Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
Teaching dogs to play nicely
Dear Miss Behavin’: My dogs can’t seem to share toys. Any time there’s a toy or tennis ball out they seem to end up in a scuffle over it. Can I teach them to share nicely? For each dog, different toys have different values. High value toys typically include a favorite...
Adopting a cat from a shelter
Dear Miss Behavin’: I’ve never had a cat before but would like to adopt one from a shelter as a companion animal. Where do I start? That’s great that you’re interested in adopting from a shelter. Many rescues and shelters have a wide variety of cats, ranging in ages,...
Life Partner for my dog?
Dear Miss Behavin’: With Valentine’s Day approaching, I’m wondering if I should get a canine life partner for my dog “Leo.” He’s on the shyer side and I feel like a buddy would help him come out of his shell. The short answer is, it depends. Some dogs really open up...
‘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...
