In less than a couple of generations, our dogs have moved from the barnyard to the backyard to the kitchen to the bedroom to the bed. It's a cultural shift that has passed some pet owners by, however, and that's a shame.
I have always had difficulty understanding why people keep dogs outside. If keeping a beautiful house and yard are of the utmost importance to you, then don't get a dog. If you know someone in your family can't abide a dog in the house, for whatever reason, then don't get a dog. If you can't let a dog be a part of your family, then don't get a dog. (Please note: I am talking about backyard pets here, not working dogs whose social, mental and physical needs are more than met by their daily routines.)
You don't get the benefits of companionship from a dog you see so little. You don't even get much in the way of protection from the pet who has no access to the house. And don't count on outdoor dogs as an early warning system. These animals often become such indiscriminate barkers that you couldn't tell from their sound whether the dogs are barking at a prowler or at a toddler riding a tricycle down the street. Besides, people who keep outdoor dogs seem to become quite good at ignoring the noise they make, as any angry neighbor can vouch.
Experts say many outside pet dogs will never really bond with owners who interact with them so little. When the puppy is no longer cute and the children grow tired of the care they promised to provide, or when the destructiveness escalates or the neighbors complain about the noise, it's often just easier to dump the dog than solve the problem.
Backyard dogs do indeed often become a problem to their owners. Bored and lonely, these animals develop any number of bad habits. They dig holes in the yard, bark endlessly day and night, and become chewers of outdoor furniture, sprinkler heads and siding. And sometimes, without the socialization all dogs need, they become aggressive, ready to bite anyone who comes into their territory.
If you're considering getting a puppy or dog with the intent of keeping him exclusively outside, please reconsider -- for the animal's sake as well as your own and that of your neighbors. For those who love pets, a pristine home is nothing compared to the pleasures of living with an animal who's really bonded to you.
If you have a dog who has been banished because of behavior problems, find someone to help you turn the situation around. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist or trainer who can show you how to overcome the things that are driving you crazy, whether it's house-soiling, uncontrolled chewing or just the ill-mannered exuberance of a dog who doesn't know any better.
Allergies are a tad trickier, but an allergist may be able to help, along with attention to keeping the house and pets cleaner, using air cleaners and turning bedrooms into no-pet zones for allergy-free sleep.
It's worth the effort. Once you have a dog you can welcome into your home and your heart, you'll start to reap the benefits of a relationship that's finally being realized to its fullest potential. And that's good news for you both.
Q&A
Bathing a cat? Use
care and caution
Q: Is there any reason I can't use dog shampoo on my cat? -- via email
A: From a medical perspective, cats are different from dogs, including the way they react to flea-control products. If you use a dog shampoo that contains ingredients for combating fleas, you may put your cat at deadly risk. This is true even of natural ingredients meant to repel fleas, so ask your veterinarian to recommend a feline-friendly shampoo. In general, you should consult your vet before using (BEGIN ITAL)any(END ITAL) dog product on your cat.
Many readers may wonder why someone should bathe a cat at all, since most felines groom themselves. I can think of a couple of reasons it's a good idea to get your cat used to water: You may sometimes need to wash off something your cat got into, which you don't want him to ingest when he licks his coat; and weekly rinsing also reduces the sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes associated with allergies to cats.
You don't have to bother with soap for allergies, though: Just rinsing a cat weekly reduces the dander that triggers allergy attacks. (This method is not effective for individuals with life-threatening allergies, who should consult a physician for advice on dealing with severe reactions.)
Of course, you may find you have a difficult time convincing an adult cat to tolerate bathing. However, it's easier with kittens: If you proceed gently, with praise and treats, you're more likely to end up with a cat who puts up with regular rinsing. -- Dr. Marty Becker
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
THE BUZZ
Pet birds need
and love baths
-- Many of the birds kept as pets are of species most comfortable in places that we would find intolerable: the steamy, hot rain forests of Central and South America. The dry air of human homes -- especially in winter -- is thought to be a contributing factor to feather-picking, a frustrating syndrome that can drive birds to pluck themselves bald. Many birds enjoy being dampened by water from a spray bottle or being offered the chance to take a bath in a shallow dish of clean water. How often should birds get a drenching? There are no firm guidelines, but daily would be fine with many of these pets.
-- The American Pet Products Association has released a series of videos that whimsically promote the adoption of a companion animal for your pet. The series can be viewed at vetstreet.com/learn/does-your-pet-need-a-new-buddy. The APPA has released the videos through its foundation, Pets Add Life (PAL), which promotes its nonprofit activities through a weblog (petsaddlife.wordpress.com) and can additionally be found on Facebook and Twitter.
-- Ohio has some of the loosest regulations in the country when it comes to keeping exotic animals as pets. That situation is likely to come under scrutiny after a man in rural Zanesville, Ohio, with many exotic pets -- including lions -- set the animals free and then killed himself. The loose animals were considered a deadly threat by local law enforcement and most were shot and killed. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are affiliated with Vetsteet.com and also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.