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| Ask Annie |
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Dear Annie, |
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My dog Barker barks. A lot. My neighbors are
complaining and I’m getting pretty tired of it myself. Is
there anything I can do to curb this excessive barking? My dog is
a two-year-old Shepherd/Lab mix. I thought he would grow out of
it, but it seems to be getting worse.
--Juanita, La Canada, CA
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Dear Juanita,
Most dogs bark, and
some bark more than others (guard dogs and hounds, for example).
There are several types of barking: Alarm barking, when a strange
person or animal approaches; attention barking, when your dog is
cold, wet, hungry, or thirsty; and emotional barking, when your
dog is anxious or lonely. There isn’t much you can do if
your dog is bred to bark, but you can reduce other forms of barking
by ensuring your dog has plenty of exercise, access to food and water,
and social interaction with other dogs. Dogs left outdoors are most
prone to barking, so letting your dog spend more time indoors may
help. Never punish your dog for barking--it will only worsen the situation.
If all else fails, take your dog to obedience school or consult a
dog trainer. (As for mussles and training collars, would you want
to wear one?)
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Dear Annie, |
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My niece and her little friend were over for
a visit and painted my dog Rufus’s toenails with purple sparkle
nail polish. Will this harm my dog? It’s looks awful, especially
on a boy.
--Purple in Naples
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Dear Purple,
Most nail polish
is non-toxic, so I wouldn’t worry. I had
a cousin who painted his toenails pink and stuck Hello Kitty decals
on them, and it didn’t hurt him a bit. As for the appearance,
it will wear off in a few weeks. Until then, perhaps you can provide
Rufus with a complementary colored scarf.
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Dear Annie, |
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My dog is depressed. Should I put her on Prozac?
She’s eight-years-old and isn’t eating.
--Joe K., Berkeley,
CA
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Dear Joe,
According to the Los Angeles Times, vets are increasingly prescribing
antidepressants for such behaviors as spraying, anxiety, depression
and aggression. Talk to your vet and ensure there is no underlying
disease that needs to be addressed and attempt non-drug therapies
if indicated. I believe antidepressants should be considered as a
last, not first, resort.
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Dear Annie, |
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My six-year-old is constantly digging up the
yard. What can I do to prevent this? She’s destroying my yard!
--Allyson in Aurora, IL
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Dear Allyson,
I assume you are talking about your
six-year-old dog. Dogs dig for comfort, entertainment,
to bury or unearth bones, and search for tasty treats like bugs
and mice. Don’t leave your dog unattended too long
outdoors, give your beast plenty of toys to play with, and remove
burrowing pests from your yard. If your dog still insists on digging,
create an area when digging is permitted and reduce your dog’s
access to the rest of the yard with fencing. Ask your local nursery
to recommend plants that discourage digging. And never let your
dog see you weed or plant--it will just give her ideas!
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