Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
Helping new baby and dog become best friends
Dear Critter Corner: We are bringing home a new baby soon and are hoping that he and our dog will be best friends. We can’t wait to introduce them—any tips? Congratulations on your new addition! A great place to start here is with your expectations: set them...
Animals and small children
Dear Critter Corner: Why do so many animals have trouble being around small children? There are several reasons why young children and animals tend to be a volatile combination. One reason is that young children tend to get excited very quickly and have a wild energy...
Improving dog’s recall
Dear Critter Corner: With the nice weather here, we want to take our pup to off leash hiking areas but his recall is not that great. How can we teach him to come when called and for us to trust him? This is a very common problem for many people. There are a few...
Dog having trouble adjusting after a move into a new home
Dear Critter Corner: We just moved into a new house and my dog is having a hard time adjusting. He’s had a couple of accidents and is spending a lot of time in his crate. How do we help him feel more at home? Your dog is likely feeling unsettled and will need a bit of...
Energetic large breed dogs
Dear Critter Corner: I love large breed dogs, but I work full-time and do not have the time to run a dog five hours a day. I am all for weekend adventures with a four-legged friend, but is there anything I can do to quickly tire a dog during the week? This is a common...
Harness resistance
Dear Critter Corner: Our puppy loves to go out for his walks and any other adventure, but he is very resistant to having his harness or collar put on. He will avoid us or even try to bite. Is there anything we can do to change this? For many dogs this is a common...
Helping cat adjust to new dog
Dear Critter Corner: I just brought home a new dog, Moe, and while he is pretty easy going, he is a little too interested in my cat. My cat is curious of Moe but does run away when she gets spooked. What can I do to help my cat stay comfortable while Moe learns the...
First time pet owner
Dear Critter Corner: My 13 year-old daughter has been begging me for a pet of her own, my family and I have never owned a pet before, but my partner and I grew up with cats and dogs. What type of animal do you recommend for a first-time pet owner? There is no one...
Improving puppy’s manners
Dear Critter Corner: Our puppy has recently started to jump up on the counter tops and tables to steal items from them. What can we do to stop the behavior? Almost every dog owner has encountered this challenge when their pup has learned they are tall enough to reach...
Normalizing dog’s routine after shelter-in-place
Dear Critter Corner: I went back to work in person this week so I contacted the dog walker I used before the pandemic hit. She arrived at my house on Monday to walk my dog but Perry didn’t recognize her and would not let her come inside. He ended up having an accident...