DEAR HARRIETTE: My roommate and I wanted to get a dog together because our apartment was lonely. We ended up getting a cute little sheepdog, but I am allergic to him. He is so cute, and I do not want to get rid of him, but my allergies are killing me. I feel that it isn't fair to my roommate to not have a dog just because of me. I have started on an over-the-counter allergy regimen, which helps a little, but I don't know how long I can go always waking up stuffy. -- Allergic, Shreveport, La.

DEAR ALLERGIC: Too bad you did not realize you were allergic from the start. Since you agreed to get the dog, it is best for you to do all you can to figure out if you can cohabitate with it. Start by going to a doctor. There may be something more potent than over-the-counter allergy medication that can help you.

You and your roommate should also be vigilant about vacuuming and dusting. Sheepdogs have long hair that sheds. Do your best to limit the amount of dander that lingers in the air. To achieve that, you have to clean constantly. You should keep your bedroom off-limits to the dog. Close the door. Let your roommate know that the dog can never enter your room. You can also limit how much you touch the dog. You can be kind and loving without petting, even though it may seem hard to do.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My brother is dating my ex-girlfriend, and while I told him it was OK and that it didn't bother me, it does. I don't have feelings for her or anything, but I feel odd knowing that my little brother is dating her. They look happy together, and I do not want to say anything to my brother that will upset him or make him break up with her just because of me. -- Misgivings, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MISGIVINGS: It is only natural for it to be tough for someone you love to date someone you once dated, especially if you and the former girlfriend were close. On the one hand, it was big of you to give your brother permission to date her. Even more, it was respectful of your brother to ask you. Still, that doesn't change the reality that you are dealing with today.

Seeing their relationship play out in real life would have to be difficult, at least at first. I do not think you should say anything to your brother. Instead, live your life. If you are dating someone, focus your energy on that relationship rather than your brother's. If you are not, go about your daily activities with gusto. Stay in the moment and resist obsessing over what your brother and she are doing.

Be kind and cordial to her when she is around. Decide that you will be able to accept them as a couple. Over time, with that intention, you should be able to make that happen.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I really like this girl at my internship; however, I don't think I can fulfill her expectations. Her parents are extremely rich, she went to private school all her life and status-wise she is better than I am. I, on the other hand, went to public school. My parents are divorced and working-class. Should I even try to ask her out? Frankly, I think she is out of my league. -- Skittish, Syracuse

DEAR SKITTISH: Socioeconomic status can be a deterrent in a relationship, but it is not a given. What is important is for you to realize your value. You stated, "Status-wise she is better than I am." That is a dangerous thought. She may have more wealth than you, but I caution you to not compare yourself with her and believe that she is better than you. People have all kinds of experiences. Having wealth does not automatically make someone "better" than another.

If you like this young lady, what is the harm in letting her know? Invite her to do something that you can afford to do. Relax and just be with her. Get to know each other. Be honest about who you are. If she is interested in you despite your differences, continue to get to know her better.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend who left her college recently because she could not afford it. She is now working retail. Whenever I call her or send her a Facebook message, she never replies to me. I never thought about this until a mutual friend of ours suggested it: she might be embarrassed that she is not in school while all of her friends are. What should I do to at least get in contact with her? Every time I try to surprise her at work, she is not there. -- Worried Friend, Detroit

DEAR WORRIED FRIEND: It is possible that your friend is embarrassed about having to leave college. It is also possible that she is ducking you and your mutual friends because she does not know how to handle this transition.

Unfortunately, stalking your friend is not likely to bring you favorable results. You can and should continue to reach out to your friend. Let her know that you miss her and want to get together with her when she is available. I do not recommend attempting to visit her at work, though. Though well-meaning, your overtures at her workplace could backfire for her. Her boss may not appreciate friends coming by to see her whether she is there or not.

Your friend may need time to lick her wounds and get into the groove of her new reality. Time may help her to open her eyes and see that she still loves and misses her friends. Stick with it.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a problem that I cannot quite get rid of. I have a best friend who gets on my nerves constantly. While I am sure the normal solution is to not be friends with her anymore, it is hard not to be. If I need help or if my back is against the wall, she is there for me -- and vice versa. Yet I often find myself not wanting to hang out or be bothered by her. What should I do to address this, and is it worth being friends at all? -- Frustrated Friend, Philadelphia

DEAR FRUSTRATED FRIEND: You need to find a way to accept your friend for who she is -- both the things you like about her and the things that you do not. As you well know, it is common for people to have certain behaviors that can get on your nerves, even as you also really appreciate them. This sounds like the case with your "best friend."

Do yourself and your friend a favor and step back to think about what actually gets on your nerves. Is it something serious or just a personality quirk? Could it be that you spend too much time with her and sometimes she irks you? What is it exactly?

If you find that you really do not like her, be willing to sever your friendship. It would be unkind of you to keep her around just to help you out of a pickle if otherwise she is an irritant. But if it is more likely that you could benefit from spending less time together while remaining friends, attempt that route.

DEAR HARRIETTE: In regards to "Standing My Ground," about a student's macroeconomics teacher: I agree with your response that the student should speak up about his grievances, with one caveat -- the student should do what you suggested after he has received his grade.

In my experience both as a student and as a professor, some professors will treat a student differently for the rest of the course, and it would be difficult to prove that the lower grade received -- and it generally will be a lower grade -- was because of the response from the student.

Unfortunately, more and more professors teach only their own perspective rather than a balanced approach. And also unfortunately, department heads and deans agree with that approach. -- Practical, Chicago

DEAR PRACTICAL: I hate that you could be right, that it can be risky to speak up when a student feels wronged by a teacher. I get it, though. I would never want a student to jeopardize his or her grade. At the same time, I am a big advocate for speaking up.

I want to believe that there is a strategic way in which a student can engage a teacher, discuss a grade in question and request that the teacher reconsider a particular grade without repercussion. If the teacher is approached in a neutral, non-aggressive way, perhaps the risk of retaliation would diminish.