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.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

It's truly a shame how few things most people teach their dogs. What many people don't realize is that training is a way of communicating with your dog, of sharing a common language. The more you teach your dog, the more you both will get out of your relationship. Training will also make your dog a better companion, because he'll become more confident and secure, and more comfortable and trusting in your leadership.

While many people can't seem to think beyond the basics of canine good manners -- sit, stay and such -- the fact is that the training possibilities for most dogs are restricted only by the imagination of the owner. Consider that service dogs are routinely trained to perform dozens of different tasks, from pulling wheelchairs to picking up dropped items to turning off lights. Maybe your dog's not as smart as a service dog, but even if he's only half as smart, he can learn a couple of dozen more things than he knows now.

You can train your dog with the help of others, such as by taking classes in fun canine sports like agility. You don't have to train to be competitive: Just getting your dog out to class and practicing is more than enough for many, and plenty of fun for all.

If you don't want to get into something more organized, you can always teach your dog tricks at home.

Some dogs are better at some tricks than others are. A small, agile terrier may find jumping through hoops easier than a bulldog would. In addition, a retriever is probably more willing to hold things in his mouth than a Pekinese. A basset hound can probably roll over, but may find begging a little hard, being a little top-heavy. So think about your dog's form and aptitudes before you start. You may notice something special your dog does that would be entertaining if you can get him to do it on command. Guess what? You can. Give it a name, use that word when he's most likely to do his thing, and praise him for "obeying." He'll make the connection soon enough.

I did that with Benjamin, my big retriever, who makes a sound that's halfway between a bark and a howl when it's time for his breakfast. I called it "woo-woo" and started saying "woo-woo" just as I could see his mouth preparing to make this sound. When the woo-woo came out, I praised him, even though it was a coincidence at first. Now, he "woo-woos" on command.

I also worked with his natural retrieving abilities to teach him to pick up his stuffed toys and put them into the washing machine. On the command: "Go find!" He'll run through the house searching, until finally every stuffed toy is swirling in the soapy water. Each of my animals knows a special trick or two that I developed just by adapting something they did naturally. (That includes the parrot!)

Look for an opportunity to turn your dog's special talents into a routine that's fun for you both, and consider adding a canine sport to your lives. No matter the age of the dog or the people who love him, training is always a worthwhile way to spend time with your pet.

PETS ON THE WEB

NorCal Aussie Rescue (http://norcalaussierescue.com) has a Web site that other rescue groups would be well-advised to take note of. The site is beautifully designed, loads quickly and is constantly changing to reflect both dogs needing adoption and the success stories of those who've found their "forever homes."

"Our philosophy is to keep our site fun and positive," says group president Kim Kuenlen. "There are so many tragic stories in the animal-rescue world, and people get emotionally drained when they are faced with it over and over. We focus on the positive aspects of rescue: We celebrate our successes and always thank our supporters and all the people who adopt from us."

The site has one of the niftiest features I've ever seen: An order form for "My Dog" products that put any dog's face on a T-shirt, mouse pad, mug or other item that also promotes the rescue group's message, thus raising awareness and donations with just a few clicks of a mouse. Outstanding!

THE SCOOP

Retail giants Petco and Petsmart have been very supportive of dog and cat adoptions in their stores, but have come under criticism for their sales of other pets, especially rabbits. Activists say the sale of baby bunnies without regard to the ability of the buyer to care for the animal leads to abandonment at shelters and with rescue groups, and both are swamped with many times more rabbits then there are homes for.

As reported in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, one of these retailers, San Diego-based Petco, is running a trial program in the Twin Cities to expand the chain's adoption support to rabbits. You can't buy a bunny at the four area Petco stores, but you can work with Minnesota House Rabbit Society volunteers to adopt one who needs a new home. With any luck, the trial will be a huge success and will expand nationwide, encouraging adoptions and dropping the volume of impulse-purchase pets being dumped when the novelty wears off.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Do you know how I could meet a veterinarian to date? -- S.P.

A: I got such a laugh out of your question! I swear, every single pet lover who has ever spent any amount of time or money at a veterinary hospital has given at least passing thought to the idea that a veterinarian would be a perfect (and money-saving) mate. I was at a book signing once when a woman confessed to me that she had a serious crush on her pets' married veterinarian -- who also happened to be my pets' veterinarian! (And yes, he's adorable.)

I suppose you could up the odds of meeting veterinarians by moving to a place with a university that has a school or college of veterinary medicine, such as Davis, Calif., Gainesville, Fla., or Fort Collins, Colo. You'd run into more student veterinarians than practicing ones, but who knows: You might luck out.

As a single pet lover, I too, used to think a veterinarian would be a perfect match for me. But I soon realized the flaw in my plan. See, I'm extremely particular about the quality of care my pets receive, which means I'm extremely picky about my pets' veterinarians. What are the chances of finding a veterinarian who'd be both excellent at what he does and a good match for me as a potential mate? Very, very slim, I realized.

And what if I met a veterinarian who was a good match for me personally, but whose professional skills left much to be desired? "Sorry, honey. I love you, but I don't think I want you treating my pets."

See the dilemma?

In the end, I decided it just wasn't worth thinking about anymore. The veterinarians I go to (one for the parrot, one for the rest of the animals) are outstanding at what they do, and that's all I want from them.

Q: I would like to add something to your column about neutering. If people are interested in having their kids experience "the miracle of birth" with a mom cat, there are lots of pregnant cats available who need foster homes.

My rescue group has at least 15 moms-to-be in foster care now. Once the kittens are weaned, we have everybody neutered and put up for adoption. We supply the foster parents with all the supplies and advice, plus veterinary help if needed.

What better way to teach kids and adults about responsibility, charity and the wonder of day-old kittens all in the same package? -- G.J.

A: Thank you for your excellent suggestion. You're right: Fostering is the perfect way to introduce children both to responsible pet stewardship and to the experience of helping to raise baby animals. Having children to help socialize the kittens will make the babies even more adoptable, so there's no downside to such an arrangement.

It's the height of kitten season now, which means every shelter and rescue group has pregnant cats in desperate need of foster families. Please consider helping out, whether you have children or not. And above all, please don't add to the problem: If you have an unaltered pet, call and make that neutering appointment today. You'll be helping to end pet overpopulation, and you'll be giving yourself a healthier, happier pet.

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.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

When my first parrot died a few years ago, I was grief-stricken. Patrick's loss wasn't a total surprise: He came to me as a homeless, feather-picked disaster, and he'd had health problems throughout his short life. But just because a loss isn't a shock doesn't mean it isn't difficult to bear, and I very much missed having him around.

But then, I guiltily noticed I was enjoying all the time I didn’t have to clean up after all the poop dumped, feathers dropped and food flung far and wide. Parrots are like that, for all their charms, which is why I went a half-dozen years before adopting another.

Eventually I decided the mess was worth it, so about a year ago another parrot, Eddie the clownish caique, joined my household. I still don't care for the mess, but I adore my parrot, so I'm once again cleaning all the time.

Cleaning isn't just about neatness -- it's also about health. Clean, fresh food and water are essential to pet birds, and so, too, is keeping their environment as free as possible of bacteria, fungus and molds, all of which can lead to disease.

Eddie's cage gets taken outside and scrubbed every week, but in between times I've learned to keep things relatively neat with a few supplies kept close to the cage and used on a constant basis. Among them:

-- Newspapers. Bird lovers go through a lot of newspapers, so it's a good thing I like to read enough to subscribe to three of them. I put all the glossy inserts in the recycling bin and stack the rest for use in the cage tray and under Eddie's play area.

-- Cloth towels. In addition to cleaning, old towels are great for protecting clothing from bird poop -- just drape a towel over your shoulders. In addition to a few worn-out or faded bathroom towels, I also have some shop towels I bought at an auto-supply place.

-- Paper towels. I keep a roll by the bird cage at all times, and I'm thinking of putting a dispenser on the wall nearby. With a multi-pet household, I buy paper towels in bulk when I see good prices.

-- Spray bottle with cleaning solution. Kept next to the paper towels. Since birds are sensitive to fumes, I know to skip the ammonia, bleach, pine solutions or any other strong cleaners. Simple soap and water are fine for everyday touch-ups, although I also like Poop-Off, a product developed just for bird cleanups.

-- Handheld vacuum. I have one just for the bird room, for snarfing up food pellets and feathers.

-- Mats for under the cage. The heavy, clear plastic mats intended for under desk chairs and sold at office-supply stores keep most of the gunk off the floor. Newspapers catch the rest.

-- Hamper. I keep the bird towels separate from the others in the household by using a hamper placed next to the cage. I wash all the birds towels together when I have a full hamper.

-- Trash bin. Again, right by the cage. Every time I change the cage liner, I just lean over and put the old newspapers in the trash.

I find a few minutes spent cleaning a couple times a day keeps things in good order and makes the weekly cage scrubbing easier to accomplish. I change cage papers daily, at a minimum, and clean everything else as soon as I see the mess hit.

Eddie is the smallest pet in the house, but he's by far the biggest mess-maker. By cleaning constantly, a few minutes here and there, I find I don't mind at all.

PETS ON THE WEB

I admit to being addicted to digital photography, taking pictures every day and foisting them on friends, co-workers, readers and even total strangers. My pictures are, not surprisingly, mostly of pets. In this picture-taking obsession, I'm not alone. On Fotolog (www.fotolog.net), thousands of images are posted every minute, on all kinds of topics. A lot of them are of drunken young people partying with their friends, but many others are very good indeed.

For those who like to share images of pets, Fotolog has several "group" areas, including Fotodogs (www.fotolog.net/fotodogs), Fotocats

(www.fotolog.net/fotocats) and Fotopets (www.fotolog.net/fotopets). My favorite animal-related Fotolog belongs to a dog in Holland by the name of Joop (www.fotolog.net/joop), whose pictures are so wonderful they ought to be sold in book form.

THE SCOOP

Although many dogs enjoy swimming in pools as much as people do, no dog should be given unsupervised access to a pool. Just as with toddlers, dogs should be kept from the pool with a fence when they cannot be watched.

The risk of drowning is very high for small breeds who often can't navigate the exit stairs, and for top-heavy dogs like the bulldog, many of whom just flat-out can't swim. Even the most amphibious retriever could get in trouble if the animal can't figure out where the stairs are and how to use them.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK

Q: Could I add some suggestions to your recent writing on pet-safe snail control?

Although I occasionally use snail bait, I mostly go on a "snail safari," as you called it, very early in the morning, just as it's getting light. That way, I don't have to use a flashlight, leaving both hands free for my "tools-of-the-trade."

I carry either a half-gallon milk carton or a large cottage-cheese container in my left hand, and I use a set of cheap ice tongs in my right hand to gather my quarry and put them in the container for later disposal. The tongs work great. Not only do they extend my reach by about 6 inches, but if I happen to step on a snail inadvertently, I can pick it up without getting my hand all "gunk-i-fied" (a technical snail-hunter term).

I don't remember where I got the tongs (probably at a Dollar Store, Big Lots, etc.), but now I'm spoiled, and I'd hate to think of going hunting without them. -- G.P. via e-mail

A: Your suggestion is truly an improvement on my snail-hunting techniques, and far better than picking up snails by hand. I'm going to look for some ice tongs, too!

Q: My neighbors' 5-year-old cat just died from antifreeze poisoning. The poor little girl drank antifreeze that was left uncovered in their garage. Because I have known of the dangers of antifreeze to pets for years, I assumed, in error, that everyone else knew this as well. But, as a matter of fact, my own mother who owns two cats didn't know this!

Looking at a container of antifreeze, I noted that it states under "warnings," at the very end and in very small type, "... solution is poisonous to animals." Now, I think it's safe to say that virtually all people know to keep chemicals, including antifreeze, out of the reach of children. Given this assumption, along with the sad knowledge that not everyone is aware of the danger of antifreeze to animals, is there a reason that the makers of antifreeze (and all other chemicals that may be attractive to animals) don't state this danger more clearly and obviously on their containers? Better still, is there any way that there can be something added to antifreeze that would repulse rather than attract pets?

Can you help here? Pets dying from antifreeze poisoning is preventable, which makes it so much more tragic when it occurs. -- K.S., via e-mail

A: Don't make the assumption that people know better when it comes to children: Kids have been killed by antifreeze too, along with countless pets. I wholly support efforts to mandate that bittering agents be added to these products, which are not only deadly but apparently sweet-tasting enough to encourage ingestion. California already requires that antifreeze contain a bittering agent, and I hope this will become law everywhere.

In the meantime, pet lovers have two ways to protect their animal companions, one relatively foolproof, the other not.

Not foolproof: Use a safer antifreeze made from a different formulation than the more popular variety, store chemicals properly, and wipe up spills promptly. While this should eliminate most of the risk for dogs, these strategies are not foolproof for free-roaming cats because they cannot control what your neighbors will do when it comes to using or storing deadly chemicals.

Foolproof: Keep cats inside. Free-roaming cats have relatively short lifespans because the outside world is full of deadly hazards. To antifreeze, add cars, coyotes (even in cities!) and even cat-hating neighbors to the list of things that can kill a free-roaming cat.

If you even suspect a pet has taken into antifreeze, get your pet to the veterinary clinic immediately. There's no "wait-and-see" period with this stuff.

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.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600