to intervene before anything serious happened, but I do think that I was very lucky. It is a constant battle each time we go outside to keep the dogs out and keep the cats in. The Rottweiller is particularly aggressive with food, and I think she views the boys as something to hunt. Do you think that there is any hope of getting the animals used to each other, or should we resolve to keep them separated permanently?

Dear Tamsin in Melbourne, Australia!

Well, sounds like a lovely little mess. Your dogs have not been raised with the cats and if they have a strong predatory instinct, they could well view them as prey. The second part of the problem is that your dogs have not been socially isolated from you and will regress to more wild behaviors overall. This is not a good situation for anyone. It may be difficult, but not impossible, to train the dogs to leave the cats alone. However, you would need to take every precaution to safeguard the cats. Otherwise, it may be necessary to place your Rexes in another home and consider raising your next crew of puppies and kittens together. I could give you some pointers in an email consult or you could order the handout on Introducing New Pets to see if that helps.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I am currently living in an apartment building with two 10 year old small dogs (one twenty pound neutered mutt and one nine pound Chihuahua). Neither dog has exhibited agressive behavior towards people. My problem is that the building I am living in has changed the policy for dogs. As of next week they are requiring all dogs to be muzzled while in the public spaces (this includes the service elevator and garage that they must travel in/through to get outside). My question is what behavioral effect can I expect to see in my dogs and in the other dogs in the building as a result of being muzzled. I am not happy about this change in policy and have complained to the management, but I need to know if muzzling previously non agressive dogs can have undesired consequences.

Dear Margy,

This is an interesting change of policy that was obviously recommended by the insurance company/legal counsel for your building. If you must muzzle them, select a ‘basket’ muzzle that fits over the dog’s muzzle like a wire cage. They can breathe, bark, pant, and should not feel as confined as the more severe types of muzzles used to control biting at close range. Introduce these very slowly, give them treats through the muzzle, and they should not be bothered much in time. I can give you details on how to get them used to basket muzzles so let me know how else I can help.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have an 8 month old spayed Westie (West Highland White Terrier) who will not go outside by herself. I made the mistake of always going outside with her to make sure she eliminated. I don't want to be standing outside at 6 am when it is -10 degrees! I let her out, and she just stands at the back door, scratching and jumping to get in. When she really needs to go, she will eliminate right at the door.
When I am out side with her she romps and plays. I have never left her alone other than while I am at work. Also she drools excessively when in the car for more then 15 minutes. I am planning on going to Texas (about a 24 hour trip) at Easter, and I don't want her to be miserable and dehydrated. Can you offer any suggestions?

Dear Geneva,

First of all, you did not make a mistake by going outside with her. That is exactly what you need to do. The mistake is 1) to think that you can just stop going out with her, and 2) to never leave her alone. Stay in the habit of taking her out for leash walks twice daily as well as for ‘quickies’. Eventually, she will not be so dependent on you if you get her used to being alone gradually. You can’t just go ‘cold turkey’ (pardon the pun but it is appropriate!!!). As for car travel, check out the great handout on Travel with Pets! Bon Voyage!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 2 yr old male cat. He often follows me around the house and he is very affectionate and playful. Whenever I turn on the shower he attacks my ankles as I'm about to get in the shower. He's not afraid of the water and he jumps into the bath tub after my shower. This is the only time he is agressive towards me.

Dear TJ,

This is an interesting albeit painful example of conditioning. Somewhere along the line the shower has become a conditioned stimulus for his attacks, which are likely playful. You could 1) get into the shower BEFORE turning on the water, 2) close the bathroom door when you bathe, 3) close him in another room and feed him, or 4) be ready for his ‘attack’ and distract him with another toy or scare him away with a noise maker of some kind. Let me know how you do!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have two 5 year old chocolate Labrador dogs, one female and one male. Recentlly, when we are out at work the male has emptied the garbage can all over the house, cleaned off the kitchen cupboards including the flour canister and emptying the bread box. We have eliminated all of these possibilities by locking the garbage can in another room and keeping the counter top relatively clean. He has now shifted his attention to the refrigerator. A little over a month ago we came home after being gone for about two hours and found that he had opened the freezer of the fridge (top) and removed all the frozen vegetables and some ice cubes and had them scattered around the house. In the last week he has now focused on the refrigerator part and has opened it twice and cleaned up on all of the leftovers with of course the help of Jennie his mate. A week ago we purchased two fridge locks and put them one on the freezer and one on the fridge. They are velcro closings designed to keep small children out of the fridge. The first day he had the fridge moved into the middle of the room, but did not get it open. In just a week he has figured out how to remove the velcro closing and again this morning while we were gone for less than two hours had a real mess waiting for us on our return, plus cleaned up on what was to be our supper this evening. We can see no option other than to crate him while we are out of the house, we both work full time, but would rather not do this. I have considered kiddie gates to keep him out of the fridge area of the kitchen, but am not sure this would work..

Dear Doug and Shirley,

Well, this is obviously a very smart and very strong boy! His problem may well be separation anxiety but he could simply need more exercise before you leave. Either way, he could be confined to a crate or another area of the house (although if he can move/open a fridge he could probably get out of a crate too) as long as you make certain he is happy and tired before you do so. The other option would be to use creative booby trapping to keep him away from the kitchen when you are absent. The problem now is not just what is causing it but the fact that he has been supremely rewarded for his Herculean efforts... We can discuss many approaches, as well as the all important question of why has he suddenly begun this behavior, in a consult. I’d love to hear from you!

Dear Dr.Cookie

I' m very desperate with my Himalayan kitten. He's 3 month old and I have him since only 3 weeks. At first, when he arrive home, he start having diarea so i took him to the veterian and he gave him some medication that cure his problem. But after that, he start to do his ''poo-poo'' everywhere except in his litter box. Usually it is right next to his litter box but he also do that in many corner of the house, on the bathroom floor, etc.. To urinate he do it in his litter box so what is the problem? I don't want to give him away but I really don't know what to do.

Dear Nadine Cormier from New-Brunswick, Canada,

Salut! Ecoutez bien... Diarrhea and the intestinal upset that causes it can make a kitten very uncomfortable. If he learns to associate the discomfort when he defecates with his box then he could learn that the box + feces = ouch! Keep him in one room for now ( a bathroom would be good) with at least 3 litter boxes. Some cats like to urinate in one box, defecate in another. When he is defecating in the box again, after a few weeks, let him out but only if you can watch him. Make sure you have at least 3 other boxes ready in places where he has defecated before you confined him. Bonne chance et donnez moi des nouvelles!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Shasta is a 2 year old Collie/German Shep/Mallamute mix who is a very loving dog, who spends the majority of her time in the house and gets out too. We have been waking up to a huge garbage mess everytime we forget to take the garbage out of her reach. Even ifthere is no garbage inthe can, she will knock over the can, and chew on the bag. She is a good eater and very well mannered. She only does this in the middle of the night or when she is left inthe house alone. I have only caught her in the act once, when she was eating the garbage from the bathroom. Thank you.

Dear L. Rambo,

Shasta’s new hobby could have begun as separation anxiety or she could just be an opportunistic scavenger. This is actually normal for dogs (scavenging, I mean) but of course the garbage contains dangerous things and so this is not a desirable thing. The obvious solution is to pet proof your home. Secure the garbage outdoors, place small cans in cabinets, give your dog a rawhide bone overnight. Reduce the number of trash cans in your home (you will get used to this, I promise) so that there are fewer to think about. There are other things to try if the easy solutions don’t work, so let me know how you do, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I just adopted a three year old housetrained female Chihuahua. She is very good about going outside, until it snowed. She will not go out at all. I take her out and she cries and limps and tries to pick up all of her feet as if they're hurt. I thought about shoes, but her former owner said she won't wear them. The former owner suggested carrying her to non-snowy areas on the sidewalk to go, but she still hobbles around and eventually sits down and shivers until I take her inside. Once she's inside and warmed up, she goes to the bathroom in the house. Help!

Dear Chihuahua Mom,

Many dog breeds, especially toys, need to be conditioned to the cold weather. A warm fleece coat will help the transition. Salt on sidewalks can burn doggy feet but she might just have cold feet, too. You could teach her to void in a cat box or you could treat her like a real dog and take her out for many short walks (to get her used to the snow in repeated trials). Reward her with a special treat. Play with a favorite toy. Keep her moving! Otherwise, sounds like she is training you to do things her way...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 10 year old female, domestic short hair cat, Shado and two small children (1 and 2.5 years old). I have noticed that my cat takes an aggressive interest in the children when they are crying. On one occasion, when my older child was crying, Shado sniffed her all over and was about to bite or nibble on her before I separated them. On another occasion she knocked my younger child to the ground while he was crying. She also acts very aggressive towards unfamiliar dogs when they come onto our property. Although I never leave my children alone with Shado, should I be very concerned about the behaviour she exhibits
towards them when they cry?

Dear Carrol in Vancouver, BC,

Shado sounds like quite a character. I wonder if this is an offensive form of fear aggression or irritable aggression (the volume may be uncomfortable for her). You are right not to leave your children unattended with any pet when they are so young but I would think it unlikely that they would be in any danger. It would be important to teach them how to interact with her gently, however, and you might be interested in my handout on Pets and Kids.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We are looking at a Shiba Inu pup and want some unbiased input about the breed. We have twin 10 yr. old boy who arewell tempered and a fenced yard in the Manhattan Beach, CA area. Any input would be helpful. Thanks Much.

Dear Bruce,

Shiba Inus are small but this does not mean they should be treated like a toy, however, and I would say that about any small breed. Every breed will have a bad apple here and there, and Shibas are no exception. There seem to be some people having trouble with them. This might be because they let them get away with mischief that would not be tolerated in a larger dog. Another possibility is that the breed has become so popular so fast that breeders are not being quite as careful as they should about temperament. If you are first time dog owners and prefer a small dog, you might also consider Pugs and Beagles. And remember, your fenced yard is nice but does not replace daily walks, social exposure to people outside your home, and play with other dogs. Check out the handout on Pet Selection...

Dr. Cookie,

I have just adopted a year old, neutered male Siamese and he has howled almost constantly since coming in the house. He is a lovable cat but the only time he is quiet is when he is sleeping, eating or playing. I think he has had several owners and I can begin to see why they gave him up for adoption. Do you think he will quiet down with a little more time. I don't like to medicate animals unless necessary but we have to have some strategy to deal with this behavior.

Dear Tom,

There is no question that some cats are more vocal than others and the Siamese breed has a louder and more plaintiff meow than other breeds. It is unclear whether or not they vocalize more than other cats or whether we simply notice their voices more. He will certainly mellow in time. Meanwhile, play more with him. Medication is not the answer. He sounds restless, as if he was looking for something to do. Get him more challenging toys, build him a cat playground, take him for walks on a harness and leash, teach some stupid pet tricks. Another cat might help, if they get along...

Hi Dr. Cookie,

I have a 2 year old Himalayan cat named Hemicuda. She's a beautiful cat and was very sweet and loved to cuddle up until she was about a year old. She was spayed at 8 weeks old, which I believe was way too young. Her behavior changed slowly until she became a very crabby cat. Now, she is very cuddly in the mornings only. Any other time she is approached, she growls and hisses and slaps. Could this be due to a spay that was done too young in life? Also, I've heard about a "prozac" for dogs, is there something similar for cats, and would it help?

Dear Jake,

There is no association between early neuter programs and behavior problems. These programs were initiated in an effort to curb the pet overpopulation. Not all cats are lap cats. And some cats learn that aggression is useful to prevent being handled when they are not in the mood. Psychoactive medication may be helpful but behavior modification should be tried alone first. There is no such thing as a magic pill. A consultation with me would allow us to figure this out in more detail.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I just adopted a deaf kitten, and was wondering if you could give me some tips about training it? Thanks!

Dear Jake,

The first thing I would recommend is to keep your kitten indoors. Because of a hearing loss, s/he will bemore vulnerable to unseen dangers. Cats live in a far richer world than we will ever know. They have superior senses of hearing, smell, vision, and vibration. Your kitten can be taught to come to you by tapping your foot or scratching on the floor. This will be effective if the kitten is standing somewhere in the same room since foot pads can pick up minute vibrations. Other than keeping the kitten safe, chances are that s/he will teach you everything you need to know. Interaction with a hearing impaired kitten is not very different after all...

Dear Dr Cookie:

I have a 2 yr. old female cat. We pay her a lot of attention, and give her lots of love, and yes plenty of treats. The only problem that I have is that she doesn't seem to purr. Every other cat that I have ever had seemed to purr all the time. We know when she is upset she wags her tail and sometimes slaps, but she doesn't seem to let us know when she is happy. Do you have any idea why this is?

Dear Denise,

Every cat has its own style of purring, some very loud with crackly vibrations, others very faint and smooth. What makes her happy might not be what you think makes her happy. For instance, she may tolerate being petted but really loves to sit by herself in the sun. It is possible that she does purr but that it is very faint or that she does purr but when she is alone. Another possibility is that she may have scar tissue on the areas of her throat that normally vibrate to create the purr, perhaps the result of an upper respiratory infection when she was a kitten, or some congenital malformation. Hard to say but I wouldn’t worry about it, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We recently acquired an Australian Shepard mix, now 11 weeks old. He is very active and playful as any puppy would be and does a lot of chewing on things, but what bothers us is his nipping. We have a large fenced back yard where he stays when we are not here (there is a doggie door so he can come and go as he pleases when we are here) and when he comes in he is very excited and will jump and play, including biting at clothes and barking. It takes a while, but after he calms down he's not
a problem. He also will chase and nip when we walk around the house. We have a 5-year-old son and the nipping concerns us. The last couple of weeks we've tried spraying the puppy with a water bottle which stops it that time, but the next time he gets excited he does it again. There's also been a bit of yelling at the dog. So far, the dog has not bitten anyone. Is this just normal puppy behavior or something to be concerned about?
How do we curb this behavior?

Dear Dale,

Forget the yard. He cannot learn to behave in a civilized way if he is left unsupervised and alone (which is also dangerous). He needs structure (leash walks), guidelines for desirable behavior using basic obedience skills, contact with other dogs close to his age, social exposure to adults and children. What you put in is what you get out. Think about all the work that goes into raising your son so he won’t grow into a juvenile delinquent! It is no different for your dog. Get to work!

Hi Dr. Cookie,

I have a 6 month old male Pit Bull. He keeps chewing up stuff, for example, he has completely demolished two sofas, a recliner, a bed and numerous other things ( shoes, clothes and hats.) I provide him with a variety of things to chew on such as rawhide bones and rubber toys but he doesn't like to chew on them. I give him a lot of attention. I take him for walks and we constantly play. He has caused over $1000.00 in damage and I don't know what to do with him.

Dear Kristi,

I don’t have all the details but look at his schedule & consider 1) the size/flavor/shape of rawhides you have offered - what you like is not necessarily what he likes; 2) the timing of chew toys - he may not be interested in chewing if he just wants to get out there & run!; 3) just how long are your walks - you may consider 30 minutes a long time but he may need at least 60 min. (which would not be out of the ordinary); and 4) sounds like you are on the right track but the one thing you left out is play time with other doggies - nothing comes close to giving them a satisfying work out like a pal!

Dear Dr. Cookie--

We have two German Shorthair Pointers. Daisy is 6 and has a problem. She is constantly licking things. If you try and pet her, she will jump to lick your face, lick your hand, lick anything she can get her mouth on. She will even wake you up with a bath by licking you. At first we thought it was because she was thirsty, but we provide plenty of water for the both.

Dear Susie and Mark,

Some dogs are really high energy, for example, many field dogs and terriers practically require a daily 10k to bring their energy level down to a dull roar! Some dogs will lick as a redirected behavior when they are stressed about something (e.g. not getting enough exercise) but there are other things to rule out: dental/oral disease, obsessive compulsive behavior, attention seeking misbehavior. Increase her activity & access to desirable chew toys and see if that helps. If not, let me know...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have heard of Valium being used as a short-term sedative for cats. My question is: Is Xanax a safe alternative? I will be moving 12 hours away and my cats do not like car rides. I have Xanax but no Valium.

Dear Dianne,

First of all, NEVER GIVE ANY HUMAN MEDICATION YOU MAY HAVE IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET TO YOUR PET without direct veterinary instruction!!! Some drugs may be toxic to your cat (or dog), or may be used for a different purpose or at a very different dosage. Secondly, the American Veterinary Medical Association recently agreed with what I have been saying for years: the sedation of pets for travel is generally NOT RECOMMENDED unless the pet is in danger of injuring him/herself during travel and unless they are in excellent physical health. In most cases, drugs are not the answer. A travel crate should be all you need but there are ways to make the trip easier for them. Please refer to my handouts on Travel with Pets and Moving with your Pets on the QuickFix Handout page for details. Happy Moving!

Dear Dr. Schwartz,

I have a 20 month old Shiba Inu who has "issues." He has been socialized since day 1. He came from a good show breeder. He went into puppy kindergarden at 4 months, then beginning obedience, conformation, agility and formal obedience. Problem: He has every kind of aggression there is. We have conquered the dominance aggression and he is now resigned to the fact that I am the boss. But he goes absolutely "postal" if another dog gets too close to him. We go to a conformation "work out" class once a week. When we first arrive, any dog that looks at him gets a nasty, vicious response. His breeders and trainers want me to very harshly correct him when he does this but I disagree. I've tried this approach and it seems to make his aggression worse. I try to avoid this from happening by diverting his attention away from the other dogs and trying to keep him focused on me. The good thing is that he has NEVER done this at a show. At home he is the sweetest, most loving dog alive. He even loves the cat. He's great with people and I could leave him alone with a toddler without a second thought. He does have a few good dog friends in the neighborhood that he plays beautifully with. Even shares his toys and food. But when we go to class, or just out for a walk and a strange dog comes by...it's like - come near me and you die!!! I really don't know if this is out of fear or if he is doing this to protect me. I can't get my dog neutered as he is on his way to becoming a champion and after all of our hard work, I'd really love for him to finish.

Dear Joan & Nikko,

Intermale aggression is common in intact males, however, some dogs show extreme forms of this. It is a normal aggression related to sexual competition. It may be worse in places where he is confident. I am not clear as to why you would hesitate to correct this behavior. I applaud your efforts to correct his aggressive tendencies, however, I am concerned that he will be used to produce another generation of aggressive Shibas. The recent surge in the popularity of this lively breed has resulted in many problematic puppies. Neutering this dog, regardless of how beautiful he may be, will decrease the intensity of this behavior and prevent undesirable behaviors from being passed down the line. I do not mean to offend, but I sense you are responsible and caring and will understand my concern. At the very least, you should use a basket muzzle during group training.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have had Dizzy, an 8 year old Kerry Blue terrier for 6 years. He has always been good in the house while we are out. However, since the second week of December, through and including today, everytime we go out Dizzy relieves himself in the house. He does not stay in a crate during the day and has not since we rescued him. At first I though it was something physical, but as long as we are home, which can include 10 hours at a time, the boy has no problems. We have not changed food, schedules or anything. Please help because I am close to loosing my temper.

Dear Kerry Blue Owner,

Is it possible that schedules did change or that he was reacting to excitement around the holidays (you mention his behavior changed around the 2nd wk of December)? Regression in housetraining does occur in adults but you should also make certain he does not have an underlying medical problem (e.g. diseases of the prostate, UTI, kidneys, diabetes...). Time for a veterinary visit for blood and urine tests, and time to go back to square one in housetraining. Details are available in the handouts on Basic Housetraining, Elimination Problems in Dogs, ...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Over the past few weeks my Shiba Inu (Kita, 6 yrs., spayed) has become more aggressive in the kitchen area towards me. She has started to bite me when I'm near the dishwasher or now just generally if I'm in the kitchen area. When she does bite it's a very aggressive bite with a lot of growling. We have had her for about 7 months now. She was dropped of at a kennel because the original owner couldn't keep her. She lived for a year in a kennel situation then was adopted by us. Generally she is a very good, timid dog but lately she is getting more nasty to me but just when she's in the kitchen.

Dear Shawn,

Based on your description, sounds like Kita could either be showing dominance aggression coupled with territorial aggression (defending the kitchen as her core territory and the dishwasher with food soiled dished as an important resource) or possessive aggression (guarding that dishwasher from anyone, even dominant pack members). You say she is 'timid' but could there be other dominance displays you have not recognized? Newly adopted dogs often go through an adjustment phase during which time they quietly size up their new home and pack... and then revert to old behaviors or develop new problems. Handouts are available on Dominance Behavior and Guarding. If you still can’t figure it out, we should set up a consult. This is something we need to stop asap. Meantime, let someone else do the dishes!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have two female tabbies, Snuggles (12) and Sweetie (8). Snuggles recently has had recurrent UTI's and the vet just diagnosed her with sterile hemorrhagic cystitis. I now have to give her amitriptyline daily, and she hates taking the pill. Now she runs away from me every time she sees me and is hiding out under the bed or in closets. I've tried other methods..putting it in canned cat food, but she won't eat the food. Do you have any suggestions for getting her to be friendly with me again? I love my kitties and want her to sleep on my bed like she used to. I quit giving her the medicine for a while, and she warmed up to me again, but soon got another UTI.

Dear Katharine,

Your question is a great example of the intimate association between medical and behavioral problems. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that is beneficial in the treatment of certain obsessive compulsive disorders, separation anxiety, and other behavior problems in pets. Recently, it has been used successfully in the treatment of inflammatory bladder diseases in cats (based on similar uses in people). Speak with your veterinarian and pharmacist about the possibility of compounding the medication in liquid form. You should be able to select from dozens of flavors but try the fish flavored one first, it tops the list of feline taste preferences! Then, simply squirt the liquid in a small portion of her food (to make sure she eats it keep your other kitty in a separate room). Give her plenty of space and let her come to you. She will, in time.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 7 1/2 month old kitten. About two months ago he started jumping up on the sink and drinking from the running stream of water. At first, I thought it was cute and since he was drinking from his water bowl as well, I didn't worry about it. Now, he will only drink running water from the sink. I can't leave the water running all day and I'm concerned that he's not not getting enough water in his dry food diet. Can I modify this behavior so that he drinks from his bowl like a normal cat again?

Dear Amy,

You could leave water in the bowl of the sink and, after a few weeks, place his own water bowl in the empty sink (eventually you should be able to remove it). Place another water bowl near his feeding bowl, too. He should drink all the water he needs but if it makes you feel better you can always add water to his dry food!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My cat had a litter of four kittens about four months ago, we kept two of the kittens and gave away two. One and a half months ago we brought our cat to her vet for shots and to be spayed. She has been out of her mind starting the day she came home. We thought her nastiness toward the kittens was her way of letting them know that the milk bar was closed and she would not be nursing them anymore. The cat is growling and hissing even when she is totally alone. She has attacked her kittens and also our Lhasa Apso dog. She now spends most of her time outside. Her vet has no idea why this started right after being spayed. We are baffled.

Dear 'PatenaudeGizmo',

The traumatic experience of hospitalization, surgery and accompanying pain, fear of car travel was coupled with the ultimate insult of returning home to find that her territory did not provide the solitude or tranquility she craved and required for her recuperation. Too much, too soon. Your cat is stressed to the max and is distancing herself from her former territory in an attempt to expand or leave it. For cats, territorial balance and emotional equilibrium are inseparable. You need to consult a veterinary behaviorist such as myself to determine a treatment plan that will help to stabilize your cat’s moods and reintegrate her into the family. And yes, I’ve done it before, many times...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I am desperate!! I have two Dachshunds, 7 yrs old, brother (Stoney) and sister (Myrah). They have always been wonderful dogs, really great nature. My husband bought me a Dachshund (Scooter) for my birthday last year. All three dogs have been great together until recently. Stoney and Scooter have been best friends. A week or so before Thanksgiving, someone gave me a 7 wk old Rottie mixed puppy (Maggie). About 3 to 4 weeks ago, my youngest male Scooter started fighting with my older male Stoney. I’m not just talking little fights, we have been to the emergency vet, and I have been to the Doctor. I have been bit several times separating them. I cannot afford all of this. Since the fighting started, I have had my Males neutered. Myrah was spayed about a year and a half ago. All it takes is for Stoney to hear one of the other dogs growl, even if playing and he freaks our and tears into who ever is closet to him, and most of the time it is his sister Myrah. Now Myrah is fighting with Maggie, of course all Maggie does is run off crying, but I am afraid that with as big as she is going to get, she won’t do that forever. I dearly love my dogs. Is there any hope for my family to be happy again???

Dear Cindy,

What a mess! Although Maggie may have upset the balance in your pack hierarchy, the fights between the boys may have been inevitable (although they may not have become so intense without the pup’s introduction and had they both been neutered long ago). I’d suggest that Maggie might be better off in another home. She is young and will recover from this trauma quickly but you cannot afford the distraction of a new pup if you want to deal with the rest in any serious way. Dachsies are small but tough little dogs. The young male is challenging the older male for dominance. By interfering you are 1) jeopardizing your own safety, and 2) prolonging the agony. Things are now way out of line, to say the least. Order the handout on Dominance Aggression in Dogs and/or contact me to set up a consult asap!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 12 month old female spayed cat. She will frequently bite for no reason. She will want you to pet her and when she is done with you she will bite hard to get you to stop. What are some steps we can take to get her to stop?

Dear Samantha,

Pet her for brief periods only, stop well before she has had enough. She has learned that aggression is an affective tool to get what she wants (to control you). Stop giving her the opportunity to reinforce this behavior!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have an English Setter who's a year and a half old. He's always been what you'd call a 'slap-happy' dog, full of energy, friendly, playful with other dogs and happy to run and chase squirrels. Last week, however, he bit an 8-year old girl on the face as she put her face down to his to get a lick. Luckily he only scraped the skin, but it was a sudden, ferocious attack. He growls at other family members as they come near him as he lies on his bed in the kitchen. We were terribly concerned about the biting incident and feel responsible that it should not happen again. We have young children and their friends who come and go. We don't want to see anyone else get hurt.

Dear Simon's owner,

Simon is a teenager, flexing his muscles against easily dominated targets, for now. He is showing dominance aggression but what concerns me is the intensity of it. If you have not done any obedience training with him, start there. If you have, it is time to apply it so that you can stop his social ambition. Order the handouts on Obedience Training (to learn how to apply the commands), Pets & Kids, and Dominance Aggression. Now, before it is too late.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I adopted a full blooded English Pointer 11 months ago, he was then 2 years old. I intended for him to be an inside dog, until he started tearing up furniture and the carpet. We put him outside with a doghouse and of course had to chain him up. He has a long chain enough to run around. I take him off the chain and take him for walks. He doesnt know how to obey, he basically drags me, he is very strong. He doesnt know how to behave, he is a very lovable dog and my kids really love him. What can I do to get him to behave indoors?

Dear Jenny from Indiana,

You may have inherited some bad behaviors but YOU are responsible for changing it. To say the ‘he doesn’t know how to behave’ is 180 degrees wrong! Putting him outside on a chain not only does not provide the opportunity to correct the behaviors but predisposes him to other problems... it may be damage control but consider that dogs that have been chained in the yard are more likely to seriously bite children or anyone that approaches them while they are chained up. If you really want him indoors, bring him in! Make a schedule: start your day, every day with a 1 hr walk, then obedience training in the yard. Get him out to play with other doggies. Give him rawhide bones of a variety of shapes & sizes so he does not have to eat your house! Look through the handouts available on the QuickFix page. PLEASE! This is an athletic, intelligent, high energy breed. Give him guidance, but give him what he needs.

Dear Dr. Schwartz,

I recently moved from the city to a rural area and began letting my 2 previously indoor cats go outside. Since I moved they began howling and scratching to go out constantly. I talked to my vet about it, and she said the best thing to do would be to let them go out. I don't want them to go out late at night, but one of the cats starts scratching and crying at the door as soon as I go to bed. I can't shut the door to my room because she'll scratch on my door. And if I ignore her she rattles my blinds, scratches on the window, or jumps on my dresser and starts knocking things off one by one. I haven't had a good night's sleep in days.

Dear Kerry,

Well, I must admit I do not agree with your veterinarian’s advice to let them outside. I know that rural living is not the same as urban attitudes would dictate but I must say that the dangers persist. There may be less traffic but there is more wildlife (think of rabies! coyotes! fox!...). Now that your cats are so intent on going out, you have several choices: 1) Walk them on a harness/leash instead; tough out the tantrums until they get used to no longer going out unsupervised, 2) Tough out her tantrums until she understands she will not be going out at night (you might need to crate her or confine her so you can sleep, 3) Install a cat door that will allow them to enter/exit at will. Let me know how you make out, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Our cat, aprox.14 years old, has become very demanding for food. She is right there moving with you and you are constantly tripping over her. For the last month she has been urinating on the carpet down stairs. First in one room and now that we shut that room she is doing it in the children's play area.

Dear Kym,

Your geriatric pussy cat needs to be examined by your veterinarian who will likely recommend blood tests to check her thyroid and kidney function (among other things). A urine analysis would complete the data base and tell us if there is an underlying medical problem to explain her behavior change. If there isn’t, get back to me!

G'day Dr. Cookie,

We have a 3 and 1/2 year old male neutered Shiba Inu and a female Shiba Inu puppy, almost 6 months old now. They get along fine, however, the puppy at times will continuously badger the older dog, and that is when we usually intervene. I'm assuming some of these battles are for dominance or control. The reason I think this is that the puppy lately has started to try to mount the older dog. From what I have read this is a sign of dominance. Is there anything we should be doing to curb this or to stop it? She is going to be spayed tomorrow, will this change anything in her behaviour in this regard?

Dear Russ,

Sonic & Taz seem to be getting along famously. She is playing with him, and whether or not it is dominance behavior, you make no mention that it bothers your male. And that is what matters. Don’t intervene, let them play, or work out their relative ranks. Don’t let it bother you unless it bothers him and if it does, take her out to play with other pups or dogs closer to her age and style of play that can wear her down. I’m glad she has been spayed, and no, it should not affect her behavior toward him.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I recently bought a Cocker Spaniel puppy after assuring myself that his parents' temperaments were good, however, at 9 weeks old he has started to resist being picked up.This started with growling but the last two days has become snarling. Have tried everything I can lay my eyes on in the way of remedying this, to no avail. Breeder is happy to take him back but I do not want to lose him , if this behaviour can be corrected.

Dear Pat,

This is not a good sign. But, at this young age you may be able to correct his attitude by performing an extreme form of correction called the ‘alpha roll’. It is not something I would recommend for older dogs and you should wear thick leather gloves to protect your hands. The next time he growls or snarls at you, be prepared to act quickly. You can even provoke him intentionally if you choose so have his leash and your gloves on. When he becomes aggressive, put him down and over onto his back. Hold him there, no matter what (NO MATTER WHAT!) until he is calm and has surrendered. He will ‘fake it’ several times but until his body goes limp and he heaves a huge sigh of defeat don’t let go. Be prepared to punish him this way every time he challenges you for at least several weeks. This little guy may not be the right dog for you (or anyone) so you may be best to return him to the breeder before you get even more involved. He will need a lot of work now, and probably continue to be a challenge until he is much much older... Sorry.

Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays (Hanuka, Kwansaa, Christmas, & anything else you celebrate)! Remember the pet hazards of the season: mistletoe, poinsettia, ribbons & bows, rubber bands, tinsel, children's toys & toy parts, chocolate, party food, garbage, electric cords, and all the other usual dangers, too! Don't forget your pet because of festive distractions! Warm wishes for a healthy & happy 2000,

Dr. Cookie (Dr. Stefanie Schwartz)

Hi Dr. Cookie.

We have a one year old Shiba Inu that is a very good, lovable, pretty obedient dog. The biggest problem we have is that he chews leather. It isn't when we're gone either. He goes in our bedroom and sneaks in the closet and will grab a shoe and take it out in the hall and chew on it. We try to keep the bedroom door shut, but that doesn't always work. He will also chew books, t.v. remotes, vhs cassettes, cell phones, etc. I give him a rawhide bone when I leave in the morning and that does seem to help, but when I get home he always takes the bone outside and buries it and then he doesn't have a bone inside the next time we leave, and there goes a book or something left laying around. The last time he had a shoe I actuall spanked him on the butt with it (not too hard). I have 2 teenage boys that keep their bedroom doors shut so he can't ruin any more of their stuff. He seems to be getting a little better as he gets older, but the shoes are expensive! He has a whole basket of toys to chew on. He's so cute, but so mischievous about these shoes. It seems like he wakes up about 5:30 and goes looking for something to chew on after he goes to everyone's bed to see if he can get anyone up. Any suggestions? (Please don't say to get up at 5:30 with him!)

Dear Jane,

The fact that he does this when you are home suggests that this is a very effective attention-seeking behavior. This little boy is looking for mischief, something to do, trying to push your buttons and entertain himself in the process. Get your teenage boys to help you with an expanded daily walk schedule. Take the pup to play with other doggies so he can chew on them instead of shoes! A basketfull of toys means nothing if YOU don’t use them to play with your pup at least twice a day. Those rawhide bones are too big for him if there is so much left for him to bury (get smaller ones to match his size & motivation to chew, they're not meant to last!!!)! And please, no more spanking! Make sure he is tired out at bedtime but not sleeping before your bedtime...then he’ll be more likely to synchronize sleeping patterns with yours. Good luck!

Dear Dr Cookie

My 6 yr. old, 80 lb. Border Collie mix was brought into our yard with a then 9 yr. old, 28 lb. American Eskimo. Both males, both neutered. The BC fought the AE often, even after the BC went to obedience classes. After losing the AE, we got a 11 month old, 40 lb. Samoyed, female. It took forever to get the BC to allow the Samoyed into the yard with him. The BC tries to fight every dog when out on a walk to the point that when I take him walking I have to go during the hottest part of the day so no other people/dogs will be out. He had been fighting the Samoyed often but had not had a fight since March until last week. I believe this time it started after giving each of them a dog bone in separate areas of the yard, as always, and maybe the Samoyed came over too close to where his dog bone had been before he ate it. Just a guess. He is on some herbs and Bach Flower Essences, which I thought had helped but I wonder why all of sudden he did this and if you have any suggestions.

Dear Sharon,

There is no evidence that herbs impact interdog aggression or any other behavior problem although I have heard anecdotally of some occasional limited effects. It is unclear to me whether your dog is showing dominance aggression, territorial aggression, is poorly socialized to other dogs, or all of these together. At the very least, he seems like an assertive and volatile dog. I am available for telephone or email consults to better define his problems.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have two Shibas -- one is a two year old male, the other an 11-month old female. Our routine for the last 6 months or so has been to leave them outside in our fenced backyard for about seven hours during the day while we are away. Our covered screened porch is there for shade and shelter, and we leave them plenty of fresh water. Also, we live on a lake, and up until recently, both dogs have had an aversion to water, making us feel safe leaving them in the yard. During the last few weeks during the heatwave we've been having, I've kept them indoors during the day, and by the time I get home, they are raring to go!! I take them outside, play chasing/running games to give them the exercise they've been lacking lately. Just the other day, the little one, Lucy, decided she would "test the waters," literally!! As I watched in disbelief, she slowly ventured to the lake, walking along the shoreline. She then found herself in water a little deeper, and wouldn't you know, she discovered she could swim.The next thing I knew she was swimming full tilt after a duck, and I was in our canoe trying to rescue her!! We would rather not put up a chain-link fence at the shoreline, so my question to you is 1) are those underground, "electronic fences" that use shock as a deterrant effective, and 2) are they humane??

Dear Fearful in Florida

I am not a big fan of concealed electronic barriers. Some dogs are willing to take the ‘zap’ and continue on their merry way, so strong is their motivation to break out. Frankly, I am also not a big fan of leaving dogs unattended in yards. Since you are worried about snakes or drowning in the lake, consider crazy people coming into your yard, other big dogs, Lucy running away & getting hit by a truck, etc. Simplify your existence and prevent problems by keeping them indoors when you are away. If Lucy wants to swim, why not teach her to follow you in the canoe just as many joggers run with their doggies? You could put a harness on her rather than a collar, attach her to a leash with a floating device on the end of it (as a precaution/visual marker)...Having a yard (with or without a lake) is a luxury. Your dog needs long walks (swims?), time with you, and interaction with other dogs (with or without a fence).

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have two kitty cats; one male 9 yrs. old and a female 7years old. We moved last November from a place that had been home for six years. I bought a new self-cleaning litter box in January and put it along side the old box. The male used it right away but the female was frightened by the noise. I think she sometimes urinates in the old box however she is leaving poop at the front of the stairs. How do I get her back in the box and eventually to the new one? Love your column. . . .

Dear Jim,

I firmly believe in the adage ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. YOU may like the new box but that doesn’t matter. Your cat is the one that has to like it, even love it! By putting that scary contraption next to the old box you may have also taught her an aversion to using both! She may be defecating at the stairs to mark her territory or as an aversion to using either box. I’d advise you to get that new one far away from the old one in the hope that she will return to using her tried & true box once again... Remember that the majority of stuff sold for pets is marketed to appeal to people, and you have the proof!

Dear Dr Cookie,

Last year my son was passing by while our 3 year old male Samoyed was eating a pig ear. He did not try to take it away but the dog growled at him. My son put out his hands in a questioning fashion and the dog bit him in the arm aand went on to chase him into the next room where he climbed on the couch before the dog stopped. We had the dog neutered in hopes the this would end it . Last week my husband took an apple away from the dog and when he returned to scold him the dog attacked him and bit him in the hand and continued to show agression until my husband tackled him to the floor. This dog is usually very friendly to everyone and is a well behaved house pet. My husband is his primary caretaker and is now reluctant to interact with the dog. Can we control this ?? The dog has been outside since the last attack.

Dear Mrs. Murtaugh,

Possessiveness about food has no connection to the testicles. Many dogs become aggressive when they are protecting an object of value. There are training techniques to correct this described in my QuickFix handout on ‘Guarding Objects of Value (possessive aggression)’. However, the best advice is to leave the dog alone when he has a pig’s ear or other yummy treat. Let him enjoy it in peace and teach your son to respect the dog’s limits. Your dog warned your husband and son with a growl and they did not understand or take notice of this serious and obvious bit of canine communication. In the future, they should. Possessiveness is largely unrelated to dominance. Rather, the motivation of the guarding dog is what counts. Your husband should not challenge the dog so directly or roughly because he could get hurt. The dog has a situational problem. Recognize it, deal with it. We all have our quirks...

Hello Dr Cookie!

My Himalayan cat is 10 years old, I have had him for 9 yrs.. He was in pretty poor shape when I rescued him at about 1 year old. For the last 9 years, he pulls the hair out of his tail. I was told by vet at the time that he was stressed. He is strictly a house cat and the last time I had brought him into the vet, which was about 5 yrs ago they told me it was probably more of a habit now. I have tried bitter apple but he licks and chews that off. Thank you.

Dear Owner of Hairless Cat,

Overgrooming due to stress is called ‘psychogenic licking’ or ‘barbering’. If you are sure that there is no physical problem (anal gland blockage, fleas, internal parasites, etc.) then the problem may well be due to emotional causes or it could be an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Since it has been lifelong chances are that it is an OCD but the good news is that psychoactive medication is very helpful in curbing this problem. I invite you to contact me to set up an email consult for more details!

Dear Dr Cookie:

My 5 year old Boston Terrier ‘Toby’ has started something new this summer. He has always been a grass eater also known as Dog Salad in our house. Over the last couple of weeks he has been eating dirt! Yikes. His diet hasn't changed. When I discovered what he was doing I did discipline him. He has also had a couple of bouts with diarrhea overnight.

Dear Lori,

Dogs are omnivores (not just strictly meat-eaters) and scavengers. It is normal for them to eat grass. If grass is the salad, dirt may be his salad dressing! Or perhaps there is some flavor in the soil that appeals to him (manure or other fertilizer?). Since his tummy is upset, it is probably a good idea to bring a stool sample to your local veterinarian. Keep his leash on in your yard so you can quickly move him away when he starts to chow down and give him more interesting things to chew on such as rawhide bones!

Dear Dr Cookie

My dog, Charlie Girl, has recently been acting very strangely. She does not like to go out at night (sometimes) and is very afraid of loud noises--she is almost petrified at times. Her tail goes between her legs and I can not get her out of the front door. If we are in the house and she hears something, she runs into my back bedroom and will not come out for quite some time. I should probably give you a little background-- I was separated about a year ago and we had two dogs. My ex-husband kept one and I kept Charlie Girl. We owned a home which I had to sell--the house was in a quiet neighborhood and the apartment I live in now is on a relatively noisy block--there are a lot of children. I don't know what to do for her, she is so afraid sometimes it breaks my heart. Please help.

Dear Christine,

Sounds like you have both had a lot of heart break this past year. Charlie Girl may have been the more submissive of your two dogs and her confidence, particularly in such a novel environment, has been shaken. She may have depended on that other dog for leadership in uncertain situations. She may not have been exposed to children very often, either, and this could be compounding her fears. You need to assume stronger leadership but at the same time reassure her that all is well. Take her out for very short walks (and more frequently) and return home before she acts afraid. Give her a cookie (treat)! Take her out when things are quiet. Build her confidence slowly and from a more secure foundation. When she seems better, and not before, gradually increase the length of her walks. Some dogs develop phobic responses and require medication to help alleviate their anxiety so please don’t hesitate to contact me to set up an email or telephone consult. Perhaps you could find a park where other dogs play? That would help you both to make new friends...you will both be fine with a little time and patience.

Dear Dr Cookie

The worst problem with my 5 year old wire haired Fox Terrier is her love of water. Now that may not seem like a problem but her love of water is so strong that during a rainstorm, particularly a thunderstorm, she goes absolutely wild and there is no controlling her. She barks and runs around the house whining and jumping, wanting to go out in the rain. The one time I did let her out, I couldn’t get her to come back and she ran around outside barking and jumping at the rain. I have been playing a tape of a rainstorm over and over again but it’s not working. Help!!

Dear Lee,

Phobias to thunderstorms are among the most common phobic responses in dogs. It is unclear to me whether your dog is responding out of fear in an offensive fear response (biting at the rain rather than hiding under your bed) or whether she is playing with the rain. My sense is that she really loves it. So why not put on your raincoat and boots and celebrate out there with her?! You know the song, don’t you? :-D

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 3 year old neutered male cat (Finnegan).Two months ago, we introduced a new female kitten (Madeline) for some company for him. To my delight after about a few days of readjustment they seemed to be getting along just fine, playing together etc. Now, just in the past few days Finnegan has become very moody-grumpy, hissing and not wanting to play with Madeline at all. The only change that has occurred is that in the past week the temperature has become very hot (over 95 degrees). Could it just be that he is cranky because of the heat? He seems to be eating o.k. (albeit less than normal-but then so is Madeline and me too for that matter, because it is so hot). It seems such as shame that they were enjoying each other's company and then suddenly Finnegan became aggressive.

Dear Megan in Steaming Hot Toronto, Canada,

If your home has air conditioning, then the heat is unlikely to be bothering Finnegan. I’m assuming it is warm in your home so, yes, the heat would be affecting all of you. I’m glad he is still eating and that is a good sign. He could just be establishing his relationship with her so I wouldn’t be too concerned. Kittens need to know their limits after all. On the other hand, he might not feel well... Always have a new pet examined by your veterinarian before introducing him or her to your household. If you have not had Madeline examined worms, Feline Leukemia and related viruses, as well as any sign of upper respiratory infections, please do so right away. Say hi to them both from a former Montrealer (me!), eh?!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 2 1/2 year-old Doberman Pincher who seems to exhibit rather weird behavior that can range from excessive whining and murmurs that can continue for long periods at a time to sucking everything that has some meaning to me, or swallowing any tissue that I've happened to misplace for two seconds. He also has this closeness problem... he has to always be touchingor rubbing against me. It's excessive, and at times makes me want to cry in pity for him.

Dear Cassie,
At the very least your Dobie (or Butterman as I call them since they melt like it!) is suffering from a neurotic overdependence on you. It is unclear to me what else may be going on because I don’t have all the details of his history, for example, or current lifestyle. Is he a shelter rescue? Is this new behavior or has he been this way since he was a pup? He certainly sounds very anxious, as do you, and so I would urge you to consider contacting me for a more indepth consultation. I would love to have the opportunity to improve things for you both...

Dear Dr.Cookie,

I am about to adopt a 12 year old cockatiel. He was fed and cleaned but very neglected. He has lost the feathers on his head and he bites. I am taking him no matter what I learn but is there hope that he can ever trust enough to stop biting? He was taken to a Vet that said he looked healthy but perhaps needed a diet with more protein. She didn't touch him, only looked at him. Have you ever heard of the feathers growing back? I'll love him no matter what!

Dear Terry,

Well, it might be best to get a 2nd opinion on your bird from a veterinarian who is more comfortable dealing with them. I am no expert in avian medicine nor is it the mission of my website. However, his aggression is of concern to me. He is a young bird and may well flourish under your loving care but do you know anything about how he was raised? Was he hand-raised? Did he get to meet a variety of people growing up (i.e. how well was he socialized)? Keep his beak well trimmed (your veterinary clinic should offer this service) to minimize injury. Don’t let him ride on your shoulder (keep him at chest level and away from your face at first, just in case he bites) because that would promote his notion of being dominant (and more aggressive) over you. And if he bites, put him right back in his cage with the cover on immediately. You want it to be very clear to him that aggression is not desirable...Best of luck and let me know how you do.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a four month old lab/bull terrier mix I adopted at the town shelter 3 wks ago, she was picked up as a stray but did have a collar on. When being corrected with NO or sometimes a push OFF she will growl, lip curling etc. and snap. She has yet to do any serious damage nipping, although she did jump to bite my four year olds cheek, (superficial scratches only). I have investigated several trainers, all of whom agreed she could be trained but one trainer suggested she return to the shelter. I'm appealing to a higher authority for an opinion as to what to do next.

Dear Maddy on LI,

I am concerned that this pup is not the right choice for your young family. This much aggression in this young a dog does not bode well. While it is possible she could be molded into an appropriate family pet, her behavior so far indicates at the very least that she will require careful and constant training. Are you an experienced dog owner? Do you have time to continually correct this obviously challenging pup? The question is not only can her aggression be inhibited but are you able and willing to invest in this dog? Be realistic. It is tough to be brutally honest sometimes but think of all the other wonderful doggies that are waiting at the shelter...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I'm nearing wit's end. I've recently moved into a new house, and my dog has gone thru a set of blinds and a screen door. I realize I am at fault for not getting him to obediance training earlier (he's 1 1/2). I'm being forced to consider crating, which some seem to believe is not necessarily traumatic for older dogs if introduced properly. Finn is a Border Collie/Rottweiler/Chow/Shepherd mix and is fairly anxious. Thank you for your time.

Dear Curt,

Obedience training is unrelated to destructiveness, and specifically, separation anxiety. Although every owner needs to communicate with their dog (think of obedience commands as a vocabulary you teach your pet), the problem occurs when you are not there! Crate training may be damage control, however, you are still not dealing with his problem - which is anxiety. The destruction is a symptom, not the problem. Also, consider that some dogs become even more frantic when crated (even with gradual introduction to the crate) & he could injure himself & destroy the crate while regaining his freedom. I would really love you to order my handout on Separation Anxiety. You could also check out the one on Destructiveness as well as House Training your Dog (which contains nice tips on crate training if that’s still an option for now). Your Finn has the genes of doggy champions in him. He needs work, outlets for his energy, intellectual and physical challenges. He is still a puppy. I suspect that his anxiety in your absence (& even when you are there) might be lessened if his needs were being better satisfied.

Dear Dr. Cookie,
   
My Beagle Charlie was adoptedat around 9 mos. from a no kill shelter in Brunswick ME. Unfortunately, we couldn't adopt his brother due to our housing restrictions. At the time, we also had my childhood pet with us, a 12 yr. old Sheltie. When they met, they got along so we decided to adopt Charlie. Since then we've moved and sent our Sheltie to live with my mother (where she lived most of her life). Anyway, no matter what we try, Charlie's separation anxiety seems to be getting worse.  We have crated him since we've had him but usually for no more than 6 hours. We walk him before but it doesn't matter, even if I leave him to check the mail he goes crazy when I get back.  My wife and I are wondering if we should try to find a companion for Charlie while we are at work.  He's not overly destructive when we leave him out of his crate.  He usually just shreds his bed. Do you think a friend might help? 

Dear Chris,

Other than shredding his bed, it is not clear to me what Charlie’s problem is. He may well have separation anxiety but I can’t base my diagnosis on your brief description. I don’t know how old Charlie is now either but one thing is clear. If you want a second dog, get one. But don’t get a 2nd dog just for Charlie. It might backfire. Separation anxiety is not unusual for shelter adoptees given their histories. Charlie may have been very bonded to his brother but right now he is more likely reacting to separation from you. Take him for long walks (30 min. or more) before a planned departure, take him to play with other doggies in the park, give him a special rawhide bone just before you go. Deal with Charlie’s problem first before possibly complicating things further with another dog.

Hi Dr. Cookie.

We have a one year old Shiba Inu that is a very good, lovable, pretty obedient dog. The biggest problem we have is that he chews leather. It isn't when we're gone either. He goes in our bedroom and sneaks in the closet and will grab a shoe and take it out in the hall and chew on it. We try to keep the bedroom door shut, but that doesn't always work. He will also chew books, t.v. remotes, vhs cassettes, cell phones, etc. I give him a rawhide bone when I leave in the morning and that does seem to help, but when I get home he always takes the bone outside and buries it and then he doesn't have a bone inside the next time we leave, and there goes a book or something left laying around. The last time he had a shoe I actuall spanked him on the butt with it (not too hard). I have 2 teenage boys that keep their bedroom doors shut so he can't ruin any more of their stuff. He seems to be getting a little better as he gets older, but the shoes are expensive! He has a whole basket of toys to chew on. He's so cute, but so mischievous about these shoes. It seems like he wakes up about 5:30 and goes looking for something to chew on after he goes to everyone's bed to see if he can get anyone up. Any suggestions? (Please don't say to get up at 5:30 with him!)

Dear Jane,

The fact that he does this when you are home suggests that this is a very effective attention-seeking behavior. This little boy is looking for mischief, something to do, trying to push your buttons and entertain himself in the process. Get your teenage boys to help you with an expanded daily walk schedule. Take the pup to play with other doggies so he can chew on them instead of shoes! A basketfull of toys means nothing if YOU don’t use them to play with your pup at least twice a day. Those rawhide bones are too big for him if there is so much left for him to bury (get smaller ones to match his size & motivation to chew, they're not meant to last!!!)! And please, no more spanking! Make sure he is tired out at bedtime but not sleeping before your bedtime...then he’ll be more likely to synchronize sleeping patterns with yours. Good luck!

Dear Dr Cookie

My 6 yr. old, 80 lb. Border Collie mix was brought into our yard with a then 9 yr. old, 28 lb. American Eskimo. Both males, both neutered. The BC fought the AE often, even after the BC went to obedience classes. After losing the AE, we got a 11 month old, 40 lb. Samoyed, female. It took forever to get the BC to allow the Samoyed into the yard with him. The BC tries to fight every dog when out on a walk to the point that when I take him walking I have to go during the hottest part of the day so no other people/dogs will be out. He had been fighting the Samoyed often but had not had a fight since March until last week. I believe this time it started after giving each of them a dog bone in separate areas of the yard, as always, and maybe the Samoyed came over too close to where his dog bone had been before he ate it. Just a guess. He is on some herbs and Bach Flower Essences, which I thought had helped but I wonder why all of sudden he did this and if you have any suggestions.

Dear Sharon,

There is no evidence that herbs impact interdog aggression or any other behavior problem although I have heard anecdotally of some occasional limited effects. It is unclear to me whether your dog is showing dominance aggression, territorial aggression, is poorly socialized to other dogs, or all of these together. At the very least, he seems like an assertive and volatile dog. I am available for telephone or email consults to better define his problems.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have two Shibas -- one is a two year old male, the other an 11-month old female. Our routine for the last 6 months or so has been to leave them outside in our fenced backyard for about seven hours during the day while we are away. Our covered screened porch is there for shade and shelter, and we leave them plenty of fresh water. Also, we live on a lake, and up until recently, both dogs have had an aversion to water, making us feel safe leaving them in the yard. During the last few weeks during the heatwave we've been having, I've kept them indoors during the day, and by the time I get home, they are raring to go!! I take them outside, play chasing/running games to give them the exercise they've been lacking lately. Just the other day, the little one, Lucy, decided she would "test the waters," literally!! As I watched in disbelief, she slowly ventured to the lake, walking along the shoreline. She then found herself in water a little deeper, and wouldn't you know, she discovered she could swim.The next thing I knew she was swimming full tilt after a duck, and I was in our canoe trying to rescue her!! We would rather not put up a chain-link fence at the shoreline, so my question to you is 1) are those underground, "electronic fences" that use shock as a deterrant effective, and 2) are they humane??

Dear Fearful in Florida

I am not a big fan of concealed electronic barriers. Some dogs are willing to take the ‘zap’ and continue on their merry way, so strong is their motivation to break out. Frankly, I am also not a big fan of leaving dogs unattended in yards. Since you are worried about snakes or drowning in the lake, consider crazy people coming into your yard, other big dogs, Lucy running away & getting hit by a truck, etc. Simplify your existence and prevent problems by keeping them indoors when you are away. If Lucy wants to swim, why not teach her to follow you in the canoe just as many joggers run with their doggies? You could put a harness on her rather than a collar, attach her to a leash with a floating device on the end of it (as a precaution/visual marker)...Having a yard (with or without a lake) is a luxury. Your dog needs long walks (swims?), time with you, and interaction with other dogs (with or without a fence).

Dear Dr. Cookie:

I have two kitty cats; one male 9 yrs. old and a female 7years old. We moved last November from a place that had been home for six years. I bought a new self-cleaning litter box in January and put it along side the old box. The male used it right away but the female was frightened by the noise. I think she sometimes urinates in the old box however she is leaving poop at the front of the stairs. How do I get her back in the box and eventually to the new one? Love your column. . . .

Dear Jim,

I firmly believe in the adage ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. YOU may like the new box but that doesn’t matter. Your cat is the one that has to like it, even love it! By putting that scary contraption next to the old box you may have also taught her an aversion to using both! She may be defecating at the stairs to mark her territory or as an aversion to using either box. I’d advise you to get that new one far away from the old one in the hope that she will return to using her tried & true box once again... Remember that the majority of stuff sold for pets is marketed to appeal to people, and you have the proof!

Dear Dr Cookie,

Last year my son was passing by while our 3 year old male Samoyed was eating a pig ear. He did not try to take it away but the dog growled at him. My son put out his hands in a questioning fashion and the dog bit him in the arm aand went on to chase him into the next room where he climbed on the couch before the dog stopped. We had the dog neutered in hopes the this would end it . Last week my husband took an apple away from the dog and when he returned to scold him the dog attacked him and bit him in the hand and continued to show agression until my husband tackled him to the floor. This dog is usually very friendly to everyone and is a well behaved house pet. My husband is his primary caretaker and is now reluctant to interact with the dog. Can we control this ?? The dog has been outside since the last attack.

Dear Mrs. Murtaugh,

Possessiveness about food has no connection to the testicles. Many dogs become aggressive when they are protecting an object of value. There are training techniques to correct this described in my QuickFix handout on ‘Guarding Objects of Value (possessive aggression)’. However, the best advice is to leave the dog alone when he has a pig’s ear or other yummy treat. Let him enjoy it in peace and teach your son to respect the dog’s limits. Your dog warned your husband and son with a growl and they did not understand or take notice of this serious and obvious bit of canine communication. In the future, they should. Possessiveness is largely unrelated to dominance. Rather, the motivation of the guarding dog is what counts. Your husband should not challenge the dog so directly or roughly because he could get hurt. The dog has a situational problem. Recognize it, deal with it. We all have our quirks...

Hello Dr Cookie!

My Himalayan cat is 10 years old, I have had him for 9 yrs.. He was in pretty poor shape when I rescued him at about 1 year old. For the last 9 years, he pulls the hair out of his tail. I was told by vet at the time that he was stressed. He is strictly a house cat and the last time I had brought him into the vet, which was about 5 yrs ago they told me it was probably more of a habit now. I have tried bitter apple but he licks and chews that off. Thank you.

Dear Owner of Hairless Cat,

Overgrooming due to stress is called ‘psychogenic licking’ or ‘barbering’. If you are sure that there is no physical problem (anal gland blockage, fleas, internal parasites, etc.) then the problem may well be due to emotional causes or it could be an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Since it has been lifelong chances are that it is an OCD but the good news is that psychoactive medication is very helpful in curbing this problem. I invite you to contact me to set up an email consult for more details!

Dear Dr Cookie:

My 5 year old Boston Terrier ‘Toby’ has started something new this summer. He has always been a grass eater also known as Dog Salad in our house. Over the last couple of weeks he has been eating dirt! Yikes. His diet hasn't changed. When I discovered what he was doing I did discipline him. He has also had a couple of bouts with diarrhea overnight.

Dear Lori,

Dogs are omnivores (not just strictly meat-eaters) and scavengers. It is normal for them to eat grass. If grass is the salad, dirt may be his salad dressing! Or perhaps there is some flavor in the soil that appeals to him (manure or other fertilizer?). Since his tummy is upset, it is probably a good idea to bring a stool sample to your local veterinarian. Keep his leash on in your yard so you can quickly move him away when he starts to chow down and give him more interesting things to chew on such as rawhide bones!

Dear Dr Cookie

My dog, Charlie Girl, has recently been acting very strangely. She does not like to go out at night (sometimes) and is very afraid of loud noises--she is almost petrified at times. Her tail goes between her legs and I can not get her out of the front door. If we are in the house and she hears something, she runs into my back bedroom and will not come out for quite some time. I should probably give you a little background-- I was separated about a year ago and we had two dogs. My ex-husband kept one and I kept Charlie Girl. We owned a home which I had to sell--the house was in a quiet neighborhood and the apartment I live in now is on a relatively noisy block--there are a lot of children. I don't know what to do for her, she is so afraid sometimes it breaks my heart. Please help.

Dear Christine,

Sounds like you have both had a lot of heart break this past year. Charlie Girl may have been the more submissive of your two dogs and her confidence, particularly in such a novel environment, has been shaken. She may have depended on that other dog for leadership in uncertain situations. She may not have been exposed to children very often, either, and this could be compounding her fears. You need to assume stronger leadership but at the same time reassure her that all is well. Take her out for very short walks (and more frequently) and return home before she acts afraid. Give her a cookie (treat)! Take her out when things are quiet. Build her confidence slowly and from a more secure foundation. When she seems better, and not before, gradually increase the length of her walks. Some dogs develop phobic responses and require medication to help alleviate their anxiety so please don’t hesitate to contact me to set up an email or telephone consult. Perhaps you could find a park where other dogs play? That would help you both to make new friends...you will both be fine with a little time and patience.

Dear Dr Cookie

The worst problem with my 5 year old wire haired Fox Terrier is her love of water. Now that may not seem like a problem but her love of water is so strong that during a rainstorm, particularly a thunderstorm, she goes absolutely wild and there is no controlling her. She barks and runs around the house whining and jumping, wanting to go out in the rain. The one time I did let her out, I couldn’t get her to come back and she ran around outside barking and jumping at the rain. I have been playing a tape of a rainstorm over and over again but it’s not working. Help!!

Dear Lee,

Phobias to thunderstorms are among the most common phobic responses in dogs. It is unclear to me whether your dog is responding out of fear in an offensive fear response (biting at the rain rather than hiding under your bed) or whether she is playing with the rain. My sense is that she really loves it. So why not put on your raincoat and boots and celebrate out there with her?! You know the song, don’t you? :-D

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 3 year old neutered male cat (Finnegan).Two months ago, we introduced a new female kitten (Madeline) for some company for him. To my delight after about a few days of readjustment they seemed to be getting along just fine, playing together etc. Now, just in the past few days Finnegan has become very moody-grumpy, hissing and not wanting to play with Madeline at all. The only change that has occurred is that in the past week the temperature has become very hot (over 95 degrees). Could it just be that he is cranky because of the heat? He seems to be eating o.k. (albeit less than normal-but then so is Madeline and me too for that matter, because it is so hot). It seems such as shame that they were enjoying each other's company and then suddenly Finnegan became aggressive.

Dear Megan in Steaming Hot Toronto, Canada,

If your home has air conditioning, then the heat is unlikely to be bothering Finnegan. I’m assuming it is warm in your home so, yes, the heat would be affecting all of you. I’m glad he is still eating and that is a good sign. He could just be establishing his relationship with her so I wouldn’t be too concerned. Kittens need to know their limits after all. On the other hand, he might not feel well... Always have a new pet examined by your veterinarian before introducing him or her to your household. If you have not had Madeline examined worms, Feline Leukemia and related viruses, as well as any sign of upper respiratory infections, please do so right away. Say hi to them both from a former Montrealer (me!), eh?!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 2 1/2 year-old Doberman Pincher who seems to exhibit rather weird behavior that can range from excessive whining and murmurs that can continue for long periods at a time to sucking everything that has some meaning to me, or swallowing any tissue that I've happened to misplace for two seconds. He also has this closeness problem... he has to always be touchingor rubbing against me. It's excessive, and at times makes me want to cry in pity for him.

Dear Cassie,

At the very least your Dobie (or Butterman as I call them since they melt like it!) is suffering from a neurotic overdependence on you. It is unclear to me what else may be going on because I don’t have all the details of his history, for example, or current lifestyle. Is he a shelter rescue? Is this new behavior or has he been this way since he was a pup? He certainly sounds very anxious, as do you, and so I would urge you to consider contacting me for a more indepth consultation. I would love to have the opportunity to improve things for you both...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 4 month old kitten. She tries to bite and scratch people alot. Can you tell me if this is normal and if I can do anything to stop her?

Dear Meg,

Play aggression can get out of hand if you don’t let her know the intensity of her behavior is unacceptable to you. Play aggression is normal but she can certainly learn to inhibit it. That may be simple to do if you sternly say ‘no!’ (just like you would to a dog), or suddenly stop playing with her (walk away) if she gets too rough. Most important is to provide her with toys that direct her attention and movement away from your body parts. Toys suspended on string, bouncing balls, throwing stuffed toys for her to chase, that kind of thing. Kittens have boundless energy but now is the time to teach her acceptable outlets and to channel that energy into appropriate activities.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

A month ago my 2 year-old female, spayed Siamese started a bizarre behaviour. She would be sitting quietly on my lap when suddenly she would jolt, run off and madly bite at her tail. She experiences this almost every morning when I wake up. At first I thought she might have some itching irritation on her tail or that she was experiencing sudden pain. I have another Siamese as well. They were littermates. The other cat is now more reluctant to sit with her sister since she knows the afflicted one may flail about with no warning. The tail on my cat is getting rather hairless at this point. Between tail-biting bouts she follows me around and wants to sit on my lap more than she used to. I did bring her to my local vet. She said flatly that this was a seizure-like behaviour and the only treatment is tranquilizers. I really don't want to accept this. If there is any other suggestion to deal with this I would be very greatful to know about it.

Dear Linda,

Tail-biting in cats is unusual (it is more common in dogs). It can be an undesirable sequence of playful tail chasing, a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (called stereotypic behavior in nonhumans), and yes, it is also a possible seizure-related behavior. However, based on its sudden appearance, I think it is very important to make certain that this is not due in some way to a source of physical discomfort. Cats can have impacted or infected anal glads, for example, and other problems in that area. She could be chewing her tail because she can’t reach something else. Ask your veterinarian to check your cat’s anal glands. If you are no longer comfortable with your veterinarian, seek a second opinion locally. If no physical problem is discovered, then contact me again. She should not be medicated with anything until we know what the problem is!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have two 10 month old Australian Shephard/husky neutered male dogs [litter mates]. They have been house trained since they were 8-9 weeks old but, in the past month, they have started urinating and pooping in the house. One of them relieves himself more than the other and it is usually on some type of object [clothing, bed].

Dear Susan,

At 10 months of age, your boys are in full-blown puberty (that’s behavioral or age-related, with or without hormones). Territorial marking occurs in males and females but dominant male doggies may do it more often. That might explain why one does it more than the other. You need to pick up soiled clothing, keep them out of bedrooms, and be very regimented about walk schedules. Make sure those are long walks (45-60 min.) to give them lots of opportunity to mark everything outside so they will have less urine and inclination to mark indoors. Go to the QuickFix handouts and select Territorial Behavior in Dogs and Housetraining your Dog for more details.

Dear Dr Cookie,

I rescued my Pebbles (a Shepherd/Retriever mix) about 6 months ago (she was 3 months at the time). Since I got her, she has been a chronic tail chaser. It's not just once in awhile, it's a large amount of time. In the last few weeks, she's been biting her tail so hard that she's ripping chunks of fur out of it. I'm afraid she might hurt herself even worse. I've done my best to deter her from biting her tail (even cayenne pepper on the tip of it) but nothing has worked. I just don't know what I can do about this problem. I don't want my beautiful puppy to be a bald puppy!!!

Dear Amber,

Tail chasing in pups can be caused by anal gland problems, inappropriate play patterns, obsessive-compulsive disorders, attention-seeking behavior, external/internal parasites (something that itches her back or backside), and inborn problems. Have your veterinarain make certain that there is no physical cause for her tail chasing. If none is found, keep a leash on her and give a quick ‘jerk and release’ (say ‘no!’) if she starts to do it and immediately give her a rawhide bone to chew on instead. Take her for longer walks and provide her with greater interactive play in case this is related to puppy play or a need for more attention. If, by process of elimination, the tail chasing is a compulsive behavior then she may require psychoactive medication to control it. In some cases, tail biting can be so extreme that the tail must be amputated. See your veterinarian locally and then get back to me so we can do a one-on-one consult.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 4 1/2 month old Vizsla puppy, Henna. She's recently started stealing things that she thinks are valuable to us. She is so cute when she does it because she'll make sure that you see her before she runs away from you and you could swear she has a devilish smile on her face! Trying not to laugh, we've tried to ignore her and then casually get her interested in one of her toys. On a few occasions, she has grabbed either truly valuable items or things that could be dangerous for her and she runs so fast we've had problems getting them back. And, because we've run after her I'm sure we've reinforced that she gets attention when she does this.

Dear Shelly

Yup, she’s pushing your buttons pretty well! But I’m happy to read that you have a good understanding of how her game is played. I’ve got two suggestions. Play with her before she needs to resort to soliciting interaction from you in this manner. Take her for longer walks, maybe to a local park where she can be silly with other doggies, until she is tired. Puppy proof your home so there is less of a chance of her getting into your valuables or dangerous items. This game is very common, and I agree it can be quite comical. Just remember that you are laying the foundation for all her future behavior so your reaction to her every action is very significant! Have fun with your new puppy!!!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

In May, I found a 6-week-old kitten that had been abandoned in my neighborhood. As soon as she was healthy and happy, she began purring and trying to suck on my clothing, blankets, etc. At first, I just wanted thought she just missed her mother, and I thought she'd outgrow this behavior. It's now July, and she still gets on the bed at night while I'm sleeping, starts purring, and then begins sucking on my clothing. I've tried picking her up, rubbing her head and otherwise trying to pet her without her sucking on my clothing, but she just won't give up.

Dear Sarah,

Your baby girl is displaying a redirected form of nursing behavior that sometimes persists in older kittens and occasionally in adult cats. In its mildest form most happy kitties will simply ‘knead’ with their front paws and purr. In its extreme form it becomes an obsessive-compultive sucking behavior that can progress in some cases to the ingestion of fabric. You should give her some extra play time right before you go to bed so that she is too sleepy to suck and redirect her sucking to a soft stuffed animal as a surrogate. Another option would be to firmly and immediately say ‘no!’ as you detach her and close her out of the bedroom. Wait a few minutes & let her back in. Repeat as necessary with the understanding that you might need to lose a bit of sleep to train her now so you won’t have to lose a lot of sleep in the years to come!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I've had a cat, Hannah, for almost one year. I thought she was lonely so I adopted a second cat, Nala. They have been together for a month and a half and are not getting along well. I try to give a lot of attention to both of them equally, but it doesn't seem to help. I don't want to give up on Nala, but will they both be better off by themselves? I want what's best for both of them. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Dana,

It’s important to introduce new pets very very gradually. After only 6 wks they have barely begun to know each other. Remember that Hannah has been a solitary cat and is firmly established in her territory. Any new housemate is an intruder as well as a rival for your attention. I don’t know how old these cats are or anything about their histories but one thing is for certain. Give it time. Chances are they will work it out on their own (as long as no one is getting hurt you needn’t interfere). For more details, check out the handouts on Territorial Behavior in Cats and Introducing New Pets.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We have a 7-month-old Great Pyrenees male named Lionel. (We also have 3 other dogs). I noticed today that Lionel ate one of the other dog's feces. I'm not certain if this is the first time, but I think it's very recent. He just had emergency dental surgery a few days ago and only two weeks ago, he was neutered and had his dew claws removed. Could this be related to all the medical procedures or something else?

Dear Kathy,

Coprophagia is not prompted by his surgery. Chances are he has been doing it at least once in a while all along. Coprophagia is a normal maternal behavior in dogs and young pups. The behavior sometimes persists in some dogs as long as there is the opportunity and inclination! With so many dogs there is a bountiful supply of poop to sample. You need to be very fastidious about daily yard hygiene. Even better, plan to be out there when the dogs usually defecate and scoop right away! Poop patrol is key, nothing else really works.

Hello,

Our beloved 2 year old cat is digging in the planters on our neighbor’s front porch. I'm not sure if she is merely digging, or if she is using the planter for a litter box. Short of keeping her inside, is there something we can do to keep her out of our neighbor's planters? I hesitate to use chemicals because I don't want to harm either our cat or our neighbor's grandchildren. Please respond--our neighbor is very annoyed!

Dear Cindi,

Well, to be honest, I wish you would keep her inside for her own safety. But since you don’t want to, you could supply your neighbor with moth balls to put in her planters. Underarm deodorant spray will not harm the plants or the grandkids either and might also help deter your cat. Let me know how that works!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My dog's name is Blackie she is a 6 year old mixed breed. The only problem is that she does not seem to like children or other dogs. Every time she is in the car and sees other dogs, she begins to bark uncontrollably. On two occasions she ran out of the house to bark at them and hence the fights begin. Also, when my little cousins come to visit the house, we have to put Blackie in my brother's room because she barks at them too. I had her spayed this year which I thought might help her not be so angry towards other dogs but that did not work. What can I do to help her get along with children and dogs too?

Dear Katie,

Looks like you have 2 different problems. The first sounds very much like territorial aggression since she is so aggressive toward dogs near your home and in your car. Also, she may not have been exposed to dogs when she was a young puppy so she never developed more social skills when interacting with other dogs. Her barking at children may be partly territorial but dominance aggression also is likely. [ I’d recommend you select the ‘Obedience Training’,‘Territorial Behavior in Dogs’, and ‘Children and Pets’ handouts on the QuickFix page for some important information]. Socially isolating her from dogs and kids is a solution but it will never give her the opportunity to learn to behave differently! Brushing up on obedience training is the foundation to teaching your dog everything she needs to know!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have four dogs...2 females and 2 males. All were adopted as adults.My second male was adopted three months ago. Once or twice a week, I'm finding a urine puddle indoors. I'm not positive who is guilty, but the two males are my guess. Last weekend, I caught my first male in the act of marking the walls. The vet says nothing medical is causing it. Both males are neutered. Any ideas??

Dear Glenda,

Territorial urine marking is normal but simply undesirable when it occurs in your home. With so many dogs there are bound to be little conflicts between them until you new male settles into his rank. It is very important to take your crew out for long walks at least twice a day to reinforce their house training (immediate praise when they urinate or defecate is important!); they also need short walks in between and before bedtime. The more empty their bladders and the more opportunity you give them to mark outdoors the cleaner your house will be! Finally, deodorize the soiled areas with diluted white vinegar. If necessary, keep them out of that room until things are back under control. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Your web site is mentioned in this month's (July) issue of Vegetarian Times in an article entitled "Sibling Rivalry", tips on getting a new cat accustomed to established kitties. I've just introduced a recently abandoned kitten to 3 neurotic, spoiled, and lethargic cats. My question pertains to one of the author's last tips that suggests using Bach Flower Essence Rescue Remedy (drops to be placed in kitties' water) to alleviate the cats' stress. Now, I've looked up the Bach flower holistic remedies on the internet, and I'm a bit skeptical. Since you were mentioned in the same article, I wondered if you had an opinion on this remedy.

Dear Kelly,

I’m afraid I share your skepticism. It would be wonderful if herbal remedies could be a substitute for many traditional medications but, in the absence of any controlled studies, I can’t recommend this herb. I would not want to ‘medicate’ such a young kitten with herbal or other remedies. Just take his integration slowly, make sure you play with him alot (so your older lazy guys can enjoy their couch without being pounced on), and things should be fine. You are also welcome to order the handout on ‘Introducing New Pets to Resident Pets’ in the QuickFix list.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 15 month old Bearded Collie barks as if he is talking. He also barks at rustling paper any wind blowing outside,you get the picture I am sure. The barking is driving us crazy! He will start barking when the phone rings or the computer chimes. How do I desensitize his over active hearing?

Hi there! Well, at 15 months he is still very much a puppy. And if he is over reacting to this degree chances are really good that he 1)has been reinforced for barking, and 2) is not getting enough activity. Giving him attention, even if it is negative, for barking at anything will teach him that barking is effective for getting your attention. Also, if he was tired and satisfied with enough play time with you, long walks, and play time with other doggies, he wouldn’t hear the little sounds over his own snoring!!! Teach him to sit or down and stay whenhe starts barking, then praise him! Every misbehavior is an opportunity to teach a desirable alternative...

Dr. Cookie,

I have three Cain Terriers: (2) 17 month old male litter mates and (1) 16 year old male. The older dog is Alpha and the other two accept that. The three of them all seem to be happy and comfortable with each other as long as the younger ones toe the older ones line. The problem comes in one of the younger ones (Toby) reaction to ANY dog growling at him no matter how quiet or inaudible to us the growl might be.This is especially true when the growl comes from the older dog. This will send Toby into a fit of frantic, uncontrollable screaming and barking. This irritates the older dog and makes him start barking, then Toby gets worse. A vicious circle! Although this goes on until I have to take one of them away, there is never any fighting. The other pup simply ignores the behavior and has never exhibited it himself. What seems to be the problem with Toby??

Dear Barry,

There is nothing wrong with Toby. At 17 months he is a young adult challenging your 16 year old for dominance. Chances are the old guy can not hold on for long. Let them work it out, do not interfere, as long as no one is getting hurt. The other young dog just doesn’t have the same social ambition his brother does. Not everyone wants to be Chairman of the Board, y’know?

Hello Dr. Cookie.

I have 2 indoors cats, one a spayed female 1 1/2 yr old, and a neutered male 2 1/2 yrs old. They get along fine. A few months ago, the male started urinating on a bathroom carpet, and defecating on a plain cotton area rug. I wash these in the washer every time he does this but as soon as the carpets are back he uses them as his litter box again. Recently, he has started to urinate in one of my many potted plants too. I tried using aluminum foil on top of the soil and different soil topping on the potted plant but he just urinates on top of whatever I put there. I clean the litter box every day, and change the litter twice a week. My vet can't find nothing wrong with his health. I don't want to get rid of him, but this behavior is starting to worry me.

Dear Danielle,

Once a cat discovers new alternatives to the litter box, marking behavior is very quick to generalize to other surfaces. Pick up those little rugs & throw them away! Every time he 'practices' the behavior it will become stronger. The aluminum foil was a good thought but just pick up that plant & put it where he cannot reach it or in a restricted room. Add another litter box (Dr. Cookie's Rule of Thumb = 1 box/cat!). Don't worry, be happy :-D!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a one year old Samoyed, that has a habit of running around the house, barking constantly. I think my Sammy may be hyper, and I am concerned because she does have a heart condition. Do you have any suggestions on how to settle her down and help stop some of the barking? I am afraid of her getting hurt or something. Thank you for your help!!

Dear Christina,

Your Sammy may have a heart condition butshe is only a puppy, don't treat her like an old doggy! !!! Remember, the quality of life is important too! She MUST have exercise, as much as she can tolerate. She needs to go for long walks to burn off some of the energy so she won't need to resort to constant barking! You need to keep her muscles in shape and condition the heart muscle too. Speak to your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary cardiologist so that you will know exactly what she can & cannot do as well as how her problem may or may not progress! Good luck.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My housecat, who is 6 years old and spayed, still hisses or growls at my other cat, a 2 1/2 year old Persian, if she has to walk by her. It's been more than two years and the relationship between them hasn't changed a bit. Sometimes she does ignore the Persian but I can hear her "fuss" (exhale heavily)! Will she ever give up and accept the other cat? BTW, your site is great and very helpful! Thank you in advance.

Dear Cat Lady,

Your older cat may not have been socialized to other cats at a critical phase of her kittenhood; or she may have had negative experiences with other cats early on; or she may just be one of those cats that does not tolerate any other cat on her territory; or she may just not like your Persian. As long as no one is getting hurt try not to be too concerned. She will probably mellow in the next few years. But I would not add any more cats to your household or she may really explode!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My cat has urinated on my bed (right next to my pillows) four times now over the past three months. I have taken him to the vet to rule out an infection, and he is neutered. He originally did it after I returned home after being gone for the weekend. My roommate was home to feed him, so he wasn't being neglected. After the third time, I began shutting my bedroom door when I wasn't home since I was losing my trust in him. What can I do to prevent this from continually happening? My matress is ruined.

Dear Amanda,

Cats can experience separation anxiety, too. By urine marking your bed he is covering your scent with his own and this act makes him feel less anxious. The behavior persists because the bed has quickly become such a visual and chemical (from odors that remain) trigger. Try sprinkling dry cat food on the bed (instead of in his food bowl) for several months. This will change the association he has made with the made and also help replace some of the odors that may remain. If you buy a new mattress, continue feeding him on it for at least several weeks.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Ally (12 weeks old) listens to me but when it comes to my wife and 8 year old daughter, she tends to ignore them. I told them they baby her too much, carrying her around, letting her sit with them on the couch,etc. When I call Ally to 'COME' she usually does. But there are times when she just plain doesn't listen. Ally continues to pester my 5 year old Shepard/Collie mix, ZoE. She nips at her and chases her but ZoE seems so nice she doesn't stop Ally's actions. At first, when we brought Ally home, ZoE would snap back or growl and Ally would back away.

Dear Glenn,

Ally is pushing everybody's buttons to see what she can get away with and, in so doing, is establishing her dominance rank in your family. She is playfully aggressive with ZoE and it is up to ZoE to decide when enough is enough. However, Ally needs to learn that how she behaves with dogs is one thing but that her behavior with people follows a different standard. Take your puppy to a local puppy obedience class. Do not wait until she is any older as long as she has had at least 2 of her puppy shots. Your wife and daughter should participate as well. Practice what you learn at home, everyday, for at least 15 minutes. Incorporate obedience commands into your every day life. For a nice review of obedience training & how to apply it to raising a good doggy, visit the QuickFix Handout page.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 10 month old female Beagle named Josie. My husband and I used a crate to train her from the very first day. We would keep her in it at night while we slept and during the day while we were at work. At first she would cry and shriek all night long until we decided to move the crate into the bedroom with us and then it stopped. For the past two months she has had free reign of the bedroom at night and usually stays on her doggie bed or any pillows that fall on the floor. The problem is when we put her in the crate when we leave the house to go to work or play. She lets out a horrible shriek and yell. It sounds as if someone was cutting off her paws. A neighbor has mentioned that he has heard this go on for a while right after we leave. She is very excited when we let her out. We leave hard rubber chew toys in the crate with her to give her something to do along with one of those food-balls that kibble falls out of if it's turned the right way. It is terribly emotionally disturbing for me to hear that.

Dear Rae Ann,

If it is hard for you to hear it think how distressed SHE is!!! Josie is still very young & should get over most of her separation anxiety. You have two choices. See how she is out of the crate when you are away, she may suprise you. She has done well at night without it & you may be confusing her. Use a baby gate to confine her to the kitchen, for example, and try stuffing a kong toy with kibble sealed with peanut butter or soft cheese. You want the treat to be something fabulous (the food toy may not be special enough) that keeps her occupied in the first few minutes after you leave (which is when the anxiety is most intense). The most important thing to do is to get her so tired out with a long walk & play time before you leave that she no longer cares whether you are there or not or whether she is in the crate or not. Crate training is not for every dog. If you can't make her happier in the crate you may both be happier without it. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Our dog really barks aggressively when the mail & newspaper are delivered. Any solution?

Dear Sue,

You bet, but I don't have the space to go into all the details here. In a nut shell, train your dog to sit/stay & reward him for that instead of letting him reinforce his own territorial aggression! Also, you could introduce him gradually to the carriers so that they become buddies instead of intruders. Most doggies that 'over react' to the mail & newspaper delivery seem to look forward to these events as a highlight of their day. It can be very helpful to make sure they've had a long walk & play time so they are just too tired to bother responding to the deliveries at all! Check out the QuickFix Handouts for 'Territorial Aggression in Dogs' which will provide you with a detailed solution for this behavior. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have three cats. Four weeks ago, we adopted a rescued 3 yr. old neutered male terrier mix. After a week of gradual introduction, the initial hissing and spitting stopped and everyone seems to tolerate each other most of the time but our male cat has been acting very aggressively. He will watch the dog indifferently for hours, then suddenly walk up, hiss, and swat at his face. The first time it happened, the dog growled and ran snapping after him but since then the cat pursues him as he retreats. Is there anything we should do to modify the cat's behavior?

Dear AW in VA,

Poor puppy! Territorial aggression is directed primarily against animals of the same species but it can certainly be displayed against other intruders. Try a harness & leash on this cat so that you can prevent him from pursuing your new pet. Give the leash a firm tug & say 'NO!' like you mean it! It is unlikely that this dog will harm your cat since he hasn't so far but we want this pattern to stop now. If your cat is prevented & punished for this behavior he will eventually settle down. My cat Hershel Walker used to chase my puppy (that's where I got the idea for the graphics shown above!) but then she got big enough & confident enough to chase him back. Now they are pals.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Over the past 4 weeks, my male cat has been hissing, growling whenever the female came near. Up until then they got along just fine. A few days ago I came home to find a spot of fur on his head missing & this morning I found a scratch above his eye . We don't witness any aggression between the two cats, except for the male hissing/growling/cowering in the corner, under beds, when she comes near. She acts like she has no clue. I don't know if she's "beating" up on him or not.

Dear Jeanne,

Territorial dynamics between housemates are a delicate balance. Relationships between cats that used to coexist can become upset by redirected aggression. This can happen, for example, if one of them sees something outside but then takes it out on the closest target (frequently an 'innocent bystander'). At the very least you should keep one of them in a closed room when you are not home. Tempers should subside if they are not repeatedly inflamed but it may take time. If separation is not enough, then we really need to consider setting up a consult. This can become a complicated problem that requires intervention. Consult 'Territorial Behavior in Cats' from the QuickFix Handout list too. Let me know how things go!

Dr. Cookie,

Ollie, our cat, sometimes bites our noses and ears when we are sleeping so we close him out of the room...then he scratches on the door. What can we do to keep our kitty from scratching ?

Dear Jaimie,

First, keep HIM up later at night so that he will sleep a little later in the morning. He wants to play! You could put 2 sided sticky tape on the bottom of the door to discourage his scratching but only if you provide him with more fun toys to keep him busy until you get up!

Dear Doctor,

Do you know why my Shar-pei drags her food bowl out of the kitchen and into the living room? She used to drag it off of the porch and place it in the back yard, too.

Dear Patty,

Could be that she prefers the texture of eating on carpet or grass, or that she prefers the view in those areas! Some dogs will take a mouthful of food, carry it to another spot, spit it out, & eat it there! At least your doggy is neat!!!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 3 year old mixed breed cat does the funniest thing. While he's drinking water he puts his paw in the water at the same time. Sometimes before he drinks he uses both paws to play in it. Any ideas?

Dear B Fisher US Army,

Could be he wants to be a Navy Seal (just kidding! ;-D). Cats show a wide range of behavior. Some cats resent getting wet and some cats seek it out. I've heard stories of kitties that enjoyed swimming in the family pool! Many kittens and cats love to play in the sink when the water is running. One of my cats used to drink from the faucet like a water fountain. Thanks for sharing YOUR cat's quirk!

Dear Doctor Cookie--

We have an Australian Shepherd dog about 2 years old. He has a quirky behavior I call "snout bonking". If we meet a small child, or a stranger sits eye level with him, he attempts to "bonk" them in the face with his snout. He jolts forward really quickly and sharply with his head and bonks them smack in the face, so their face gets slobbered on. I have to be very careful. It is difficult to restrain him because it is such a quick, sharp movement. Is it a greeting?? Is it play??

Dear Karen,

It could be a playful poke but it could also be a little aggressive. I wonder if the key is that he is uncomfortable at eye level. Remember that sustained eye contact is a threat from a dog's perspective. Try telling people not to stare at him and put him in a 'down/stay' when greeting children (he will be at their eye level in a 'sit').

Dear Dr. Cookie,

A neighbor's cat uses our flower beds and vegetable garden as a litter box. We have spoken to the owner with no positive response. We are very frustrated as we have spent a lot of money and time on our landscape and garden. We do not know what to do to keep the cat from using our yard as his personal litter box. We appreciate any suggestions. Please help!

Dear Scott and Michele,

Put a fence around your vegetable garden (chicken wire will do) to keep out many critters, including roaming cats. As for your flowers, try moth balls or underarm deodorant spray (or use both!). These are offensive to the cat's delicate nose and should deter him from marking your territory as his own. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I just got my female Akita puppy, ten days ago, from a reputable breeder. At the time we chose her from the litter, she came across as friendly and affectionate to us and her litter mates. Alas, once here, she displays a puzzling behavior far beyond the "Akita aloofness". She enjoys playing with us, however, most of the time she would rather spend by herself chewing on toys or sleeping. I am fully aware of their independent nature but this takes it to a new dimension! She needs no one!! She loves no one!! We all dote on her and shower her with affection, toys, treats, and baby talk.. She lives in her own world, where I only exist when I bring the food. Even my cat liked spending more time with me. I had another Akita, a male, and he was always with me..seeking my company..displaying affection, following me where ever I went. With Maggie, I could leave the house for hours..she could not care less. Upon my return, she would not even greet me. Instead I go running to her, and if I am lucky I get a tail wag or two.. On the bright side, she is friendly to any stranger that approaches her including kids.The Vet gave her a clean bill of health. Thank you so much for listening.

Dear Annette,

Maggie sounds like an even tempered calm 10 week old puppy to me! I know it's hard not to compare a new pet to another that you've loved and lost but remember that each one is an individual. She will satisfy your emotional needs in another way but give her time. One thing you could try is to allow her to come to you rather than making it be all your own initiative. Let her do some of the work to get your attention for a change! It will be hard for you at first but it should pay off pretty quick! Relax! Enjoy! She won't be calm forever!!!

Dr Cookie,

We just acquired a 5 month old Shiba Inu puppy. We try to take him for a walk and after a few minutes he cooperates, but after about 15-20 minutes, he refuses to walk, sits down and we have to pick him up and carry him home. Why does he do this and can we break him of it? We thought dogs like to walk. Thank you.

Dear Cindy,

Pups can be anxious about walking on a leash or in a new neighborhood at first. Now you have taught him that if he sits down you will pick him up and take him home! Walk him for 5-10 minutes and take him right home. Give him a treat just before you turn around. Do this for at least a week before you prolong the walk by a few minutes. He'll be fine but take it slow. Build up his confidence at each step and take it from there.

Hi Dr Cookie

My mother and I have a 9 month old kitten that is the greatest kitten except for one slight problem. As the nights are getting colder now, "Jack" likes to sleep with one of us on our beds which is fine. When he wakes up, at approx 6am, he jumps onto the floor (carpet) and proceeds to find a place on the bedroom floor to urinate. "Jack" has a cat door that is always open at our backdoor to go outside. Our local Vet suggested we could use a "pheromone" spray on the floor. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

G'day Mark in Australia!

Jack is marking his territory and to him that is indoors and outdoors. This is normal in cats except that they do us a favor and quickly learn to use a litter box when it is supplied and kept clean and in locations that attract their use. Jack is indicating a preference for voiding in the bedroom and now may have acquired a preference for voiding on carpeted surfaces. You have a simple option of providing a box on the bedroom level in a quiet corner such as the bathroom and shut him out of your bedrooms at night. Or, provide a box in each bedroom (at least for a while) and sprinkle dry cat food on the carpet where he has urinated. Feline pheromone spray is a new product that has shown some success in some cases but unless you understand the behavior and provide your cat with alternatives a deterrant spray will not bring the resolution you seek. Try my simple advice first and see how you make out!

Hi Dr. Cookie

I am a practicing vet in NJ and was out surfing and found your site. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for a dog who is a compulsive dirt digger. I have a 5 month old Australian Shepherd who is wonderful with the exception that as soon as you take your eyes off her when she is outside, she digs holes and eats dirt. This happens even during play sessions if I even turn away for a second. I am at a loss for what to try.Thanks

Terri Schneider, DVM
Chester Animal Hospital
Chester, NJ

Dear Dr. Schneider

Digging is a normal behavior associated with with a variety of behaviors which include play, investigation of the environment, predatory behavior, and, in some cases, neurosis. A 5 month old Aussie pup does not understand she is ruining your yardbecause she's too busy having fun. You need to deny her access to your yard for a while, particularly when she is in high gear, and take her to another play ground where you can teach her other fun stuff like chasing and catching a frisbee or ball. As for eating dirt, this too is normal and as long as you do periodic fecal checks there is no harm done! Let me know how you do and remember to give puppy lots of kisses (after you wipe the mud off her face!!!) :-D

Dr. Cookie

I have 2 dogs, a black lab mix-Tess, and her grandson, a german shepherd mix-Brutus. We live in the country and I do not like to keep them chained up, it seems so cruel. Brutus will run off occasionally, but my question is this- Why do they chase motorcycles?, They do not chase cars, trucks, tractors, bicycles, or people, only MOTORCYCLES. As you know this is very dangerous, not only for them, but for the riders as well. How do I stop this? Oh and if you have time 1 more question, how do I stop them from lying in my flower bed? I know the dirt there is cool, but he is killing my plants!!

Dear Sanfords,

I know it is tempting to let your pets run free when you live in wide open spaces but that also welcomes a host of problems such as the dangerous activities you report. I also find a lot of problems associated with chaining dogs. So how about a compromise of sorts? Build a large pen on your property where the dogs can run but not chase anybody, anything, or kill your flowers. Take them for supervised walks (on aleash at least near the road) absolutely everyday and practice obedience skills on the way.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

When our Shiba Inu was close to one year old, he had a few unfortunate experiences with bees. The first one was minimal as he was stung on the nose while investigating a flower. The next experience turned him into a real paranoid pup. We were adding clippings to an old compost pile that ground bees had made a nest in. Before we realized it there were lots of bees everywhere, chasing us as we ran toward the house. Our poor Shiba had three or four bees hiding out in his fur and by the time we found them all, he was a nervous wreck. It has been two years since that traumatic incident and he goes berserk whenever a buzzing insect comes around. There are far more flies that come around than bees but he does not know the difference. What in the world can we do to help him?? Other than that, he has no behavior problems!! We worked with him early on to get beyond them...it sure paid off. (especially when I read through your archives of other rascally little Shibas.) Thanks...your website it a great one!!!

Dear Lucy,

Phobias are excessive fear responses that seem out of proportion to the actual threat. In your dog's case he had 2 fearful and painful experiences associated with a common denominator of buzzing flying insects. Phobias usually do not just go away and in fact often worsen over time as every experience with the frightening stimuli reinforce the phobic response. Your poor doggie needs help and there are techniques to help him along. Please contact me for more information. Glad you enjoy your own little rascal (all things being relative, of course) and the website!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Our third cat is a one year old female. Sake is hyperactive: she is always on the go. She attacks our white female cat who is very mellow. She gets along well with the male orange tabby but she plays very rough with him, biting him. At 5 o'clock in the morning, she plays with the spring behind the door until we place her in the bathroom, jumps on the 2 other cats lying down at the end of the bed. What can we do?

Dear Clo and Rob,

Sake sounds like a healthy kitten to me! She may be play biting but at times she may also be establishing her social status with the other cats. She will mellow with age but it is up to you to get her tired if the other cats won't be her playmates. Amuse her with a wide variety of toys & games. Don't let her go to sleep at night until you are ready for bed (stay up later if necessary to get her tired!). That way she will be more likely to sleep later in the morning. As long as the other cats are not getting injured, let them work it out. But you must provide her with alternatives like interactive play with you using toys that attract her playful aggression. See the list of handouts for additional tips.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a pair of 2 year old cats, brother and sister, and recently the female has started a bad habit. She urinates on anything left loose on the floor (rugs, mats, clothes) and finally, the comforter on our bed. She does not seem to do it if she is shut out of rooms that contain these items, but will if she gets the chance. Is this a litter box related problem? She is an indoor cat, does not fight with her sibling, gets lots ot attention, and is spayed.

Dear Scott in Kamloops, BC

When a cat begins to urinate (or defecate) inappropriately it is essenial to bring her to your veterinarian for a urine sample to determine if she has an infection or inflammation. Make sure you have at least 1 box/cat in your household and that waste is scooped out on a daily basis. Once you are certain there is no urinary tract disease and that litter hygiene is not an issue, refer to the handout on Inappropriate Elimination in Cats for important background information on territorial marking in cats and tips to resolve your problem.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I am the proud owner of a lovely 5 month old Shiba Inu named Yoshi. He recently added "going downstairs by himself" to his repertoire of achievements. Unfortunately, "downstairs" means access to a basement room where we keep the litterboxes for our two cats. Yoshi has taken to dumpster-diving in the litterboxes. I clean the litterboxes frequently, but on at least one occasion Yoshi found some feces and ate it. I use clumping cat litter, and I am afraid it might block his intestines if he eats any significant amount. How can I stop this undesirable behaviour?

Dear Debra inVictoria, Canada

Cat poop is like caviar to many dogs! It is simple to resolve by preventing access to the box. You can add a cover (most are front entry) to the box and turn it into a corner so that the cats can still enter but the pup cannot. The hooded litter cover is very effective since the cat must go under the hood and up & over the edge to enter the box, which is very difficult for most doggies to do. Other options would be to place it in an area where Yoshi can't venture or even to place the box on an elevated surface (although your cats might not like this either!) which might be important for you if your cats do not like a covered box.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 12-week old Boston Terrier, who is the highlight of my life. But she will bite your ears, your hands, anything. She has tons of chew toys, and I have tried giving her a firm 'NO BITE'- holding her tight around the neck until she calms down. She calms down for a minute (not even) and then she is right back to where she was before. I have a 'bad cage' that I put her in when she is totally out of control, and it seemed to work for the housetraining thing. Does she think that she is the leader of the pack?? I want her to know that I am boss and not her. The second problem is crying. If she is being bad, I will not let her on the couch or in my bed with me, only if she is good. But she will cry and cry and cry . Most of the time I just let her cry, but she is very persistent. She has alot of energy and she goes on the energy sprints where she just goes nuts for while, and she is totally out of control.

Dear New BT Mom,

Having a dog is about Leadership, not control. Her behavior has nothing to do with dominance, she is just trying to get your attention. Her needs are not being met and so she has learned to resort to mischief and undesirable patterns to satisfy them, pushing your buttons with crying and nipping will get your negative attention but it is still better than nothing. Half the battle is getting her tired. She needs to go for loooooong walks (1 hr twice daily at least), she needs to play with other doggies EVERYDAY until she is tired, she needs to engage in interactive games with you (using balls, frisbees, anything to get her to chase an object, not you). I am glad you will be going to obedience classes but you should have started some training the moment you got your puppy! 'No' is meaningless unless you immediately direct her toward a desirable activity or instruct her with an obedience command. You could turn this sweet puppy into a neurotic dog or into a well-balanced and socially acceptable one, it's up to you! PLEEEEEEEAAZE order my handouts on Obedience Training basics, Play in Dogs, and anything else you think you need! Finally, NEVER use your crate for punishment. Instead, work on satisfying her needs so she does not have to push your buttons and end up requiring punishment at all!

Dear Dr. Schwartz,

Thanks for your helpful site. Our 8-week old kitten, Kimchi, is wonderfully friendly, but is a biter. She'll play with ribbon, but is very much into hands and feet. When we have to use our hands to put her off the bed or couch when she's biting, she seems to think its part of the game, like us picking her up is just part of the bite/wrestle thing.

Dear Sonnet in Korea!

Make your own toys! Aluminum foil balls, ping pong balls, cotton balls sewn into soft fabric...she needs to chase things that are moving away from you. The ribbon is too close to your hands and she has learned to bite the moving target, which is normal. Use a pillow to push her off the sofa if you must, not your hands, and immediately give her something better to chase. Now, get a wire hanger & hand toys from it with string. Or get a small tree branch and suspend a toy from the end like a fishing rod. Feathers are great fun from the end of a stick or string! Get creative!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I recently brought home a 5 year old dog that has been locked up in a room for the past 6 months with little contact with humans or other dogs. The dog is well behaved, but will not eat anything unless I mix it with people food. Also I have a 10 month old puppy that is driving him crazy because he constantly wants to play!

Dear Scott,

With such a traumatic history, you need to emphasize any comfort this poor dog has! Why not mix scraps in with dog food for a while and when he feels more settled in you can slowly withdraw it over 4-6 wks. Try to spend time alone with each dog since they both have different physical and emotional needs right now. If the pup is more tired he won't torment the older one as much but they will work their relationship out on their own otherwise.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I am writing to ask you about my 4 month old Irish Setter puppy. He cries and sometimes growls when playing, but he never barks. Will O'Malley ever bark?

Dear Speechless in AOL,

Be careful of what you wish for...! O'Malley just hasn't had a reason to bark yet but try not to praise him when he does! You don't want to turn him into a noisy nuisance. Reinforcing barking by praising or giving him attention when he is noisy is the best way to turn him into a loud doggie that you wish you could turn off!

Hi Dr. Cookie,

We have a 14 year old orange tabby biting chunks of fur out of the end of his tail. No visiable mites or wounds, and he's otherwise normal. Lives with two other two year old cats, one hassles him alot. No other problems that we've seen. Any idea what could be wrong?

Dear Arlo,

Have your veterinarian decide if there are any physical problems. There may be a single flea that would be enough to cause his discomfort. He or she will also want to make sure his anal glands are not blocked and that his penis is normal (sometimes cats can get a local infection or hair plug there). Self-mutilation in cats is most commonly caused by a medical problem but once the list of possible causes has been excluded you need to consider emotional causes. Psychoactive licking & excessive grooming in cats is often due to anxiety and conflict with a housemate is certainly stressful to your aging cat. I would want to try to resolve those issues if possible before resorting to medication. I am available for behavior consults once your own veterinarian is sure that this is a purely behavioral problem. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 4 month old English Cocker Spaniel puppy and she won't stop biting on the leash. She tries to drink from our spray bottle,that is supposed to deter her!

Dear Geri,

Put your spray bottle away & get a short chain link (metal) leash. Doggies don't like to chew those & I like the short leash for better control over silly puppies. Also, my handout on Obedience training is really good...!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Nine months ago, my husband and I rescued a young waif of a female cat, now almost two years old, we named Mattie. She hisses at Sonatina (13 yrs old) whenever she comes near. Sonatina has a mean streak and will attack Mattie whenever I am not watching. Sonatina acts like she did nothing wrong but instead tries to convince me that Mattie is acting very strange indeed with all of her hissing. Mattie hisses at Sonatina without even being provoked. I don't know which cat is at fault any more. Will they ever love each other?

Dear Figure8er,

Cats are not people! Sonatina doesn't have a 'mean streak' she is just establishing her territory and dominance. She is not trying 'to convince' you of anything and neither cat is 'at fault' they are just being cats! We don't know if they will ever 'love' each other but we can hope they will tolerate each other in time. Meanwhile, consider ordering my handouts (visit the QuickFix page!) on introducing new pets and territorial behavior in cats. They contain valuable tips that will help your cats and you!

Dear Dr.Cookie,

I've just inherited my mother's adult cat. He looks like a Siamese and is about 3 years old. Recently I've noticed he has been chewing on his tail. Could he have parasites or could he have something else wrong with him?

Dear Sharon,

First, my condolences for your mother's death. This must be a hard time for you as well as your cat. This little guy should be examined by a local veterinarian who can make sure that he does not have any medical reason for chewing on his tail. This could also be a 'nervous habit', or obsessive-compulsive behavior, that helps to release some of the anxiety he may feel stemming from so much upheaval in his life. As long as he is not injuring himself (such as chewing through the skin!) he may stop this in time as he adjusts to his new circumstances. If he is self-mutilating, he might need psychoactive medication. Meanwhile, keep him busy by playing with new toys and give him lots of TLC. Your Mom would be happy to know that he is in such good hands.

Dear Dr.Cookie,

We brought home a 7 month old female about 1 month ago. She was kept in the garage and had to eat cat feces to survive. We have a 5 month old male shiba also. They seem to get along fine. When we are home she will only allow us to pet her in our bedroom where they also sleep. When we are in any other part of the house she will not let us come near her. Is there any thing else that we can do to make her come around and be a part of our family. I know that time is a big factor here because of the abuse. Sometimes we wonder if she will ever come around. We love her very much.

Dear Doreen,

Time will help her to put some (hopefully all) of the trauma behind her. After all, it's only been 1 month and she has fit in well with your other little guy. He will help her alot. To help her to trust you outside her 'comfort zone' do not persist in approaching her. Instead, encourage her to come toward you by crouching down low & offering her a small but very yummy tidbit. You might even hand feed her for a while. Sounds like you are both lucky to have found each other. Good for you!

Dear Dr.Cookie,

My cat used to use her litte box very well but , since I took in two abanded kittens about six months ago, she now defecates on the floor beside the box. I have tried everything. I keep the litter clean and have tried almost every kind of litter they have, I have punished her but she doesn't mind thay.

Dear Mitzi,

I don't know how many litter boxes you have since you increased your household but you should have at least three. My general rule is 1 BOX/CAT!!! Understand that it is not what YOU think is a clean box but what SHE considers clean. Although some cats are selective about the kind of litter filler they use, more cats are particular about hygiene. Punishing her will only make things worse.

Dear Dr.Cookie,

My wife and I teach an obedience class and were presented with the following problem: Owners have an 8 month old Weimaraner who voids daily in her crate. They are unable to come home at lunch and so she is in her crate about 8 hours. They are scheduled to have her spayed this week and will ask their veterinarian to rule out any physical reasons for this problem. We have never encountered a problem like this and all our research indicates a dog does not want to soil her living environment and so crating is a great way to encourage a dog to hold all waste until outside.

Dear Wayne,

Dogs certainly will void in the crate if they can't get out & soon may learn to (intentionally) void in the crate. At 8 mos this dog is just a puppy & cannot be expected to hold her bladder so long. Dog walkers are available in many areas & will help this doggie get through the day and stay dry! I hope her owners are not punishing her for her 'accidents'.

[Note: Crate training has been helpful for many busy owners but the dog must be 'tired & empty' before entering the crate. Crate training is not for every dog. Some dogs do better without one].

Dear Dr.Cookie,

I own an 8 month old Shiba-Inu. Kit Sune is a terrifiic pup but everytime the cat trys to walk anywhere in the house Kit jumps at her. Do you have any suggestions on getting Kit to be nicer to Gloria? The second problem is DIGGING holes in the yard, little holes that are very deep. He stays outside by himself off and on during the day. I have a fenced yard, he has plenty of toys to play with but he prefers digging.

Dear Lynn,

TAKE YOUR DOGGY FOR A WALK!!! Your yard rapidly becomes a sterile place for a dog of any age but especially for a young pup with energy to burn. He needs exercise, social interaction with other doggies, play time with YOU. Try at least 2 walks every day, 45 min. at least, and play with other dogs in a nearby park at least once a day. Get this boy tired out! Your plants and cat will be grateful...:-D

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My family recently adopted a Beagle/Jack Russell Terrier mix (now about 15 wks old) from thepound. She is displaying a behavior I can not figure out... she behaves as if she is trying to mate our other dog. Our other dog is a 3 year old, female German Shepherd we also rescued from the pound last year. I have been telling her no and removing her but she still does this frequently. She and the other dog play together well.

Dear Kristi,

Your pup is displaying dominance mounting. She is establishing her rank over your Shepherd despite their size difference. Jack Russell blood probably makes her pretty fiesty and as long as your older dog does not object you should not interfere! Should she start to mount any people, however, firmly put her in her place with a 'sit'! Have fun!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 7 month old male kitten named Bubba Louie who flexes his paws/claws when he cuddles and when he goes to bed with us at night. He is destroying our comforter. Will he outgrow this? Should we have him declawed? Any other suggestions? Thank you.

Dear Craig & Sandi,

Bubba Louis is 'kneading' a lovely behavior seen in kittens to stimulate milk letdown in the mama cat (queen). This behavior persists in adult cats during quiet moments when they feel safe and cozy with you. I don't think that this is enough reason to have him declawed! It would be very easy to learn to trim his nails periodically so they are blunt and less destructive. Visit my QuickFix Handout page for instructions on how to trim his nails as well as 2 other handouts entitled "Destructiveness in Cats" (includes how to encourage use of scratch post) and "To Declaw or Not to Declaw " which reviews the pros, cons, and alternatives to this surgery.

Dear Dr. Cookie:

Here is the situation. We have a 4 1/2 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix (Tonka) that just ruptured her anterior curciate ligament this weekend (second time, different leg.) Our 8 year old Siamese mix Suki is quite aware of the fact that Tonka is not her usual self and goes to different parts of the house and does nothing but meeeeeowwwwwww, if you tell her to be quiet she just gets louder. This is not normal behavior for Suki, and we are not sure what to do. We have another cat Spud, who just sleeps on his kitty condo and ignores the situation. Any information you can give would be a great help.

Dear Rene,

Spud may be a couch potato but Suki seems more emotionally reactive to the changes in your home. It is quite amazing how some pets seem to reflect the stresses in their environment, including family crises, while others seem less affected (at least as outward appearances would indicate). I don't know if Suki and Tonka have a special bond or if Suki is responding to the atmosphere of her discomfort and your concern but either way she needs more attention herself to help her cope. Spend extra time playing, petting, holding Suki. Tonka needs more attention than usual right now but Suki is trying to tell you that she does too!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 14 yr old Shitzu named Domino. He is a constant licker, mostly the carpet, but he will lick your hand or leg or what ever he can reach. He has done this from the time I got him ( 3yrs old). He has gotten better as he has gotten older, but still does it. Also, if I have been away he will drag out my socks, undies, slippers, or whatever into the living room. He doesn't chew them, lust licks them until they are soaking wet. Is this his way of saying "stay home!"? Thanks.

Dear Mary,

Obsessive compulsive licking is not uncommon in dogs. Domino may do this more when he is anxious or excited. But you don't have to stay home to keep him from licking! If he were a younger dog and if it really bothered/worried you, I would recommend a consult because these behaviors respond quite well to treatment. At this point, however, you've lived with it for 11 yrs. I hope he continues to do it for 11 more!!!

Dear Dr. Cookie-

Mugsy, a male Boston Terrier is almost 4 years old . I recently rescued a 1 1/2 year old female named Olivia so that Mugsy would have a playmante while I am at work. They have been together for one month. They seem to get along fine, except for every now and then they will fight when they get excited about something. It seems as though Olivia keeps her eye on Mugsy and if he gets too hyper for her she will try to take away a toy or if they are playing tug of war it just deteriorates into a fight. They have drawn blood twice. They only seem to do this when I am around- I have never come home to find a scratch on either of them. Should I be worried?

Dear Amber,

Your dogs have only just met! The path to true love is not smooth...give it some time. Next time they fight, leave the room & see what happens. They'll probably stop to follow you. If they are so excited when you first come home, take them out for a long run in a park so they can work out their energy playing instead of on each other. Tug of war is another way that dogs work on their social ranks (dominant vs. submissive) & can turn into a fight when neither one gives in to the other. It is very common to adopt a 2nd pet to provide companionship for the solitary resident. In most cases, they were probably just fine the way they were but YOU wanted a 2nd pet & that's ok too! Write me back in 6 months & I'm sure you'll tell me they are eating a strand of spaghetti from opposite ends & meeting in the middle! :- D

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Our Kerry Blue is a little hesitant to approach other dogs. When she does get up the courage to meet another dog and all the preliminaries go well, she mounts the other dog. I know (or at least have heard) that this is a dominance thing; should I discourage it or is it perfectly acceptable in dog culture and should I let the dogs work it out themselves, even if it causes a little growling from the mountee? Thanks!

Dear Sharon,

Mounting is among the more conspicuous declarations of or challenges to dominance. There should be a double standard of behavior, how dogs interact with each other and how they behave with people. It is normal for dogs to establish rank soon after they meet. Do not interfere unless one of them is getting seriously hurt (& even then, do not jeopardize your own safety by sticking your face or hands between them!). Don't be frightened by a little or a lot of growling and wrestling; full blown vicious dog fights (seen more between males) are occasionally seen but most dogs will resolve their relationship without bloodshed or 'help' from us! (PS 'Mountees' wear red jackets & always get their man...)

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 1 year old Shiba Inu. He's the greatest dog except for jumping up on to the coffee table and counters. Sometimes he'll just put his front paws on the table and knock things off to the ground or he'll jump and jump until he knocks what he wants off. I have moved everything off of the tables so he doesn't get at anything, but I would really rather teach him to keep off. What do you recomend?

Dear May,

First, I'd say to provide him with more interesting distractions on ground level (chew toys, more walks, play with other dogs, etc.). Second, you could pick up a motion detector that emits a loud noise (Radio Shack has them) & place it on the counter. You could also stack a dozen or more tin cans with something he wants just next to it. The cans will come tumbling down & probably scare the daylights out of him too. The idea is 1) decrease his tendency to look for stimulation on his own, and 2) let the counter top do the punishing, not you!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Our 16-month old kitten has on occasion urinated on my brother's bed, on my parents' bed, and today on Mom's beautiful throw rug in the family room. She seems to be retaliating for something. She does void in the litter box thank goodness! Please help me before my parents put Macka away. Thanks.

Dear Anne,

First, let me emphasize that spiteful, malicious, and vengeful behaviors are a human thing, far below the dignity of other species! Your cat is more likely responding to the discomfort of a urinary tract infection/inflammation or to a behavioral drive to mark her territory or to an aversion to her cat box. Is she spayed? Is her litter box cleaned on a daily basis? Are there any major upheavals at home? Your veterinarian can make sure she does not have a medical problem with urine analysis. Once you are sure that is not the problem, order my handout on Elimination Problems in Cats on the QuickFix page or contact me again. Ask your parents to help you & your cat to be happy again!

Hi Dr.Cookie!

We recently rescued a black Labrador from the Humane Society in Newark. Friend is a little older than a year and we've gotten him to sit on command..( most of the time), to give things back that he shouldn't have in his mouth, and even to heel ( for the most part- at least he's not walking us anymore!) He wants to be everyone's Friend. He only jumps on people he doesn't know! He gets so excited he starts jumping and playing very rough with anyone who comes in the door- or anyone we may run into on the street. We started putting the leash on him when visitors come, so we can hold him back- but he still jumps and fights with us to break free and greet the new person.. we force him to sit , and even to lay down but he usually stays for about two seconds and starts jumping again. We give our guests a toy because he walks up to them and wants to play but as soon as the toy drops- someone's arm is in his mouth! This continues all night mind you. He's a wonderful dog, and I can't imagine how he even ended up in the Humane Society. I just hoped there was a few things you could suggest to get him to calm down around new people, or at least stop jumping and gnawing on arms!! Thanks for your help-

Dear Jamie,

Congratulations for adopting your Friend from the pound! He sounds like a sweetie but I am also concerned that his 'Friendly' behavior is a form of dominance aggression. You are right to keep him leashed (for better control & also to expose him to people), to insist that he remain 'down'... the toy was a good idea but you might have better success with something of greater value (to him) like a special rawhide bone. He would also benefit from playing with other dogs (start/join a play group at a nearby park)on a daily basis, daily obedience practice with you to prepare for more challenging situations, and a choke collar that gives you more muscle over this big stubborn goober boy! You've got to get him really tired before your guests arrive!!! Contact me to set up a consult for many tips & tricks to make your Friend into everyone's friend!

Dear Doctor Cookie:

I adopted a beautiful little German Shepard from our local shelter. She was approximately 3 months old and is now about 15 months. The problem: She barks when we leave her in the car. We are very careful when we take her. Never hot or cold weather if she has to stay in the car. Always for a short amount of time. She will bark and bark. She loves to ride and we love to have her but find it embarrasing when she does this. What can we do short of not taking her with us anymore?

Dear Judy,

Excessive vocalization is one of the main symptoms of separation anxiety. I really feel uncomfortable about leaving doggies in the car even for a short time. The internal temperature can rise even on cloudy summer days or sunny winter ones, and many dogs have been stolen when left unattended (in your car or tied up in front of shops, one of my major 'pet' peeves!!!)...You could start giving her a special treat (such as a rubber Kong toy stuffed with a treat) as you leave and she will likely settle down with time, however, you already know that she'd be happier (and safer) to wait for you at home!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a 6 month old male kitten who associates the cat box with cat food. When we place cat food (and we have tried many) out for him he scratches like he is in the catbox and turns up his nose and walks away. We have had many suggestions from the vet and other people and nothing we have tried seems to work. We try to feed him a well balanced diet but he seems to be to thin to me and he always acts like he is ravenous.

Dear Kathy,

It is possible that your problem began because food & litter box were originally placed too closely together but I would not assume that this is the only explanation just yet. A growing kitten does not normally let many things stand in the way of a meal! Make certain that this kitten does not have any internal parasites (even if a stool sample is negative ask your veterinariann to deworm all your cats). A blood test would be helpful to determine if there is anything else going on. Meanwhile, try handfeeding him &/or feed him on a raised surface (countertop) to see if that helps. Let me know how you do, OK?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 9 mo. old Cairn terrier. Recently he has a Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde type of personality. When he is just laying on the floor, sometimes you go to pet him and he is very sweet and other times he will growl and has even snapped a couple of times. There have even been occasions when I have been sitting near him and he will growl as soon as I make eye contact with him. It is particularly disturbing because the behavior seems unprovoked. Is there any hope for "curing" this behavior or do some dogs truly have a Jeckyl-Hyde personality flaw?

Dear Brian,

What you describe sounds like dominance aggression to me. I'd recommend you order my handout on this topic (see the QuickFix page) and get your dog enrolled in a good group obedience class in your area. I'd also advise your children to participate so they can learn to handle the dog with confidence and the dog can learn that his rank must be lower than all the members of your family!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My 7-month-old kitten (which we adopted from the shelter at about 6-8 weeks) is overdoing his grooming. He has licked the fur off the inside of his lower left leg, on the inside of his two front legs, and a spot behind each ear. He doesn't have any skin condition or fleas. Other than that, he is very calm and a real lover boy. He'll lie by us and let us pet him while he purrs and purrs. We do have a female Wire Fox Terrier which he adores and a two-year-old female cat.

Dear Pamela,

It is very important to be sure there is no medical problem before we assume this excessive grooming is behavioral. Even if you don't see fleas, your veterinarian might detect signs of them or of other external parasites. Your cat could have a food allergy, for instance, and might do better on a prescription diet. Once you know what the origin of the problem is (or at least what it is not) the treatment will be clearer. Psychogenic alopecia (hair loss due to neurotic grooming behavior) is generally well controlled with behavior modification & medication. I'll look forward to hearing back from you when you know more...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a tabby female (neutered) that is one and a half years old. CleoCatra has been urinating in one spot on the dining room rug for about six months. I have tried everything to discourage her, and just bought a throw rug that matches the carpet. She still continues to go there, despite a clean litter box. My husband is getting very irritated. It seems to have happened after she was neutered and declawed.

Dear Robi,

Some kitties can respond to stress or postoperative pain by eliminating inappropriately out of the litter box. Luckily, Cleo has a prefernce for only 1 spot out of the box. Why don't you try feeding her there & if that doesn't work, get back to me!

Dear Dr. Cookie:

We have 2 Shiba Inus that we absolutely adore. The female,Tahoe, we got as a puppy when she was 8 weeks old & she is now 1 1/2 but is a littlebizarre. She has never bitten us but she seems to communicate with her growls. When we give her a awhide bone she guards it,growls alot and acts kind of aggressive - her body even shakes. She is not aggressive as we take the bone away and does not attempt to bite us. She is not aggessive if the bones are plastic or rubber. When we take the bone away her behavior continues for several hours until she seems to "forget" about the bone. Because of her behavior we no longer give her bones at all and have resorted to plaque fighter toys and Kongs. One dog behaviorist actually had us hitting her when she growled. But she does love to chew and we would like to begin reintroducing bones to her. It may help you to know that she is definitely an alpha dog although I do not know which of our shibas is the top dog. She sits and watches while our male dog eats first but she seems to initiate all the playing.

Hi, Maribel! What you describe is not so unusual. Tahoe is displaying possessive aggression which means that she guards objects of value. The possessive aggression is proportional to the value she places on something, for example, she likes regular rawhides but is not so keen on 'fake' ones made of synthetic materials. You are lucky that her aggression is inhibited toward you because many dog owners have been seriously injured in the same situation. I am very sorry to hear that a dog trainer advised you to abuse your dog to teach her anything. Dog trainers do not require any special training and come from a variety of backgrounds, some of them good and others not so. Open my QuickFix page for the handout on possessive aggression which contains some valuable tips. Also, you may be interested to know that the dominant dog generally eats first...

Dear Dr. Cookie,

My new Foxhound puppy (7 months) Lucy is sweet, we rescued her from a shelter where she lived from the time she was abandoned at the age of approx 6 weeks. She has always lived in a kennel and was primarily socialized with other dogs and various volunteers who walked her a few times a day. When we adopted her she was full of life, very happy and seemd to enjoy people - children included. She was skiddish at times but eventually got over that and was always happy to see us (greeting us at the door etc.) Just lately, when anyone comes to the house she freaks! Tails goes between her legs, barking, running away into a corner and if the person tries to bend down and extend their hand to her to make friends she runs scared and looses control of her bowel and will not even come to my husband and I. She ONLY displays this behavior when other people are around. She even growls sometimes. I am deeply concerned that she is so stressed out. Please let me know how I can help her through this...

Dear Lucy's Mom,

I'd need to do a more indepth consult to really understand Lucy's problem but from your overview she is developing very fearful, anxious, and submissive behaviors when strangers enter. Sometimes all it takes is one scary event to establish an escalating problem. Try to think back to when you first saw her behave this way... Her early socialization (or lack of it) could also be contributing to her current problems. In the meantime, ask your guests to come in quietly and crouch down to say hello to her. Perhaps they could give her a treat to reward her for approaching them. There are many other things to try depending on all the details you'd give me in a consult so let me know if you need more help.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a one year old female spayed cat, she was adopted in November 1998. She was supposedly spayed earlier that year, she has just now started to Meeeeoooow very loudly and run from window to window....she is driving us insane. She has been doing this for 7 days now. I took her to the vet this morning and his diagnosis was 'she is in heat'. His suggestion was to surgically go in and try to remove the ovarian tissue that was obviously missed the first time. Keep in mind this is NOT the vet that did her spaying the first time. And I am not sure if I want (the other) that vet to try again. What is your suggestion here.

Dear Tired Momma in TX,

Her behavior is consistent with estrus but to confirm the presence of ovarian tissue I'd suggest a blood test to determine her estrogen level. This could help to avoid any surgery if you find that she was successfully spayed & is responding to some other drive. If she does need an exploratory surgery, your choice of surgeon is a personal one but the original veterinarian might not charge you...! Let me know what happens, ok?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

One of my male cats sprays all over the house and meows constantly when he is doing it. He does this at certain times of the day. My vet said it was behavioural and put him on valium which he hoped would break the psychological cycle. It did not help. What can I do to help Henry stop this? He is a healthy two year old cat now with this one problem. Please Help Us.

Dear Nadia,

It is still important to exclude any underlying bladder problem so if he has not yet had a urine analysis make sure that he does. I'd suggest you follow some of the advice given in my handout on inappropriate elimination in cats (see the QuickFix page) & if those tricks don't do the job then you can get back to me for more in-depth advice. This may or may not include drugs (I'd tell you which one to try during a consult so you can tell your veterinarian, since I'm out of state...) but let's make sure you try basic steps first. I would also insist on first getting basic blood work done before & during the course of any medication, if it is necessary.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

We have a wonderful and much loved 2 year old female Boxer "Roxy".We have had her since she was 8 weeks old. Our two cats Alex and Ashley are indoor cats that we've had for 7 years. They have accepted Roxy since she was a puppy but,many times now the cat's will be walking by and she leaps at them with her tail wagging wanting to play.This scares them ! There have been times when the cats will rub up against Roxy trying to make friends and she will just stand there looking amazed.She also gets jealous if we give attention to the cats. I feel terrible for the cats, they avoid being around her and us most of the time. How can we stop this bullying?

Dear Lawson family,

Roxy is just being a puppydog not a bully! Chances are that if Roxy had doggy friends that made her tired, or at least very long walks & playtime with you everyday, she would be less interested in playing with the cats. You could also tell her to down/stay when you are trying to pay attention to the cats & give her a small rawhide treat so she wouldn't care what you were up to! Also, when she is asleep take the opportunity to spend some quality time with the kitties!

Dear Dr. Cookie

One of our year old kittens, Geogia, has somehow developed the habit of eating ribbon. I have quit keeping ribbons in the house (as well as playing with anything that could resemble strips of ribbon such as string) as she will eat it right from balloons, presents, ect.. My concern is that someday she will eat a piece and the ribbon becomes lodged in her system (the last piece she ate was 6 inches long). All the cats have their own cat grass to chew on (home grown) and are fed twice a day and have small dog and cat toys. She does not chew on any electrical cords, or eat anything unusal, except for the ribbon.

Dear Dana,

We don't know why some critters develop a preference for ingesting non-food items. Once the habit is acquired, however, it is important to prevent the opportunity from engaging in a behavior that can be dangerous. You have done everything right so far. I would also add that if you ever see a piece of string/ribbon protruding from her behind, DO NOT PULL IT OUT! You may trim it shorter & watch to see if it comes out in the litter box. If it stays stuck for more than a day, she should be seen by your veterinarian. And by the way, have a fecal analysis and blood test done to check for any underlying physical problem (such as internal parasites) just in case. Meanwhile, the best you can do is to keep 'Georgia on your mind' & pet-proof your home.

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a wonderful four and a half year old male Labrador Retriever but he does not like children!!! We do not have any of our own but he has been exposed to our friends kids since he was a puppy. He is tolerant of them when they are infants, even curious, yet once they are able to move around he is leary. He has never bitten anyone but gives a warning bark or growls when they go toward him. I feel that he is frightened of them for some reason ( he will avoid them and even hide behind my legs ) but do not understand why. I do not believe a child has ever harmed him in any way. So far, we have reprimanded him by saying "NO", "bad dog", etc. but it hasn't helped.

Dear Tracy,

An immobile infant is one thing but a toddler on the rampage is quite another! Their parents are often overwhelmed never mind a dog that only sees them on occasion. Heprobably is frightened of them and punishment will only worsen his negative association with kids. Teach him to sit or down and stay, give him a treat & tell him he's a good boy. Keep kids away until he is more relaxed & meanwhile teach the children how to interact gently with the doggie. My handout on Kids & Pets reviews this in more detail, check it out!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have 6 Chows (4 female and 2 males). The two males are father and son. They're all well behaved except for the father/son dominance factor. I have to keep the males separated at all times as the father will attack the son. Is there anything I can do to stop this behavior.

Dear Karen,

If you are correct in assuming the problem is related to dominance, the intensity of the aggression would be somewhat diminished by neutering all the dogs (unless you are a professional breeder)! Hormones surging certainly aggravate the situation. Beyond that, separating them may be delaying the resolution of the problem. If you don't allow them to fight it out, they can not determine who will have rank. It may seem harsh to let them fight but unless you want to give one of them away you may be delaying the peace. In my handout on dominance aggression (see QuickFix page) there is a discussion of how to settle this problem in a step by step way to avoid major bloodshed in either macho man. I'd advise you to read it!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have a 15 month old Standard Poodle that I bought from local breeders when he was already 4 months old. Anyway, the problem I'm having is that he seems aloof and sometimes seems emotionally unattached - in the sense that he doesn't want to lay while you pet him or sit near you to get petted. When he's outside (I have a pretty nice size fenced backyard), he won't stay unless someone is with him - he loves to run around the yard - but only if he can see someone is there. The biggest problem that I have with him , however, is that when he is in the house, he just runs around the living room, dining room and up and down the steps - constantly! When he sees his reflection in the fireplace window or in the TV screen - he runs away and comes back to see his reflection - over and over and over. He's driving everyone nuts!!!! I've got to the point where I have considered giving him away, although I want to try whatever I can first! Please give me some advice!

Dear Janine,

Are YOU playing with this puppy? Are you walking him on a leash at least twice every day for at least 1/2 hour each time? Are you taking him to a park so he can play with other doggies at least a couple of times a week? If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' then you canguess my advice! This bright puppy must INTERACT WITH YOU unless you want him to continue his neurotic attention-seeking behavior. Now, go on, git! Your dog is waiting fer ya!!!

Dear Dr. Cookie,

Chloe is a 9 month female Bichon Frise that I have owned since she was 11 weeks old. My husband and I love her dearly, but she has one habit that drives us crazy. She licks us or anything she is near ie. bricks, toes, carpet, shoes, furniture. Do you have any suggestions to help us save our sanity!

Dear Kathy,

This type of compulsive behavior might be obsessive-compulsive licking but it could also be a redirected behavior. It would be important to provide her with alternative objects, such as rawhide bones with a bit of peanut butter or cream cheese lightly coating the surface. This might induce her to transfer her behavior to more appropriate surfaces. If this does not do the trick, please contact me to schedule a telephone or email consult. I am sure I could save your sanity (or what's left of it!!!).

Dear Dr. Cookie,

About three years ago my cat Barkley started urinating in two particular places along the wall and steps of our basement. This would only occur during the summer months. However, this past summer, he continued doing this into the winter months. Now he has been exhibiting mating movements while I am lying on my bed waaatching TV. He comes close to me and sometimes straddles my arm or leg and flexes (or clenches) his thighs as though he were copulating. If I attempt to touch him during this practice, he crys loudly at me and backs away, only to return immediately. Sometimes he comes right up to my face and stares at me with an intense look and makes me feel that he wants to bite me (just as our cougar at the zoo does just before he mounts the female and bites her neck). Can you explain this behavior?

Dear Judith,

Barkley's inappropriate urinating and masturbation might be separate issues but could very well be linked. Ask your veterinarian to draw some blood to obtain his testosterone level. This is important to make sure he has no circulating male hormone that would underly his behavior. When you have the results, get back to me to schedule a consultation. This is an interesting case that deserves an indepth review and I particularly want to make sure he does NOT bite you. I have tried to email you but keep getting 'fatal messages' so please contact me again & leave an address &/or telephone #, OK?

Dear Dr. Cookie,

I have 2 Boston Terriers. Bo is 3 years old and Hope is 5. Everytime one of us leaves, Hope starts frantically barking around in circles, jumping and snapping at your shirt sleeve. She acts like she is really scared and does not want you to leave. I read in a book that this could be separation anxiety, what can I do to fix this?

Dear Jen,

Yup, sounds like Hope's agitation reflects her anxiety. Keep your returns and departures calm, make sure she is tired (long walk) & empty (urine/stool) before you leave, and give her a special treat such as a rawhide bone to keep her occupied when you walk out the door. I have a wonderful handout on separation anxiety for a more detailed plan. Hope's problem is not hopeless!!! :-)

Dr. Cookie,

My 20 month old cat, Cameron, snuggles with me every night when I go to bed. However, he likes to bite or chew on my earlobe or chin. This is very painful but I'm not sure what it means. Is this normal?

Dear Gayle,

Cameron is playing with you but play biting can be uncomfortable and should be discouraged. Direct him to play with a toy instead of your ear! What a young animal learns to do in play is what he may incorporate into his adult repertoire. It is important that you discourage undesirable behaviors in young pets so that they know the limits and learn to stay within your guidelines of what is and is not appropriate.

Last modified on
Tuesday, June 13, 2006