Some of the hardest questions I get are from readers with dogs who have bitten or seem likely to bite.
Many of these dogs are loving pets ... "except." Except around children. Except around men. Except around their food dish or toys. Except when accidentally cornered. Those who love and share their lives with these dogs often try to avoid situations that seem to trigger aggressive behavior, but they worry that trying to manage an aggressive dog may not be enough.
With good reason: It often isn't.
I don't advise people on how to fix a dog who has bitten or tried to bite. There are too many variables, and the risk is just too great if I get something wrong based on wrong information (I never get to meet the dog, after all). And people who have dogs with aggressive tendencies often live in denial, not recognizing how dangerous their dog truly is, and they're unable to accurately report or understand the animal's behavior.
Instead, I recommend finding a trainer with experience in canine aggression or getting a referral to a veterinary behaviorist. If the dog's owner isn't willing to get help, I recommend euthanasia for the animal.
In other words, near zero tolerance. I don't care how much you love your dog: If you believe there's a good chance some person (most typically a child) will be injured by your pet, I do not accept any excuses for you or your dog.
Are you kidding yourself about your dog? Answer these questions and be brutally honest:
-- Has your dog ever "stared you down"? If your dog gives you a hard, fixed stare, you need to recognize it for the challenge it is.
-- Does your dog adopt a dominant posture with you or other people? A dog who's trying to be boss will be up on his toes, with his legs stiff, ears forward and hackles raised. His tail will be held up or out, and may even be wagging a little. Don't confuse the latter for friendliness. There's big difference between the wide, relaxed wag of a friendly dog and the stiff, tight one of an aggressive animal.
-- Do you avoid doing certain things around your dog because they elicit growling or a show of teeth? I've known people who live their lives in fear of their dog, avoiding the animal when he's eating, sleeping, playing with a toy ... the list can be endless.
-- Do you consider your dog safe, except around a particular group of people, such as children? When he growls at the veterinarian, do you tell yourself the behavior is reasonable because the animal thinks the doctor is "mean"?
-- Has your dog ever bitten anyone? Whatever the reason, no matter the excuse, a dog who has bitten once is more likely to bite again than is a dog who has never bitten at all.
A "yes" to any of these questions means you do have a problem, and you need to find help. Talk to your veterinarian about a referral, today.
While some dogs with aggression problems cannot be reformed, others can, with a combination of medication and re-training, and a big dose of dog-savvy on the part of the owner.
If your dog cannot be trusted, even with professional help, don't try to pass the problem along to someone else because it's hard to do what needs to be done. Take responsibility. You may be sparing a child a lifetime of fear and disfigurement, or you may even be saving someone's life.
THE SCOOP
Are you old enough to remember Buster Brown and his dog Tige? Turns out the sailor-suited kid and his brown pup are still around, and the shoe company for which they pitch is looking for a modern update on this classic image. Parents are invited to enter pictures of children with their dogs in the contest, with six winners to be featured on shoe boxes. The prize for each of the winners is a nice addition to the college fund, too: a $5,000 savings bond.
The contest is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the brand, so it's not likely that if you do remember ol' Buster, you were around for the beginning. My memory goes back only so far as my childhood, when Buster Browns were standard baby boomer footwear. I remember because I thought the dog was cute. Still do. Contest information is at www.busterbrowncontest.com.
PETS ON THE WEB
In Britain, the National Hamster Council (www.hamsters-uk.org) claims to be the oldest hamster club in the world. I'm not sure who keeps those kinds of records, so I guess we'll just have to believe them. The site offers lots of information on hamsters, with more than anyone really needs to know on showing them. (If you live in the United Kingdom, you can attend no fewer than 23 officially sanctioned hamster shows a year!)
If you get bogged down in the seriousness of hamster shows, you can always revisit Web favorite Hamster Dance (www.hampsterdance.com/hampsterdanceredux.html). It's just plain silly, but every now and then it's worth a couple of minutes of your time.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: I have a 1-year-old sun conure. For her "hatch day," I purchased a catnip-filled cat toy thinking she would enjoy it. She does. But I suddenly got worried that catnip might not be safe for conures. It is a high-quality toy. The catnip is sewn into a column of fabric about the size and shape of a cigar. I've taken the toy away until I hear that the catnip is safe. What do you think? -- P.K., via e-mail
A: I doubt she's reacting to the catnip, since not even all cats fall under its mood-enhancing spell. She probably just likes the feel of the fabric, the color or even the exotic smell.
But why bother with a catnip cat toy, when there has never been a wider choice of truly wonderful toys available for birds? Visit any reputable bird shop, and you'll find a wide variety of safe and entertaining toys for all sizes of birds. Online, you'll find plenty of choices, too, including toys from Birds of Play (www.birdsofplay.com) or the Bird Brain (www.thebirdbrain.com), the latter a fund-raiser for the Colorado-based Gabriel Foundation (www.thegabrielfoundation.org), a parrot rescue group and sanctuary.
You can also make your own toys. Some retailers, such as Doctors Foster and Smith (www.drsfostersmith.com; 1-800-381-7179), sell the raw materials -- bird-safe fiber ropes and pieces of plastic, leather and wood. You can also offer old toothbrushes (run through the dishwasher first), trimmings from your trees, especially citrus and apple, the plastic tops of milk bottles, and the cores of toilet paper and paper towel rolls.
Thinking cross-species, you can look for bargains on colorful, hard-plastic baby toys, or hard-rubber cat or dog toys. My caique parrot loves a ridged-rubber dog chew toy. He likes to roll it around, ride on it and try to tear it to bits!
Toys are especially important for the mental health of any pet who spends any amount of time in a cage. Keep a good variety, both of sturdy toys and ones that can be easily and entertainingly destroyed.
Q: Would you please warn people that exercising their dogs can be dangerous? I cannot believe how often I see people running or biking with their dogs at the hottest part of the day. Sometimes the dogs are actually staggering behind the bike, and their owners don't even notice! Yes, exercise is good for dogs. But people need to have some common sense. Some of these dogs are fat, which makes things even harder on them. -- F.G., via e-mail
A: This is a warning that just cannot be given too often at this time of year.
Dogs don't function as efficiently as we do in heat, and while exercise is important, it's best left to cool mornings and evenings in the summer.
If your dog isn't in shape, work up to long sessions gradually early in the morning or late at night, and watch carefully for any sign your dog is in trouble. Carry water, and offer it often.
If your dog should get overheated, put lots of cool -- but not cold -- water on him and find a veterinarian quickly. This is a true medical emergency, and your dog's life is on the line. Don't wait to see if he gets better. Get help!
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.
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