Old ideas can be hard to eradicate, even when better ones come along. That's certainly true when it comes to house-training, with many people still following horrid old methods such as shoving a puppy's nose in the mess and swatting him with a rolled-up newspaper.

If you have a new puppy and that's the method you're using, please put down that rolled-up newspaper and learn about crate-training. Every year more people turn to this method, with good reason: It's easier on pup and people alike.

"I find the crate to be very effective when used in house-training for a couple of reasons," says Liz Palika, the author of more than 45 pet-care books who has spent 28 years teaching dog obedience in the San Diego area. Her most recent book is "The KISS Guide to Raising a Puppy" (Dorling Kindersley, $20).

"First, when the dog is confined, he can't sneak off to another room or behind the sofa to relieve himself. Second, when in the crate, he learns and develops bowel and bladder control, because few dogs are willing to soil their bed."

Crate-training limits a puppy's options to three: He's either empty and playing in the house, or he's in the crate and "holding it" because he doesn't want to sit in his own waste, or he's at the place you've chosen for him to relieve himself.

Puppies need to relieve themselves after they wake up, after they eat or drink, or after a period of play. Set up a schedule to accommodate his needs -- young puppies, especially small breeds or mixes, can't go very long without eating, drinking, sleeping or relieving themselves -- as you work to mold behavior. A good rule of thumb: Puppies can hold it as long as their age in months. A 2-month-old pup can "hold it" in a crate for about two hours, for example.

"When the puppy walks into the crate, I praise him," says Palika. "But -- and this is the big thing -- I do not make a huge fuss over his walking in. I praise him and he gets his toy or treat, but otherwise I'm calm and matter-of-fact about it.

"I've found if people are too over the top, the dog may feel that the crate is dangerous or scary, or that it's all a trick."

Let the puppy sleep next to your bed in the crate -- sleeping near you speeds the bonding process -- and lead him to the chosen outside spot as soon as he's awake in the morning. When he goes, praise him thoroughly. Then take him inside for breakfast. Feed him and offer him water, and then take him out for another chance to go. If he goes, more praise and back inside for play. If you're not sure he's completely empty, put him in the crate.

Ignore the whines and whimpers. If left alone, the puppy will soon be fast asleep and will stay that way until it's time for the next round of out, eat/drink, out, play, crate.

Remember, the goal is for your puppy to roam free in your house, not to stay in a crate for life. "A crate is not a storage container for a dog," says Palika.

Eventually, your pet will be spending more of his time loose in the house under your supervision, and he will start asking to visit his outdoor spot. Don't forget to confirm his early attempts at proper behavior by rewarding him with praise and treats.

If you spot an in-house accident, don't punish your pet. Rubbing his nose in the mess is pointless and mean. If you catch your dog in the act, a stern "no" will suffice, followed by an immediate trip to the yard, and praise when he finishes up where he's supposed to. Clean up the inside mess thoroughly, and treat the area with an enzymatic solution to neutralize the smell.

With proper crate-training, the number of such incidents will be relatively few, and you'll end up with a dog who is not only reliable in the house, but also confident in his own ability to stay alone when you are gone.

The lessons pay off for life, too: A dog who is used to being comfortably confined will be less stressed by being caged at the veterinarian hospital if sick and also will have more options for housing in time of emergency.

Q&A

Make sure houseplants are safe for your cats

Q: Our cats like to shred houseplants, so obviously we want to make sure we have safe plants around. Can you offer any suggestions? -- D.P., via e-mail

A: If your cats love to nibble on houseplants, you're smart to make sure poisonous plants are not on the menu. Many common houseplants can make your cats ill, and a few can be deadly. Among the most dangerous are dieffenbachia, lily of the valley and philodendron. Various ivies and yews can be troublesome, too, and the bulbs of plants popular for "forcing" into early indoor bloom -- such as amaryllis, daffodils and tulips -- can cause problems for the cat who likes to dig and chew.

The Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc) maintains a list of problem plants, and you should also be able to find such lists in most basic cat-care books. Check your household inventory against the "bad plant" list and replace any dangerous plants with safer ones.

You don't have to give up all your plants to your cats, however. Instead, keep some plants for nibbling and put other safe plants off-limits to maintain a lush indoor environment you and your cats can both enjoy.

Indulge your pets by keeping planters of sprouting grasses growing in an accessible place for nibbling. Special blends of seeds for cats are available in pet stores and specialty shops, or you can purchase rye grass seeds at the nursery. Catnip, too, is something that's always better when fresh, as is valerian. While not all cats react to the pleasures of these plants, those who do will appreciate your keeping it in-house and using fresh cuttings to recharge cat posts and toys.

When your cats have their own plants, you can work on keeping them away from yours. Plants on the ground or on low tables are the easiest targets, so make your houseplants less accessible to the bored and wandering cat. Put plants up high, or better yet: Hang them.

For the plants you can't move out of harm's way, make them less appealing by coating them with something your cats find disagreeable. Cat-discouragers include Bitter Apple, a nasty-tasting substance available at any pet-supply store, or Tabasco sauce from any grocery store. Whenever you find what your cat doesn't like, keep reapplying it to reinforce the point.

Pot your plants in heavy, wide-bottomed containers, and cover the soil of the problem plants with rough decorative rock to end digging. Foil, waxed paper and double-sided tape are also effective digging deterrents. But I don't like to recommend them as much because you're going to get tired of looking at these materials. Attractive, rough-edged rocks can stay in place forever.

Q: I have such a hard time getting my dog to take his pill twice a day. What do you think about baking the pills into homemade treats? -- K.M., via e-mail

A: Bad idea. Instead of baking dog-treats, which might decrease or eliminate the potency of the medicine or make delivering a proper dose difficult, why not learn to pill your dog?

Ask your dog to sit, then take the pill, open his mouth, and push it quickly to the back with your fingertip. Then hold his mouth firmly closed, raise his muzzle skyward, and blow gently in his nose while rubbing the front of his throat. The reaction will be a quick gulp. Follow with lots of praise and a yummy treat.

If you don't feel confident enough to manage the technique, stick to the age-old trick of hiding pills in fresh food. Some dogs go nuts over liver sausage, or try hiding the pill in a little bit of peanut butter, hot dog or cheese. You can also ask your veterinarian for a referral to a compounding pharmacy, which can put the medication in flavored paste or liquid form your pet might like.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

ON THE WEB

Rabbit resources reproduce rapidly

(screen grab if necessary)

As rabbits become more popular as indoor, box-trained pets, the number of places on the Internet that offer good care and behavior advice multiply like ... well, rabbits.

The House Rabbit Network (www.rabbitnetwork.org) offers a well-organized collection of solid information, along with pictures of rabbits looking for new homes and such lighthearted offerings as pictures and trivia. The latter is especially interesting, with answers to such questions as "Do rabbits cry?" (no) and "Are rabbits nocturnal?" (no again -- they're crepuscular, which means they're most active at dawn and dusk).

The site suggests that rabbits do best with another rabbit for company (after both have been fixed, of course), but also notes that rabbits can bond with other animals as well, including gentle dogs, cats and guinea pigs.

THE SCOOP

Newsletter scores with food issue

How do you choose a high-quality food for your dog? Dog-food companies have long targeted human emotions to sell their products, pushing pretty images that often aren't backed up by the ingredients inside the bag.

In recent years the Whole Dog Journal has made sorting dog-food truth from hype part of its mission. Every year the newsletter's February issue lists brands that the editors believe are the best on the market. The criteria include having a high percentage of distinct animal proteins (no general "meat byproducts" allowed), and whole grains and vegetables. Approved foods also do not have artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

In other words, a dog food had better have more than a picture of fresh meat and vegetables on its label and a healthy-sounding name to make it into this select list.

With its emphasis on holistic care and positive training, the Whole Dog Journal is always an interesting read, but its dry food issue is a must-read that's worth the entire year's subscription cost. Subscriptions are $20 for 13 issues from www.whole-dog-journal.com or 1-800-829-9165.

PET BUY

Air cleaner delivers a breath of fresh air

Air quality can decline in the winter for pets and people both, with fur flying in homes closed up tightly to stay warm. As someone who suffers from both allergies and asthma, I'm always looking for anything that can help me breathe easier in a houseful of pets.

Allergists suggest removing all pets from households with allergy sufferers, but that's not an option for most of us pet lovers, nor is keeping pets strictly outside, the allergists' second choice. A pet-free sleeping area is a sensible compromise, but one that I'm rarely able to enforce, what with my weakness for pleading eyes and sad whines from bedroom-banned canines.

Still, with a half-dozen indoor pets, I need help and have long sought an edge with a series of air cleaners.

Recently, IQ Air (www.iqair.com, 1-877-715-4247), a company that makes top-quality air-cleaning systems for both industrial and home use, sent me one of its home units for a two-month trial. At around $750, the Health Pro is not going to win any prizes for low price, but the unit's efficiency at providing clean air was obvious from a few minutes after I turned it on.

And it soon passed an even bigger test with ease.

A few days after the unit arrived, a massive wildfire in the mountains above my home blanketed hundreds of miles with smoke and drifting ash, making breathing so difficult I had to stay inside. While I couldn't venture outside my door until the smoke and ash dissipated, the Health Pro kept the air so clean inside that I didn't have to resort to my rescue inhaler.

The HEPA filter in the Health Pro is of the type used in manufacturing microchips, and it kept the house cleaner and better-smelling throughout the trial. Truth is, I was sorry to see the trial model go to its permanent home at the Happy Tails cat sanctuary in Sacramento, where it'll help make breathing easier for felines waiting for adoption and for their caretaking volunteers. -- G.S.

PET Rx

Ferret lumps need veterinary attention

Lumps and bumps are common on ferrets as they age, but their presence should never be taken for granted. A ferret with a skin mass of any kind needs to see a veterinarian promptly to have the mass evaluated and possibly removed.

The veterinarian will start examining the mass by manipulating it to see its shape and how it's connected to surrounding tissue. The next step is for a needle to be inserted into the lump and some fluid removed for evaluation. This procedure is not very painful and is usually done with the animal awake.

Because lumps in ferrets are often cancerous, the veterinarian will probably recommend that any mass that looks suspicious be removed while the animal is under anesthesia. The mass will then be sent to a pathologist for further identification to help identify proper follow-up treatment.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

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

How we love our fresh starts and New Year's resolutions!

We're going to lose weight, of course, save more money, and better ourselves in countless other ways. All noble causes, but have you thought about spending some time in 2005 making a difference for animals?

Every animal lover should.

Although the need can seem overwhelming, especially when it comes to animal cruelty or homeless pets, the fact is that every little bit helps. After all, if every one of us animal lovers did one small thing a couple of times a year, the total effort would be grand indeed.

Here are a few suggestions for helping animals in the months to come:

-- Take better care of your own animals. Studies show that, just like many of us, a lot of animals desperately need to lose weight and exercise more. Remember: Food is not love, and lay off the treats. You and your pet will both do better with a walk or some otherwise active playtime together.

Don't neglect other aspects of preventive health care. Use your pet's annual exam to go over those areas that need improving. In addition to weight loss and exercise, your veterinarian should evaluate your pet's vaccination schedule, dental health and parasite-control strategies. In addition to helping your pet live a longer, healthier life, preventive health care can save you money in the long run. Make that veterinary appointment today!

Part of taking care of your own pet better is making sure your animals are "good citizens" to your neighbors. Don't let your cats roam or your dogs bark constantly. In addition to being inconsiderate, people who allow their animals to be a nuisance give ammunition to communities looking to pass laws against pets.

-- Help others take better care of their pets. If you have a friend, neighbor or relative who is having difficulty caring for a pet because of advanced age or illness, offer to help out. Pets are extremely important to those who are cut off from social activities. Helping people keep their pets is a kindness to both pet and pet owner.

What can you do? Pick up food or litter, or offer to take the pet to the veterinarian when needed. Many times people who rely on others for assistance are reluctant to ask for more help on account of a pet. So ask if you can help. After all, if you're already going to the pet-supply store or veterinarian, is it really that much trouble to pick up some extra supplies or stay for an additional appointment?

-- Make a call for animals. Animal cruelty should not be tolerated, not only for the animals but also because of the proven link between animal cruelty and crimes against people. Too often, though, animal cruelty is shrugged off by the judicial system as a lesser crime.

Don't accept a "boys will be boys" attitude when it comes to animal cruelty. Call, e-mail and write to prosecutors and judges in animal cruelty cases. Demand that children get the help they need to break the cycle of cruelty and that adult offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law. Public opinion counts in these cases!

-- Pay to spay. Don't place an animal in a new home unless you've made sure the pet won't reproduce. You may think you're doing a good deed in a finding home for a pet you cannot keep, or for a litter of kittens born in your garage to a semi-wild mother cat. But if you don't pay to spay, you really aren't helping.

Instead of placing a pet for free, spay or neuter the animal and then charge an adoption fee to cover the cost of the procedure. You'll save the adopter time and will ensure that the pet you place won't add to the overpopulation problem.

-- Help a shelter or rescue group. Volunteers are always needed to help with the animals in the shelter or to foster pets who need a home environment. But if you don't want to contribute on a regular basis, then see if you can help on a short-term project.

Many groups have fund-raisers throughout the year. They need volunteers to help with ticket sales, setup, concessions and cleanup. You can also help by finding out what your local shelter or rescue groups need in the way of services or supplies and then calling to ask for donations.

Shelters are in constant need not only of pet food, litter, old newspapers and towels, but also office and janitorial supplies and building materials. Get a wish list from your shelter and get to work!

It would be nice for us all to be thinner and richer at the end of 2005. But even if that doesn't happen, you can be happy knowing that you've made a difference for animals. These suggestions are just the beginning.

Q&A

Is a tortie cat the same as a calico?

Q: What is the difference between a calico and a tortie, or are they the same? Do the terms calico and tortie refer to a breed or a color? -- C.F., via e-mail

A: Calico and tortoiseshell (or tortie) refer to a pattern of markings, not to a breed. The link between them is orange fur. The two marking patterns are genetically similar, but they differ in the way the orange color is displayed. On calico cats, the orange, black and white colors are distinct patches; on tortoiseshells, the colors are swirled together.

The overwhelming majority of calico and tortoiseshell cats are female. Male calicos are what's known as "Klinefelter" males, possessed of not only the XY chromosomes of a normal boy cat but also an extra X. Since you need two X chromosomes to get a calico, you need the XXY combination to get a male calico. It doesn't happen very often -- about 1 in 3,000 calicoes is male.

Typically, male orange cats are tabbies (the common striped pattern), while orange in females can be expressed in any of three patterns -- calico, tortoiseshell or tabby.

To make things a little more interesting, there are also "dilute" colors. Instead of the pure orange and jet black of a classic calico, the orange on a "dilute" calico is more of a cream color, and the black is gray.

The Cat Fanciers' Association has a basic explanation of feline color genetics on its Web site at www.fanciers.com/other-faqs/color-genetics.html.

Q: We have a new golden retriever puppy, and I bought her with plans to make her a running partner. How soon can she accompany me on my daily runs? -- D.K., via e-mail

A: According to Dr. Robert Richardson, a Sacramento, Calif., veterinarian who's well-known for his expertise in orthopedics, you need to wait a while before putting the miles on that pup.

Richardson says an 8-month-old dog can safely manage only a one- to two-mile run at a relatively slow pace -- and that's if the animal is perfectly sound.

A puppy who's 8 months old is just past the usual growth spurts, says Richardson, who cautions that before that age a puppy's cartilage is very soft and easily damaged.

If you push your developing pup, or get a dog with joint problems to run at all, you could be risking serious problems down the road. Consult your veterinarian for a more precise assessment of your dog's suitability as a running partner.

Q: I'm moving with my cat from a house in a quiet neighborhood to one that's less than 100 yards from a major commercial roadway with lots of traffic. I saw your column on keeping cats indoors, and I've decided to try to keep Jordan in after we move. What's the best way to accomplish this? -- B.R., via e-mail

A: Moving is the perfect time to start keeping a cat inside. That's because you haven't suddenly cut off your cat from established territory -- which no cat accepts without complaining -- but instead have offered him a whole new indoor area to claim as his own. The territory he never sees he will not miss.

Start Jordan out in a single room with all the essentials and let him recover from the stress of the move. When he seems comfortable, allow him access to the rest of your new home. Be sure to give him plenty of attention, interactive play time and lots of toys. He should settle in just fine.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

ON THE WEB

More help for fans of green iguanas

The Web site of the Green Iguana Society (www.greenigsociety.org) is a helpful resource for anyone who has or is interested in getting one of these reptilian pets. The site pushes education and responsibility, with a strong emphasis on adoption of unwanted iguanas before purchase of baby ones.

Aware that much of the interest in iguanas comes from children, the Green Ig folks have developed an entire section aimed at helping young iguana keepers take better care of their pets. And if a parent is fielding demands from a reptile-crazy youngster but hasn't said "yes" yet, the Web site offers suggestions on reptile pets that are more suitable for children than iguanas.

PET PLATES

Iowa Aussie is '1DERDOG'

There's no end to the creativity that pet-loving readers show with their vanity license plates. You keep sending them, we'll keep sharing them:

1DERDOG -- Sealy the Australian shepherd participates in all kinds of dog events. The Honda CR-V gets loaded about once a month to go on some type of cross-country excursion to a conformation, agility, herding or obedience event. During the week, Sealy usually spends one to three hours attending classes offered by one of the three local canine clubs. He has passed his Canine Good Citizen test, has three points toward his championship and is working hard on obedience. He usually assists my wife while she is feeding the ducks, goats and sheep she is raising to practice his herding activities. "1DERDOG" is really an understatement. I simply wonder what she will get him into next. He lives for all the attention, and works for my wife's praise. -- J.L., Lisbon, Iowa

K9UNUT -- When I decided I wanted a special license plate, I originally wanted K9UNIT, but it was already taken. I decided on K9UNUT which is actually more appropriate because I'm nuts about dogs. At that time I had a poodle, Buddy, and a golden retriever, Brandy. Brandy has since gone to doggie heaven. The dogs rode with me every morning and again in the afternoon to the park for their daily exercise. -- K.C., Elk Grove, Calif.

Share your pet plate! Send a jpeg image and the story of how you chose your pet plate to petconnection@gmail.com. Please include your city and state.

THE SCOOP

Make time for a New Year's neck check

Just as we've accepted that the batteries in smoke detectors need to be changed twice a year when the clocks move forward or back, I've suggested in recent years establishing a tradition for pets: the New Year's "neck check."

The neck check is easy and takes less than a minute. What you're checking for is wear and fit on your pet's collar and legibility on ID tags.

A properly fitted collar is important, but so is the right type. For dogs, a buckled or snap-together collar made of leather or nylon webbing is the best choice. The proper fit should be comfortably close but not too snug. Make sure your dog's not wearing a "choke" collar for everyday wear. These pose a potentially deadly hazard if left on an unsupervised dog.

Cat collars aren't widely accepted because some people fear the collars will get caught on branches and trap the cat. Other people argue that their cat stays indoors and so never needs a collar. If you're sure your cat will never, ever get out, then fine: No collar is necessary. But if your pet has ever slipped out (or might), you ought to reconsider a collar and tag. As for cats being caught by their collars, this is resolved by the simple piece of elastic in most cat collars that enables the pet to slip free of the collar in a pinch.

If you have the right kind of collar on your pet, look at the holes and the fasteners. The collar is weakest at these spots, so if you see signs of excessive wear or strain, you'll need to replace the collar soon.

As for those ID tags, they need checking, too. A license is great, but since many lost pets are picked up by people in the neighborhood, it's a good idea to supplement the license with an ID tag that has a couple of phone numbers -- yours and the number of a friend or relative. Check to make sure the information is current and legible.

Don't delay in fixing any problems you find. Proper collars and up-to-date ID tags are the cheapest insurance you can buy against losing your pet for good.

BY THE NUMBERS

Pedigreed popularity

The Cat Fanciers' Association recognizes 37 breeds of cat for competing in its championship classes at cat shows. They range from the popular and commonly recognized Persian to such lesser-known lovelies as the American wirehair and Somali. The top breeds of pedigreed cats, according to CFA registration figures for 2003:

1. Persian

2. Maine Coon

3. Exotic

4. Siamese

5. Abyssinian

6. Birman

7. Oriental

8. American shorthair

9. Tonkinese

10. Burmese

Source: Cat Fanciers Association (www.cfa.org)

PET Rx

Sharp puppy teeth go at four months

If you have a puppy in your home now, you will be delighted to know that those sharp little baby teeth will be replaced by adult teeth by the age of 4 months -- going from 28 deciduous teeth to 42 permanent ones. But problems can occur with the changeover.

Sometimes baby teeth are retained after the adult ones come in, a situation that can cause many problems, including the misalignment of permanent teeth, incorrect development of the jaw and infections. Check your puppy's mouth daily while adult teeth are erupting to ensure that the baby teeth aren't being retained -- a double row of teeth, especially in the front, tells you that they are.

Have your veterinarian check any suspicious developments. Baby teeth that refuse to fall out on their own may need to be removed by your veterinarian.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

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

How we love our fresh starts and New Year's resolutions!

We're going to lose weight, of course, save more money, and better ourselves in countless other ways. All noble causes, but have you thought about spending some time in 2005 making a difference for animals?

Every animal lover should.

Although the need can seem overwhelming, especially when it comes to animal cruelty or homeless pets, the fact is that every little bit helps. After all, if every one of us animal lovers did one small thing a couple of times a year, the total effort would be grand indeed.

Here are a few suggestions for helping animals in the months to come:

-- Take better care of your own animals. Studies show that, just like many of us, a lot of animals desperately need to lose weight and exercise more. Remember: Food is not love, and lay off the treats. You and your pet will both do better with a walk or some otherwise active playtime together.

Don't neglect other aspects of preventive health care. Use your pet's annual exam to go over those areas that need improving. In addition to weight loss and exercise, your veterinarian should evaluate your pet's vaccination schedule, dental health and parasite-control strategies. In addition to helping your pet live a longer, healthier life, preventive health care can save you money in the long run. Make that veterinary appointment today!

Part of taking care of your own pet better is making sure your animals are "good citizens" to your neighbors. Don't let your cats roam or your dogs bark constantly. In addition to being inconsiderate, people who allow their animals to be a nuisance give ammunition to communities looking to pass laws against pets.

-- Help others take better care of their pets. If you have a friend, neighbor or relative who is having difficulty caring for a pet because of advanced age or illness, offer to help out. Pets are extremely important to those who are cut off from social activities. Helping people keep their pets is a kindness to both pet and pet owner.

What can you do? Pick up food or litter, or offer to take the pet to the veterinarian when needed. Many times people who rely on others for assistance are reluctant to ask for more help on account of a pet. So ask if you can help. After all, if you're already going to the pet-supply store or veterinarian, is it really that much trouble to pick up some extra supplies or stay for an additional appointment?

-- Make a call for animals. Animal cruelty should not be tolerated, not only for the animals but also because of the proven link between animal cruelty and crimes against people. Too often, though, animal cruelty is shrugged off by the judicial system as a lesser crime.

Don't accept a "boys will be boys" attitude when it comes to animal cruelty. Call, e-mail and write to prosecutors and judges in animal cruelty cases. Demand that children get the help they need to break the cycle of cruelty and that adult offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law. Public opinion counts in these cases!

-- Pay to spay. Don't place an animal in a new home unless you've made sure the pet won't reproduce. You may think you're doing a good deed in a finding home for a pet you cannot keep, or for a litter of kittens born in your garage to a semi-wild mother cat. But if you don't pay to spay, you really aren't helping.

Instead of placing a pet for free, spay or neuter the animal and then charge an adoption fee to cover the cost of the procedure. You'll save the adopter time and will ensure that the pet you place won't add to the overpopulation problem.

-- Help a shelter or rescue group. Volunteers are always needed to help with the animals in the shelter or to foster pets who need a home environment. But if you don't want to contribute on a regular basis, then see if you can help on a short-term project.

Many groups have fund-raisers throughout the year. They need volunteers to help with ticket sales, setup, concessions and cleanup. You can also help by finding out what your local shelter or rescue groups need in the way of services or supplies and then calling to ask for donations.

Shelters are in constant need not only of pet food, litter, old newspapers and towels, but also office and janitorial supplies and building materials. Get a wish list from your shelter and get to work!

It would be nice for us all to be thinner and richer at the end of 2005. But even if that doesn't happen, you can be happy knowing that you've made a difference for animals. These suggestions are just the beginning.

Q&A

Is a tortie cat the same as a calico?

Q: What is the difference between a calico and a tortie, or are they the same? Do the terms calico and tortie refer to a breed or a color? -- C.F., via e-mail

A: Calico and tortoiseshell (or tortie) refer to a pattern of markings, not to a breed. The link between them is orange fur. The two marking patterns are genetically similar, but they differ in the way the orange color is displayed. On calico cats, the orange, black and white colors are distinct patches; on tortoiseshells, the colors are swirled together.

The overwhelming majority of calico and tortoiseshell cats are female. Male calicos are what's known as "Klinefelter" males, possessed of not only the XY chromosomes of a normal boy cat but also an extra X. Since you need two X chromosomes to get a calico, you need the XXY combination to get a male calico. It doesn't happen very often -- about 1 in 3,000 calicoes is male.

Typically, male orange cats are tabbies (the common striped pattern), while orange in females can be expressed in any of three patterns -- calico, tortoiseshell or tabby.

To make things a little more interesting, there are also "dilute" colors. Instead of the pure orange and jet black of a classic calico, the orange on a "dilute" calico is more of a cream color, and the black is gray.

The Cat Fanciers' Association has a basic explanation of feline color genetics on its Web site at www.fanciers.com/other-faqs/color-genetics.html.

Q: We have a new golden retriever puppy, and I bought her with plans to make her a running partner. How soon can she accompany me on my daily runs? -- D.K., via e-mail

A: According to Dr. Robert Richardson, a Sacramento, Calif., veterinarian who's well-known for his expertise in orthopedics, you need to wait a while before putting the miles on that pup.

Richardson says an 8-month-old dog can safely manage only a one- to two-mile run at a relatively slow pace -- and that's if the animal is perfectly sound.

A puppy who's 8 months old is just past the usual growth spurts, says Richardson, who cautions that before that age a puppy's cartilage is very soft and easily damaged.

If you push your developing pup, or get a dog with joint problems to run at all, you could be risking serious problems down the road. Consult your veterinarian for a more precise assessment of your dog's suitability as a running partner.

Q: I'm moving with my cat from a house in a quiet neighborhood to one that's less than 100 yards from a major commercial roadway with lots of traffic. I saw your column on keeping cats indoors, and I've decided to try to keep Jordan in after we move. What's the best way to accomplish this? -- B.R., via e-mail

A: Moving is the perfect time to start keeping a cat inside. That's because you haven't suddenly cut off your cat from established territory -- which no cat accepts without complaining -- but instead have offered him a whole new indoor area to claim as his own. The territory he never sees he will not miss.

Start Jordan out in a single room with all the essentials and let him recover from the stress of the move. When he seems comfortable, allow him access to the rest of your new home. Be sure to give him plenty of attention, interactive play time and lots of toys. He should settle in just fine.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

ON THE WEB

More help for fans of green iguanas

The Web site of the Green Iguana Society (www.greenigsociety.org) is a helpful resource for anyone who has or is interested in getting one of these reptilian pets. The site pushes education and responsibility, with a strong emphasis on adoption of unwanted iguanas before purchase of baby ones.

Aware that much of the interest in iguanas comes from children, the Green Ig folks have developed an entire section aimed at helping young iguana keepers take better care of their pets. And if a parent is fielding demands from a reptile-crazy youngster but hasn't said "yes" yet, the Web site offers suggestions on reptile pets that are more suitable for children than iguanas.

PET PLATES

Iowa Aussie is '1DERDOG'

There's no end to the creativity that pet-loving readers show with their vanity license plates. You keep sending them, we'll keep sharing them:

1DERDOG -- Sealy the Australian shepherd participates in all kinds of dog events. The Honda CR-V gets loaded about once a month to go on some type of cross-country excursion to a conformation, agility, herding or obedience event. During the week, Sealy usually spends one to three hours attending classes offered by one of the three local canine clubs. He has passed his Canine Good Citizen test, has three points toward his championship and is working hard on obedience. He usually assists my wife while she is feeding the ducks, goats and sheep she is raising to practice his herding activities. "1DERDOG" is really an understatement. I simply wonder what she will get him into next. He lives for all the attention, and works for my wife's praise. -- J.L., Lisbon, Iowa

K9UNUT -- When I decided I wanted a special license plate, I originally wanted K9UNIT, but it was already taken. I decided on K9UNUT which is actually more appropriate because I'm nuts about dogs. At that time I had a poodle, Buddy, and a golden retriever, Brandy. Brandy has since gone to doggie heaven. The dogs rode with me every morning and again in the afternoon to the park for their daily exercise. -- K.C., Elk Grove, Calif.

Share your pet plate! Send a jpeg image and the story of how you chose your pet plate to petconnection@gmail.com. Please include your city and state.

THE SCOOP

Make time for a New Year's neck check

Just as we've accepted that the batteries in smoke detectors need to be changed twice a year when the clocks move forward or back, I've suggested in recent years establishing a tradition for pets: the New Year's "neck check."

The neck check is easy and takes less than a minute. What you're checking for is wear and fit on your pet's collar and legibility on ID tags.

A properly fitted collar is important, but so is the right type. For dogs, a buckled or snap-together collar made of leather or nylon webbing is the best choice. The proper fit should be comfortably close but not too snug. Make sure your dog's not wearing a "choke" collar for everyday wear. These pose a potentially deadly hazard if left on an unsupervised dog.

Cat collars aren't widely accepted because some people fear the collars will get caught on branches and trap the cat. Other people argue that their cat stays indoors and so never needs a collar. If you're sure your cat will never, ever get out, then fine: No collar is necessary. But if your pet has ever slipped out (or might), you ought to reconsider a collar and tag. As for cats being caught by their collars, this is resolved by the simple piece of elastic in most cat collars that enables the pet to slip free of the collar in a pinch.

If you have the right kind of collar on your pet, look at the holes and the fasteners. The collar is weakest at these spots, so if you see signs of excessive wear or strain, you'll need to replace the collar soon.

As for those ID tags, they need checking, too. A license is great, but since many lost pets are picked up by people in the neighborhood, it's a good idea to supplement the license with an ID tag that has a couple of phone numbers -- yours and the number of a friend or relative. Check to make sure the information is current and legible.

Don't delay in fixing any problems you find. Proper collars and up-to-date ID tags are the cheapest insurance you can buy against losing your pet for good.

BY THE NUMBERS

Pedigreed popularity

The Cat Fanciers' Association recognizes 37 breeds of cat for competing in its championship classes at cat shows. They range from the popular and commonly recognized Persian to such lesser-known lovelies as the American wirehair and Somali. The top breeds of pedigreed cats, according to CFA registration figures for 2003:

1. Persian

2. Maine Coon

3. Exotic

4. Siamese

5. Abyssinian

6. Birman

7. Oriental

8. American shorthair

9. Tonkinese

10. Burmese

Source: Cat Fanciers Association (www.cfa.org)

PET Rx

Sharp puppy teeth go at four months

If you have a puppy in your home now, you will be delighted to know that those sharp little baby teeth will be replaced by adult teeth by the age of 4 months -- going from 28 deciduous teeth to 42 permanent ones. But problems can occur with the changeover.

Sometimes baby teeth are retained after the adult ones come in, a situation that can cause many problems, including the misalignment of permanent teeth, incorrect development of the jaw and infections. Check your puppy's mouth daily while adult teeth are erupting to ensure that the baby teeth aren't being retained -- a double row of teeth, especially in the front, tells you that they are.

Have your veterinarian check any suspicious developments. Baby teeth that refuse to fall out on their own may need to be removed by your veterinarian.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

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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