Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
‘Stay’ is a very important command to teach to a dog
Dear Miss Behavin’: I’m trying to teach my 2-year-old Labrador to “stay” when I’m working on my car in the garage. She listens most of the time, but yesterday I told her to “stay” and she darted into the street to greet our neighbor’s dogs who were walking by. How can...
Growling and hissing? Teach cats to get along
Dear Miss Behavin’: I just adopted a new cat a few days ago, and my older female cat keeps hissing and growling at him. How can I help them to get along better? Reply: It’s quite understandable that your older female cat might be a little peeved that there is a new...
Weather may be a factor in pooch’s indoor accidents
Dear Miss Behavin’: Our dog, Lucy, was perfectly housetrained, but lately she has started having accidents in the house. What could have caused this unfortunate change? Reply: Before jumping to conclusions, it’s a good idea to have a dog (or cat) checked out by the...
Some New Year’s resolutions for pooches
Dear Miss Behavin’: I’ve set some New Year’s resolutions for myself and am wondering if I should do the same for my dog. Do you have any recommendations? Reply: Whether your dog is a beloved family member or a high-performance athlete, there are always things we can...
Beware the flickering tail of the agitated cat
Dear Miss Behavin’: Sometimes my cat’s tail flickers really fast before she scratches or bites me. What can I do to prevent this? Reply: It’s really great that you’re observing the cat’s behavior right before it scratches or bites, this will help you in preventing it...
Lap-loving poodle growls at owner’s son
Dear Miss Behavin’: My poodle, “Misty,” is an absolute love with me, but she growls and lunges at my adult son whenever she’s on my lap. I think she is protective of me. I’ve been trying to give her time-outs, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. Reply: Rather than...
Teaching Skip to behave before going for a walk
Dear Miss Behavin’: My dog Skip acts like a maniac before we go for walks — he grabs the leash and runs around the house, usually knocking things over. Is there any way to tone down his enthusiasm a bit? Reply: The way Skip sees things, acting like a maniac gets him...
Shepherd mix guards her home with lots of noise
Dear Miss Behavin’: My family recently moved to a new home with floor-to-ceiling glass windows in our living room. We love our new view, but our shepherd mix, “Beauty,” has taken to barking at everything and everyone that goes by. How can we restore quiet to our...
Dog is the great escapee from backyard
Dear Miss Behavin’: Our dog is constantly breaking out of our backyard when we’re at work. Fortunately our neighbors bring him home, but he’s already been picked up twice by animal control. Reply: Of the hundreds of dogs I’ve met, I can count on one hand how many of...
Help kitten learn to use the litter box
Dear Miss Behavin’: I just adopted a kitten and he seems to think the carpet is his litter box. Please help! Reply: It can definitely be tricky to adjust a new kitten to a new home. If you adopted the kitten from a shelter, many of the cats and kittens are housed in...