It's easy to understand why a training class isn't much fun when you're going with the intention of correcting your dog's behavior problems. Maybe you've been too busy to do much with a fast-growing pup, and now he's 80 pounds of well-muscled young dog, dragging you everywhere, jumping on everyone and just generally being a good-natured, out-of-control nuisance.

You come into class with your head full of resentment, even anger, at the half-grown dog who's now such a pain. You look around, and most everyone's dog is just as bad -- pulling, jumping, barking.

Stick with the class, and your attitude will likely turn around. With the help of a trainer who knows her stuff, most dogs will come out of a series of basic obedience classes with new manners and with owners who are now proud to claim them.

Obedience classes work if you find the right one, attend every class, and practice what you learn between sessions. But it's always more difficult to fix entrenched bad behavior than to prevent problems in the first place. And that's one reason why, in recent years, classes for young puppies have become so popular.

Another reason: Puppy classes are fun. They're fun to take your puppy to, they're fun to watch, and they're even fun to teach. After all, what could possibly be more fun than a room full of puppies?

The best part of any puppy classes is the off-leash socialization. It may seem like recess, but free play serves an important function.

Many puppies come from sources that don't pay much attention to the importance of socialization and that sell the animals too young -- as early as 4 or 5 weeks, when experts suggest puppies leaving for a new home be no younger than 7 weeks of age. Puppies who miss out on a couple of weeks of post-weaning play with littermates may become timid or aggressive with other dogs, or may have a difficult time understanding to keep their teeth to themselves.

The supervised free-play period of a puppy class can help undersocialized puppies learn how to play properly, and will continue to reinforce the lessons learned with their littermates for puppies who were raised right by their breeders.

After play period, the leashes go on and it's time to learn. While no one expects perfect performances from young puppies, it's amazing how much these little brains can learn. There's no punishment in a puppy class: The basic commands and good manners are taught with praise and treats. The techniques give puppies the idea that learning is fun, and sets the groundwork for future training.

A puppy class is one of the best things you can do to get your relationship off to a great start. Wouldn't you rather have fun in a puppy class than struggle through an obedience class with an older dog later?

Veterinarians, humane societies, park districts, pet-supply stores and groomers can all be great sources of information on local trainers and training classes. Be sure to ask family, friends and co-workers, too, for trainers they've used, and how they liked their classes.

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com) has a list of members on its Web site, with each listing indicating what kind of classes are available.

SIDEBAR

Are puppy classes safe?

Your veterinarian told you not to take your puppy out, for fear that he'll be exposed to a potentially deadly disease before his immune system is prepared for the challenge. So ... are puppy classes safe?

While nothing in life is completely safe, knowledgeable trainers make sure that the area where puppy classes are held is sanitized before and after each session, and they will advise you to carry your puppy from your car to the puppy area.

Those precautions are no longer necessary after your puppy's series of vaccination is complete and your veterinarian gives the go-ahead. From that point forward, the more places you can take your puppy, the better.

Q&A

Dealing with allergies

Q: My Labrador sheds a great deal. I'm OK with that, because if I really couldn't stand dog hair, I wouldn't have a dog. My problem, however, is allergies.

I have severe allergies and have worked with my allergist to get a medication mix that works for me, but the allergies have been pretty bad lately, to the point of nosebleeds. I think that it's because I have been letting her sleep with me and my bed is covered in dog hair. I wash everything often, but it doesn't really seem to help.

I may need to buy new bedding, unless you have suggestions on how to get it as clean as possible. I've tried lint brushes, pet hair sponges, hand vacuums and more.

Even if I could get the bedding clean, I've pretty much decided that she just isn't going to be able to sleep in bed with me. I hate making her stay off the bed because I love cuddling up with her.

For a while, I tried to keep her off the bed. She sleeps on her dog bed until I am asleep and then creeps up in the middle of the night. I wake up in the morning and she is there, which is cute, but I really don't think my health can take it much longer. Do you have any training suggestions to keep her off the bed? I hate having to do this, but I need to breathe! -- R.D., via e-mail

A: I'm glad you found an allergist willing to work with you. So many of them start with: "First, get rid of your pet." Giving up a member of the family should never be the first step in dealing with allergies, especially when there are plenty of things to try first.

I have lived my entire life with allergies, asthma and pets. My advice is always to find an understanding allergist (which you have done already) and then make some compromises that will allow you to keep both your health and your pet.

In your case, I'm afraid having your dog in your bedroom at all is no longer an option. You need to breathe, and you need to sleep, and being sick all night every night is not good for you. Your bedroom needs to become a sanctuary, a completely dog-free zone.

Your allergist will be able to give you advice on how to remove allergy triggers from your bedroom, such as carpets, wall hangings and anything else that will attract and retain dust. All your new bedding should be washable and should be freshly laundered weekly. Pillows need to be made of non-allergenic material, or placed in sealed covers.

Regular bathing and daily brushing outdoors (wear a pollen mask, or get someone else to do the job) will keep your Labrador cleaner. A vacuum with HEPA filtration will also help keep hair and dander down in your home.

Keep your bedroom door closed all the time to deny your dog access. At night, you can try putting up a baby gate across the door to your bedroom so your dog can be close without being (literally) in your face.

I like sleeping with my dogs, too, but when my allergies are severe -- such as in the springtime -- I have to put up my baby gate, too. They are disappointed at first, but soon decide that the living-room couch isn't such a bad place to sleep after all.

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

THE SCOOP

Rabbits crave companionship

The longstanding joke about rabbits is that if you have two, you'll soon have more. As with so many jokes, this one's based on the truth: Put a male and female rabbit together and they'll breed like ... well, you know.

Perhaps the ability of rabbits to reproduce so readily is one of the reasons why many people who enjoy the companionship of household rabbits have just one.

But rabbits enjoy spending time with other rabbits. And with spaying and neutering readily and safely available for rabbits today, you can have a male-female pair of rabbits without ending up with many more rabbits than you can care for.

If you have a single pet rabbit, consider adding another. Altered rabbits of all combinations can get along, but male-female and female-female pairings are likely your best bet.

If you don't have a rabbit and are considering adopting one, it's easy to find bonded pairs through shelters and rescue groups. -- G.S.

PET Rx

Preparing pets for anesthesia

Anesthesia is a lot less of a risk for pets than it used to be, with the widespread use of safer anesthetic agents. The procedure can be made even safer with pre-surgical screening, especially for older animals. Your veterinarian may recommend including a laboratory evaluation of blood and urine, a chest X-ray and possibly an electrocardiogram. If abnormalities are revealed, these must be corrected before your pet is put under.

It's especially important to allow your veterinarian's instructions on preparing your pet for surgery. If there is a no-food instruction, make sure you deliver a pet with an empty stomach. Following this one piece of advice is one of the easiest and most basic ways to reduce risk.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding anesthesia and your pet, be sure to ask 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.)

BY THE BOOK

Book helps solve feline behavior mysteries

Several years ago I was asked to judge the magazine category in the Cat Writers' Association's annual contest for people who write or communicate through other media on matters feline in nature (information on the contest is at www.catwriters.org). Among the entries was the work of a writer who so completely understood the wonders and mysteries of cats that I found myself imagining that she might have been one herself in some previous life.

That writer was Wendy Christiansen, and she's the author of a wonderful new book, "Outwitting Cats: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Persuading the Felines in Your Life That What You Want Is Also What They Want" (The Lyons Press, $13).

Remembering the work I'd read years before, I couldn't wait to open this book and was not disappointed. I've never seen anything that takes the problems humans have with cats -- house-soiling, scratching and more -- and presents them from a cat's point of view. The suggestions for solving these issues are thus not only workable but also fair to the cat.

The book goes well beyond behavior problems into helping understand where cats came from, what they think, and how to improve both the quality of their lives and of your interactions with your cats. For example, Christiansen takes on the problem of getting cats to drink enough water with no fewer than 10 suggestions to make the dish and its contents more appealing to a cat.

She also offers suggestions on dealing with problems caused by other people's cats, and by stray cats who belong to no one at all. Not surprisingly, the suggestions are humane, cat-friendly and direct.

"Outwitting Cats" is one of those books every cat-lover should have handy. You'll never see a title more cat-savvy than this one. -- G.S.

BY THE NUMBERS

Pets on the road

Image: dog in crate, no credit

Caption: Carriers keep pets safer when traveling.

A survey of more than 1,000 pet lovers in the United Kingdom found that we love to have our pets along for car rides -- but we don't think much about safety when we take them. According to the survey:

-- 33 percent of pet lovers take their pets everywhere they go in the car

-- 41 percent of pet lovers do not routinely restrain their pets

--- 81 percent of pet lovers consider the needs of their pets when choosing a vehicle

Pets can cause accidents by being a distraction to the driver. And as "unsecured cargo," they can also injure not only themselves but others in the car during an accident.

The solution: Secure pets in carriers or with harnesses meant to work with seat belts.

Source: Direct Line Insurance, www.directline.com

ON THE WEB

'Old-fashioned' cats have loyal following

If you're old enough to remember when Persians and Siamese were about the only pedigreed cats anyone ever heard of, the fashion in Siamese cats today is likely not what you remember.

As any visitor to a cat show can attest, Siamese cats today are sleek and long-bodied, with wedge-shaped heads and ears large in relation to the cats' slender faces. The traditional Siamese markings -- darker fur on the head, legs and tail -- are about the only similarity to the heavier, "apple-headed" Siamese cats of old.

The Traditional Cat Club (www.traditionalcats.com) is all about the preservation and appreciation of the old-style Siamese, an animal with the body type of an average cat and a friendly and often noisy personality unique to the breed. From its base of support for the traditional Siamese, the club has branched out to favor older types of many additional breeds.

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

The problem with placing adult cats, says a friend of mine who has found homes for dozens of them, is that everyone who wants a cat usually has one already. And many of the people who are in the market for a cat would rather start with a kitten.

That's a shame on both counts. First, because most cats enjoy the company of others of their own kind, especially if left alone inside all day while the family is at work or school. As for kittens, well, what's not to love? But an adult cat can often ease into a household more quickly, and without the sometimes over-the-top behavior of an energetic youngster.

The first step to placing an adult cat may be convincing prospective owners that two cats truly are better than one, and better yet if the second is a loving adult. Is it a hard sell? It can be, as any shelter manager can attest: Adult cats have low adoption rates when compared to kittens (and even to adult dogs). But if you've ended up with an extra adult cat -- a stray perhaps, or a cat left behind by the death of a friend or relative -- you don't have to write off the animal as a lost cause. If you're patient and persistent, you'll likely find a home. Here are some tips to follow:

-- Do everything you can to make the animal more adoptable. The pet has a better chance for adoption if her vaccinations are current, she uses her litter box reliably, and she's altered.

-- Don't lie about the pet's problems or why she's being placed. Although finding a new home for a pet with problems takes longer, you can usually still do so. But the person who gets such a pet without warning is likely to bring her back, take her to a shelter or give her away -- maybe to a horrible situation.

-- Spread the news. Make up fliers, and take out an ad in your newspaper and on the Internet. Post the fliers everywhere you can: bulletin boards at work, pet-supply stores and your veterinarian's office. Give some to your friends and family to post where they work, too. Talk up the cat (at least briefly) with everyone you know. Even people who don't like cats (or don't want one) may know someone who is looking for a pet. The more exposure you can get, the better. If a thousand people hear or read about the animal, you probably will get no interest from 999, but you need only one person to provide a good home for the cat. And that's the one you need to reach.

-- Ask lots of questions and verify that the answers are true. Don't forget to ask prospective adopters whether they've had pets before and what happened to them. Make sure you're dealing with people who realize that owning a pet is a long-term commitment. The person who has had a lot of pets who disappeared, died young or were given away is probably not your best choice. My favorite question: Who's your veterinarian? Someone who cannot at least name a vet or a veterinary hospital may have pets who don't go there very often.

Above all, don't give up! It may take weeks to find the right home for a pet, but it's always worth the time it may take to get it right. The goal here is not to "get rid of" an animal, but to find a loving, caring and, most of all, permanent home for a pet who needs one. They're out there, and if you keep looking, you'll likely find the home that's just right for the cat you're trying to help.

Q&A

Closed doors keep cat from going 'home'

Q: We've long had our eye on a bigger house in our neighborhood, so when we saw what we wanted come on the market, we bought it and moved. But our cat, Malone, doesn't seem that impressed with the new house. The old house is just a few couple of blocks away, and he insists on going "home." The people now in our old house are cat lovers, and they have been pretty good about bringing him back or calling us to some get him.

The last couple of weeks, though, they haven't been calling, and Malone doesn't come home unless we go and get him. I know he shares food with their cat, and I think he is adopting the new family permanently. But this is our cat, since he was a little ball of fur, and we don't want him to live with another family. Do you have any suggestions to make Malone accept the new house as home? -- H.M., via e-mail

A: Because cats bond to places as well as to people, some cat lovers find that their free-roaming pets keep showing up at their old home after a move, especially if the new home, like yours, isn't very far from the old one.

My best suggestion for you is to convert your cat to an indoor pet, because crossing streets to go to the old house considerably ups his risk factor for getting hit. You could also look into securing your yard with cat fencing, such as from Purr-fect Fence (www.purrfectfence.com, 888-280-4066), Cat Fence-in (www.catfencein.com, 888-738-9099) or Affordable Cat Fence (www.catfence.com, 888-840-CATS).

If permanent confinement is not something you'd consider, bring your cat inside for a couple of weeks. When he seems settled, take him out for short periods into your yard with you, and bring him back inside with you. You should be able to get a feel for when he's starting to recognize the new digs as his home, and then increase his freedom accordingly.

Ask the new people at your old home to discourage Malone from hanging out -- no feeding, no petting. They can discourage Malone by using a squirt bottle on him if they see him in their yard.

If he immediately goes back to his old digs, though, it's a sign you haven't kept him in the house long enough. Confine him for another two weeks, at least, before giving him another taste of the outdoors.

HED: Sweaters benefit some dogs

Q: Tell the truth: Do dogs really need sweaters? I don't see any wild dogs or wolves wearing them. -- P.S., via e-mail

A: We've bred dogs a long way from their wild ancestors, and some of the breeds we've produced really could use some help with the cold. Small dogs, especially those kept trimmed for cleanliness, would benefit from sweaters in the winter, as would greyhounds, whippets and other breeds of similar build. On the other hand, your average Alaskan malamute or Samoyed isn't going to need any help at all to stay warm.

Old dogs, too, could use a little help staying warm when they head outside for their daily constitutionals.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to make your pet more comfortable. Nearly every pet retailer has machine-washable sweaters that should last for years.

The benefit of pet clothing isn't solely for the pet. I have a friend who puts raincoats on her gorgeous collies before their walks. A collie's a dog with a coat thick enough to brave all elements, and in this case the garments are for the owner's benefit: When she gets home with the dogs, they're pretty much dry, sparing her hours of wet-dog smell.

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

Pets on the Web

Fine art auction Goes to the dogs

Every year I hear from Doyle New York, drumming up publicity and business for the company's annual auction of fine art with a canine theme, held in conjunction with the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Most years I look at the offerings, sighing heavily both in appreciation and resignation -- I adore looking but, like most of us, I'm not one of those folks who can write a check for tens of thousands of dollars for a 19th-century portrait of some long-dead English duke's spaniels. This year, though, I noticed quite a few offerings in lower price ranges, such as figurines and jewelry with estimated value of $100 or so. Now you're talking!

The folks at Doyle have put the entire collection online, in hopes of attracting those who can buy (www.doylenewyork.com; look for Dogs in Art). The auction starts at 1 p.m. EST on Feb. 15 in Manhattan.

PET Rx

Know normal weight to keep your cat healthy

The hardest thing about weighing your cat is weighing yourself, but you must. Step on the scale with your cat, note the weight, and then step back on alone. Subtract your weight from the total to get your cat's weight.

A normal cat weighs about eight to 10 pounds, but the range is wide, depending on gender and breed. Really big cats, such as the Maine Coon, can be well over 11 pounds and be perfectly normal.

Your cat is normal for his body type if a comfortable pad of fat lies over his ribs, but you can still feel the ribs if you press your hands gently in. Your cat should not be "ribby," nor should he be too fat and have a visible, swinging belly hanging down. You may think it's cute, but it's not healthy.

After you determine your cat's ideal weight, write it down, and re-weigh your pet every month or so, sooner if he appears to have gained or lost weight. A difference of a half-pound up or down is normal over the course of a few months, anything more rapid or more weight lost than that half-pound is reason for concern.

Talk to your veterinarian if your cat is too fat, too thin, or especially if his weight changes rapidly.

(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.)

THE SCOOP

Hit the road with a canine companion

Are you looking for a canine running partner? So many breeds and mixes would thrive on a 30-minute daily run that it's actually easier to list those that aren't as suitable.

Among those groups of breeds that aren't well-suited to major mileage at a fast clip: toy dogs (Yorkies, Chihuahuas, pugs) and short-legged ones (basset hounds and corgis). Heavy, giant breeds, too, aren't built for serious running, so you can probably rule out the St. Bernard and Newfoundland. Dogs with short muzzles -- such as the boxer -- don't breathe as efficiently when exercising.

If you're more of a plodder or walk/jogger than a serious runner, though, any dog in good shape may well work out fine.

For more serious runners, plenty of canine choices remain. Anything from medium-sized dogs, such as Shelties and cattle dogs, to large and leggy, such as greyhounds, would do just splendidly. The larger hunting breeds and hounds are especially well-suited to running. Sled-dog breeds can certainly put in the mileage, but their thick coats might be a problem in a warm climate. And don't overlook the breed that was born to the road: The Dalmatian, a dog that was developed to run alongside a horse-drawn carriage.

If safety is an issue, you might want to consider a breed that would by looks alone give a would-be attacker pause. In this category, place the Doberman, Rhodesian ridgeback and the German shepherd.

Mixes of any of these more athletic breeds would be a good match, too.

If you choose a purebred puppy, be sure to find a reputable breeder who can provide certification that the parents are free of hip or elbow dysplasia, crippling congenital defects that will doom your dog's future as a runner.

Don't push a pup into running. Work on his leash training as he's growing, but give his bones a chance to get fully developed before putting any roadwork on him. Better yet, look for an adult dog who, with a little training, can get immediately on the road with you. -- G.S.

PET TIP

Ask for papers with pedigreed pet

If you purchase a purebred puppy or kitten, make sure you get all the registration paperwork at the time you take your new family member home. People ask me all the time for advice on getting registration papers after a breeder has disappeared or has decided not to part with the papers unless an additional fee is paid.

Mind you, any breeder who'd do either is likely not someone you should have been buying a pet from in the first place. But that won't help you much when you've already fallen in love, will it?

If you don't get the paperwork, reputable breed registries such as the American Kennel Club or Cat Fanciers' Association will try to help. But in many cases they can't do much, since pet lovers rarely have enough information on the breeder or the animal's parents to get the matter cleared up.

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

The Westminster Kennel Club dog show has to be one of the worst ideas ever.

Start with Manhattan in February, a bitter-cold month not beyond the season for shut-it-all-down blizzards. Take a couple of thousand dogs, many of whom have never seen the likes of the traffic and noise they'll face on the streets of Midtown. Take those streets, where the dogs will turn the snow yellow for blocks around Penn Station, leaving the crowds of daily commuters stepping carefully and less than amused. Add stressed-out dog handlers under maximum pressure to get the dogs there, set them up in hotel rooms and have them perfectly groomed for competition.

Finally, add tens of thousands of people coming to see the dogs during the two-day show, packing the staging areas of Madison Square Garden so tightly that sometimes it's nearly impossible to move from one aisle of dogs to the next.

Dogs panting. Spectators sweating. Handlers stressing. I've been there, several times, and I can assure you: It's miserable. But it's Westminster, the one and only. Which means if you have a top show dog, you're going to move heaven and earth to be there -- and most of them will be on Feb. 14 and 15.

This year will be Westminster's 129th -- the event is second only to the Kentucky Derby as the country's oldest sporting event -- but only the 16th for David Frei as broadcast commentator, who more recently picked up additional duties as the club's director of communications. When I teased him about the character based on him in the movie "Best in Show" being the only one who didn't seem a little bit ... well ... crazy, he laughed graciously.

"The question I get most is, 'Is it really like "Best in Show,"'" he said, admitting that the parody wasn't that far from the mark. "It's a target-rich environment, but we can all laugh, and the movie did to a lot to bring our sport to the public."

The sport may need help getting attention, but Westminster doesn't. Entries for the show close in minutes, with the top five dogs in each breed getting an invitation and other champions left to try to get their entry in before the 2,500-dog limit is reached, typically in under an hour.

"We never get all the top dogs, but we're close," said Frei. "You'll always get a few retired, having puppies. This year, 97 out of the top 103 will be there."

This year's show will have more golden retrievers than any other dog, with 53 entered. It'll also see the Westminster debut of three breeds new to full registration status with the American Kennel Club -- the Neapolitan mastiff, the black Russian terrier, and the Glen of Imaal terrier.

"It does take a special effort to be a part of it," said Frei, acknowledging the difficulties of holding a dog show during a Manhattan winter. "People are here because they want to be here. A lot of the top dogs spend the rest of the year ducking each other, showing in different parts of the country. But all the great dogs are here, all at the same time."

Westminster may be a very bad idea for a dog show, but for the dog who wins ... well, there's just nothing like it.

SIDEBAR

Some dogs to watch

Westminster's all-championship show draws the best dogs from around the country -- and a few from around the world. Going into the competition, a few dogs are thought to have a better shot winning the top prize, including:

-- Champion North Well Chako JP Platina King (Coleman). The toy poodle was bred in Japan, but he had made his mark in the United States, where he's the top-ranked dog of all breeds heading into Westminster.

-- Ch. Yakee If Only (Jeffrey). The Pekingese is also an English show champion; his dad was best in show at Cruft's, the top English show. Jeffrey is the No. 2 dog in the nation.

-- Ch. Heathers Knock on Wood (Knotty). The bloodhound scored big by winning the AKC-Eukanuba National Invitational in January over many of the same dogs he'll compete against in New York. Is he on a roll?

-- Ch. Kaleef's Genuine Risk (Genny). The German Shepherd is known both for her effortless, almost floating stride and for her handler, James Moses, who knows how to win with German Shepherds at this level of competition. He has done it before.

-- Ch. Clussex Three D Grinchy Glee (Stumpy). The Sussex spaniel's trademark is a tail that never stops wagging. If his owners and handler had tails, they'd wag them, too, with all the winning he has done. Stumpy competed for best in show last year as winner of the sporting group.

The toughest competition at the breed level will be among boxers, says Westminster's David Frei. Three of the top-ranked dogs in the country will meet in the boxer ring, but just one of them will move on to try to win the working group. The toy breeds have the toughest group competition, with Coleman likely to square off against Jeffrey -- but don't rule out the Pomeranian or the pug.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will be televised at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Central Time) on Feb. 14 and 15 on the USA Network. The event is broadcast live on the East Coast and delayed for other time zones.

Q&A

Litter-box cake should get a laugh

Q: A while back I put aside your recipe for cake made to look like a cat's litter box, but now I can't find it. Would you please repeat it? I want to take it to a potluck for our dog-training club. -- L.Y., via e-mail

A: It's amusing to me how often people ask for this recipe, considering that I rarely cook at all. Directions for Litter Box Cake come from the files of the Veterinary Information Network (www.vin.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More than a few veterinarians have used the recipe for open houses in their clinics or hospitals. The most important part of following the recipe? Be sure to use a brand-new litter box and scoop.

I hope the members of your dog-training club have strong stomachs and a good sense of humor, because this cake really does look like the real thing.

LITTER BOX CAKE

1 pkg. spice cake mix

1 pkg. white cake mix

1 pkg. white sandwich cookies

Green food coloring

12 small Tootsie Rolls

1 box vanilla pudding mix (not instant)

1 brand-new, freshly washed litter box

1 brand-new, freshly washed litter box scoop

Prepare the cake mixes and bake according to their directions. Prepare the pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Use a blender on a low setting to crumble the white sandwich cookies in small batches; they tend to stick, so scrape often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup of cookie crumbs, add a few drops of green food coloring and mix by using a fork.

After the cakes cool to room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. Gently combine. Line a new, freshly cleaned litter box with plastic wrap. Put the mixture into the box. Put three unwrapped Tootsie Rolls in a microwave-safe dish and heat until they're soft and pliable. Shape the ends so that they're no longer blunt, curving them slightly. Repeat with three more Tootsie Rolls and bury them in the mixture.

Sprinkle the other half of the cookie crumbs over the top of the mixture. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly over the top so they look like the chlorophyll in some cat-box fillers. Heat the remaining Tootsie Rolls, three at a time, in the microwave until they're almost melted. Taper the ends as before, then plop them on top of the cake and sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Serve with a brand-new, freshly washed cat-box scoop.

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

PET BUY

Dyson vacuum earns its cult following

Last year when I was at the Cruft's dog show in England, the biggest dog show in the world, I made a point to talk with the folks at the Dyson vacuum cleaner display.

I had to wait in line to do so.

The reason is easy to understand: The English company makes vacuums with so much power that they can pull pet hair out of carpets that have already been gone over by other brands. Two years ago I bought the first model made available in the United States, the DC-07, and recently was sent the newest, the DC-14 "Animal," to try out.

The Dyson's cult status is such that the pet lovers I mentioned my "test drive" to were visibly envious.

The funky purple DC-14 "Animal" has some advantages over my DC-07, most notably the addition of a small beater head that fits on a wand with enough reach for an entire staircase. The attachment allows the user to get pet hair off upholstery and carpeted stairways almost as efficiently as the upright draws fur from floors.

I didn't see a notable improvement over the astonishing suction power of the earlier model, but since the DC-07 is the best vacuum I've ever owned, maybe it's hard to improve on it much.

One of the things I like most about the Dyson (in addition to the powerful suction) is how easy it is to empty the clear plastic cylinder where the dirt ends up. Just snap the cylinder free, walk out to the trash can and pull the trigger to release muck.

Dyson might consider adding power drive and a retractable cord in future models, but that shouldn't stop anyone from considering this vacuum now.

The Dyson "Animal" is not cheap compared to most vacuums -- $549 is about the best price I found online. But it's a bargain when compared to high-end models that top a grand or more.

PET Rx

Choose veterinarian before you need one

While it's always better to establish a working relationship with a veterinarian before your pet gets sick, it's essential to do so when you're sharing your home with birds, reptiles or other less-common pets.

That's because not all companion animal veterinarians are comfortable with treating pets other than dogs and cats, and not all veterinarians keep up with the latest information on reptiles and birds. Taking your bird or reptile in for a well-pet checkup with a veterinarian who specializes in these pets can help you prevent problems, by spotting illness early or by helping you to fix incorrect care that will hurt your pet down the line.

(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.)

BREED TYPE

Glamorous Persian is most popular purebred cat

With a glamorous image worthy of the Hollywood studios in their heyday, it's no surprise that the Persian is the most popular breed of cat. Persians come in a dazzling array of colors and markings, including solid colors, tabby, calico and just about anything else you can imagine.

Persian cats are as treasured for their personalities as their distinctive looks. Affectionate yet undemanding, a Persian is more likely to get your attention by adopting an especially fetching pose than by plonking herself down on the newspaper you're trying to read.

All that beauty doesn't come without a price, and grooming a Persian cat is not an optional activity. Persian coats will become tangled and matted if not combed on a daily basis, and they usually require periodic professional grooming as well. A matted Persian is not just unsightly; mats are painful and can lead to abrasions and skin infections if not removed promptly. The Persian is not for you if you aren't willing to make sure his coat stays in good shape.

Pros: The arresting beauty of these kings and queens of catdom is behind their enduring popularity. Persian cats are also wonderful companions: serene, quiet and affectionate, and never noisy or pesty.

Cons: The coat requires considerable attention and often professional grooming. And these cats shed -- a lot. Their popularity also means there are many unethical breeders. Genetic problems include dental and sinus abnormalities related to the distinctive Persian facial structure, and polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which can be fatal. Ultrasound screening of breeding cats can prevent this disease, so obtain your Persian kitten only from a breeder who guarantees against PKD in writing. -- Christie Keith, www.pethobbyist.com

(For more information about the Persian cat, visit the Cat Breed Center at www.cathobbyist.com/CatBreeds.)

PETS ON THE WEB

A place for sharing pictures of pets

Fotolog (www.fotolog.net) was last year's sensation, the place for people to post pictures of everything and anything, including lots of pets. But Fotolog has stumbled, with a site that's barely functioning and a business plan that seems to be based on begging subscribers for more money.

The hot new place to put your pet photos is Flickr (www.flickr.com), with its clean design and reliable programming. Flickr makes it easy to organize images and share them with friends and family, as well as to join in communities of people who may soon be your friends based on your common interests. There are communities organized around subjects as narrow as picture of dogs' noses.

Many of the pet-loving denizens of Fotolog have migrated to Flickr, taking their pet pictures with them. "Cat" and "Dog" are two of the most-popular categories on the Web site (searchable by "tag"), with plenty of other pets pictured, too. A basic account for posting images is free.

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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