There's no doubt vacation travel has gone to the dogs ... and the cats as well. The recent request for travel stories brought them in by the scores.

What a change! When I was growing up as a typical baby boomer, with family vacations spent in our hot station wagon, our dog was never allowed in hotels -- he slept in the car on the road.

Nowadays, not only are pets welcome, but some places also provide room service.

I'll share a few more tales (or should that be tails?) from the road over the next few weeks. Here are a few already in from readers.

-- Lynda Demsher, via e-mail: This summer, four pointers enjoyed a vacation on the Oregon Coast. It didn't start out as a doggie vacation, but after I started looking at my pictures from the three weeks we spent there in July, I realized that it was, indeed, the dogs' days. We went to the coast to fish, so our son towed the boat while my husband and I towed the trailer.

Our son has a big, blocky wirehaired pointing griffon male and a small German shorthaired pointer female. We have a female wirehaired pointing griffon and a male German wirehair. All are great hunting dogs, with the two griffs particularly fond of the water.

We had three 65-pound-plus, hairy dogs and one 40-pound, hyperactive shorthair in the trailer for three weeks. The first thing we did was "trailer-train" them: No dog is allowed out of the door of the trailer unless given permission, each dog has a consistent eating and sleeping place, they are all leash-trained, and they heel on command.

Even though they are powerful dogs, I could walk all of them while the guys were out fishing, two to a double-hooked leash, because they do heel well together. For their obedience, they got to run free on the beach every day, go on long leash-walks, got unlimited attention by dog-loving RVers, and were allowed to get on the bed and the couch in the trailer.

I must emphasize that people who RV with dogs have a responsibility to make sure their pets are well-socialized, neutered or spayed, trained and have good dispositions. People who travel with dogs must also be willing to exercise them a lot, since RV travel is very confining, even for little dogs.

-- Cosette Augustine, via e-mail: For a number of years we took our cat, Punkin, with us when we traveled from New Jersey to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where we stayed in our condo on the shore. Usually we stayed in a motel on the way one night.

The first time we took Punkin to a hotel, the next morning she was nowhere to be found! We figured she would appear, so we put out her food and went to breakfast. When we returned to pack up and leave, there was still no cat. We looked everywhere and knew she couldn't have possibly gotten out of the room.

Finally, in the last place we looked, we removed the mattress and box springs from the wood frame, and there she was. The wall end of the wood frame was open. I guess she didn't really want to get back in the car!

-- Trudy Wolcott, via e-mail: My husband and I traveled to Portland, Ore., this summer with our bichons Cosette and Chloe. We set up their portable crate in the back of our pick-up cab. We stopped every two to three hours at the rest stops along the interstate to give them (and us) a needed break.

Portland is a very pet-friendly city. One evening, Chuck and I ate at a nice restaurant along the waterfront and were allowed to "park" our dogs under our table. The staff was kind enough to bring water for them. The dogs were content in the crate and were well-behaved in the hotel room.

Here are a couple of tips: Take a travel bag just for your pet that includes his own towel, shampoo and conditioner. I also included a pet thermometer and a list of veterinarians in the cities along our route. You can never tell when you pet may become ill or injured.

-- Gina Spadafori: Good advice, all. If you want to share your pet-travel story, just drop me a note at petconnection@gmail.com.

SIDEBAR

Polite pet travel

For all the stories of great pet travel, there were plenty of e-mails from people who weren't so happy with what other people let their pets get away with. It's essential that pet lovers remember that pets can be banned just as easily as they are now welcomed in many places. Essential rules for polite pet travel:

-- Pick up after your pet. No excuses.

-- Keep your pet under control. Keep your pet quiet and don't allow him to intrude on others.

-- Leave rooms as clean as you find them. Take along sheets to put over bedding, or crate your pet at night.

Do your part to keep pets welcome so we can all enjoy our trips with our animal companions!

Q&A

Drug instructions need to be exact

Q: I am a veterinary technician with eight years of experience. I work at a veterinary hospital, and I have also worked for boarding facilities as well as boarding dogs in my own home. I'm also a retired dog trainer, having owned my own company.

Many times I've had an animal dropped off for boarding with a prescription medication (or two or three) that must be administered while the owners are gone. The prescription bottle says: "Use as directed."

I have a boarder staying with me now, and I thought I had contact numbers, but nobody is answering. I have to find out about the drugs this dog is on, and I am trying to find out how much and how often the drugs are to be given.

"Use as directed" on a prescription bottle is, in my opinion, a way of saying, "I am too lazy to type the prescription on the bottle." There should be a law against such labeling on prescription bottles for pets!

Please let your readers know about this problem. And inform them not to accept any medications that aren't properly labeled with instructions that can be easily followed. -- D.B., via e-mail

A: Yours is one of the best suggestions I've read in all the time I've been writing about pets. As I've often written, health care for our pets works best when we work as a team with our veterinarians. An educated, involved pet owner is every bit as important as a gifted veterinarian when it comes to maintaining the health of our pets.

I encourage every person to be sure to never walk out of a veterinarian's office without a clear understanding of the medication a pet has been prescribed, what it's for, how to give it, how it works, and what the possible problems with the medication can be.

Talking to your veterinarian about medications is essential, but it's also helpful to have some basic references on hand. Two I like to recommend are "The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat" (Bantam, $7) and "Pills for Pets: The A to Z Guide to Drugs and Medications for Your Animal Companion" (Citadel, $15). Online drug references, such as those at VeterinaryPartner.com and the human drug reference library at MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus.gov), are also useful.

Those darn burrs!

Q: We are fortunate to live in an area with close access to public space where we can take our setter-mix for long hikes. At this time of year, though, the burrs are so bad that it takes more time to clean out her tail and feathers than we spend walking her. We do not want to shave her beautiful coat, but we're tired of pulling the burrs out. She's tired of it, too. Any suggestions? -- F.B., via e-mail

A: Here's a trick I picked up years ago from a top hunting-dog trainer: Use Pam non-stick cooking spray. Spritz a little into the burr area, and you should have an easier time working out the stickers.

Since you're walking your dog so frequently, you might also consider a thin vest to cover a good portion of her body fur. It won't help protect her leg feathering, but it will reduce the total area that's attracting the burrs. K9 Top Coat makes a lightweight stretch vest in bright safety orange Lycra with reflective strips. An added bonus: increased visibility when you're walking your dog on these days when sunset comes ever earlier.

The vest is $36.50 to $41.50, not including shipping, from K9 Top Coat (www.K9topcoat.com, 888-833-5959.)

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

PET BUY

Halloween décor protects pets

In recent years, decorating the home for Halloween has become almost as big a deal as putting up lights for Christmas. One new pet-related product dresses up the house with a twist: It keeps pets in while making it easy to hand out treats.

The Eerie Entrance is made out of reinforced cardboard and is designed to fit in the top opening of a standard storm door. It can also be trimmed to fit smaller openings. To install, remove any existing window or screen in the storm door and replace it with Eerie Entrance. The product is designed to be reused and can be folded for storage.

Of course, animals who become extremely agitated by visitors are best kept away from the front door, confined to a back room or a crate until all the ghoulish visitors are gone. But for friendly pets who'll try to scoot out an open door, the Eerie Entrance is a clever idea. Eerie Entrance costs $30 and is available from Taylor Gifts (www.taylorgifts.com, 800-829-1133).

PETS ON THE WEB

Help for animals in disaster time

Through her pioneering work rescuing animals in times of disaster, Terri Crisp has done something few of us ever accomplish: She has changed our way of thinking. Because of people like Crisp, disaster planning and response now includes animals, in part because of the hands-on work of dedicated, trained animal lovers in disaster zones, and in part because of the recognition by emergency-response planners that people consider animals to be part of the family and will risk their own lives to save their pets.

Of course, no disaster-response expert suggests that anyone put lives at risk. Crisp's rescue group, Noah's Wish, strongly encourages all animal lovers to prepare themselves with the supplies and knowledge needed to evacuate their two- and four-legged family members before they are in danger. On its Web site (noahswish.org), Noah's Wish explains the steps of emergency preparedness for pet lovers. The group also hosts training seminars to prepare those who'd like to volunteer to help others in time of need.

In the wake of recent hurricanes, donations are also very much needed to help Noah's Wish teams working with on-site disaster relief.

PET Rx

Preventive care essential for birds

A wild bird's survival strategy is to appear as healthy as possible to avoid the notice of predators. Many popular pet bird species are not many generations removed from the wild, but the same survival strategy that worked in a natural habitat is a bad one in captivity. Pet birds will sometimes show no sign of illness until they're too sick to be helped.

Proper daily care -- good nutrition and fastidious cleanliness -- is essential to preventing life-threatening illness, as is a solid working relationship with an experienced avian veterinarian. Here's why an avian veterinarian can make a difference:

-- Scarcity of urgent care. Emergency clinics are mostly geared for dog and cat care, not specialized bird care. And even if you develop an excellent relationship with an avian-savvy veterinarian, he will not always be available for emergency response.

-- Cost savings. From the start-up costs of a proper cage to annual well-bird exams with necessary diagnostic testing, preventive care isn't cheap. Still, heading off illness is less expensive in the long run than trying to save the life of a bird in crisis.

-- Quality of life. Just because a bird is hiding his illness doesn't mean he isn't feeling dreadful. It may be days, weeks, months or even years before your bird finally gets so sick that he stops caring what happens to him. Misery has been his companion for a long time at that point, and that makes a strong argument for early intervention.

The place to start? An examination by an avian veterinarian, who'll take the time to establish the good health of your bird, correct little health problems before they become critical, and advise you about anything you're doing that might be endangering your pet's health long-term.

(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

Strings not safe for playful cats

Kittens and cats love playing with yarn, as well as string, ribbon, and anything that twists and dances. Problem is, there's always a chance your cat will decide to eat his plaything. And that's where the fun stops, because any sort of yarn, ribbon or string can cause havoc in your cat's intestines, causing a problem that may need to be surgically treated.

These are preventable emergencies. If you knit or sew, put your supplies securely away after you're done with them. Same thing goes if you're wrapping packages: Put the ribbon away after the task is done.

Even if your pet's not really the playful type, she may find one kind of string irresistible: juice-soaked string from a roast or turkey. Dispose of these tempting dangers carefully, putting them in a container your cat can't get into.

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 may seem odd, but there's a parallel between abductions and dog attacks.

Most children who are victimized aren't randomly selected; they're attacked by a person or dog known to them. Just as an abductor is more likely to be someone known to the child -- an estranged parent, say -- a dog involved in a serious attack is more likely to be an animal the child knows, kept by the family, a friend or a relative.

Most of the risk can be minimized by making sure the family dog is just that: a member of the family, an indoor dog given ample opportunities for training and socializing. While this won't remove all the risk (see the accompanying story for signs of trouble), a dog who feels comfortable and secure can be what you hope for most -- your child's best friend.

If you've taken steps to make your family dog as safe as possible, the next step in bite prevention is to teach your child what to do if he or she encounters a potentially hostile dog while out and about. This is especially important because our instincts, when faced with a threatening loose dog, could not be more deadly. We want to scream and run, which may trigger predatory behavior in a dog.

The Humane Society of the United States suggests teaching your children how to behave around strange dogs and how to react if attacked. With the start of school at hand, and with many children walking on streets that may have loose dogs, be sure your children know the following:

-- Never approach a loose dog, even if he seems friendly. Dogs confined in yards -- especially those on chains -- should also be avoided. If the dog is with its owner, children should always ask permission before petting him and then begin by offering the back of the hand for a sniff. Pat him on the neck or chest. The dog may interpret a pat from above as a dominant gesture. Teach your children to avoid fast or jerky movements.

-- "Be a tree" when a dog approaches, standing straight with feet together, fists under the neck and elbows into the chest. Teach your children to make no eye contact: Some dogs view this as a challenge. Running is a normal response to danger, but it's the worst possible response to a dog because it triggers the animal's instinct to chase and bite. Many dogs just sniff and leave. Teach your children to stay still until the animal walks away, and then back away slowly out of the area.

-- "Feed" the dog a jacket or backpack if attacked, or use a bike to block the dog. These strategies may keep an attacking dog's teeth from connecting with flesh.

-- Act like a log if knocked down -- face down, legs together, curled into a ball, with fists covering the back of the neck and forearms over the ears. This position protects vital areas and can keep an attack from turning fatal.

Role-play these lessons with your child until they are ingrained. Dealing with the dangers in your own yard and teaching your children how to cope may spare your child a bite -- and even save a life.

SIDEBAR

Safety starts at home

Is your dog a time bomb? 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? Some people 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 the 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 to a trainer or behaviorist with experience in canine aggression.

While some dogs with aggression problems cannot be reformed, others can, with a combination of medication and retraining, and a big dose of dog-savvy on the part of the owner.

If your dog cannot be trusted, even after professional help, don't try to pass the problem along to someone else just because it's too hard to do what needs to be done. Take responsibility and euthanize your dog. You may be sparing a child a lifetime of fear and disfigurement, or you may even be saving someone's life.

READERS WRITE

Give up our pit? We'd move first

Thank you for speaking out against banning pit bulls. As you noted, the blame for most dog attacks can be attached to ignorant, negligent and sometimes criminal dog owners and breeders. I also believe that pit bull bans are instigated by sensationalistic reporting and enacted by self-serving, mean-spirited politicians.

Five years ago, we adopted a 1-year-old pit bull from the shelter, and she's been with us ever since. She loves every person she meets, and she's never as much as curled her lip at anyone. If our city ever enacted an ordinance like Denver's, we'd move rather than give her up. -- D.D., via e-mail

Giving up our dog

I wake each morning knowing that my time with my beloved Cyrus is coming to an end. I have been fighting since February 2005 because landlords do not want us because we have a "pit bull." Now we have to take a place for ourselves that does not allow our dog. It breaks my heart knowing he will no longer be with me.

He has always been there for me, and now I have to desert him. It makes me angry and sad. Cyrus is a loving member of our family. If our financial status were better, we could buy a place so we could keep him. Please keep spreading the word, and maybe it will save others the heartache of leaving a friend. -- K.O., via e-mail

In support of bans

The majority of serious dog attacks on humans are done by pit bulls. A few are done by other breeds, but they are seldom the unprovoked attacks that can maim and kill like pit bulls can. My brother is in law enforcement. He can show records of dog attacks going back many years. Most are by pit bulls.

To allow pit bulls within the city limits is absurd. These animals do the most damage the most often. Get rid of the pit bulls and save a life. Many gang types keep a dog as a weapon. Dog of choice: pit bull. Ban pit bulls. -- C.S., via e-mail

Gina responds: After my column against banning pit bulls ran, I was swamped with responses. Most were in agreement, but then, most (but not all) of those who defended pit bulls had them or liked the breed.

Other readers insisted that pit bulls -- a generic term for a handful of breeds, in fact -- were genetically different from other dogs and so should be exterminated down to the last loving pet.

Isn't it odd that the pit bull has been around for decades with no more problems than any other large breed until the criminal element got ahold of it? Does anyone remember when the Doberman was the "killer breed"? What make anyone think that people who want a dangerous dog wouldn't shift to another kind of dog once pit bulls are gone?

Now, to be sure, there are problems with pit bulls, and I'm not denying it. Pit bulls are more likely to be dog-aggressive, thanks to their development as a fighting breed. That's why the group Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls, aka BAD RAP (www.badrap.org), and others strongly advise against off-leash play with other dogs for pit bulls, and argue they do not belong in dog parks.

As far as aggression against humans, there's no doubt every attack is one attack too many. But my point is that strong and sensible legislation against all dangerous dogs -- not just pit bulls -- will provide municipalities with tools for dealing with menacing dogs no matter the breed.

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

PET BUY

Many dogs love little pools

There's no doubt that many manufacturers realize how much crossover there is between the children's market and the pets' market. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that more "baby" gates are sold to dog owners than to parents. And other products, from playpens to toddler toys, do double duty, selling well in both markets.

As summer winds down, you might be able to pick up one of these double-duty items at a deep discount and put it away for your pet's enjoyment next summer. That item? The kiddie pool.

For dogs who love water, a wallow in the pool is a great way to cool down after summer activity. Even dogs who wouldn't dream of getting completely drenched might be convinced of the pleasures of getting their tummies wet.

I keep two pools full for the dogs, draining and hosing them clean every other day before refilling them. While I'm sure the retrievers would rather have a built-in pool, the kiddie pools seem to keep them happy and cool enough all summer long.

PET Rx

Pets can get sunburned, too

While a pet's fur coat provides protection from the sun's harmful rays, some pets are still at risk for sunburn. Among them: hairless breeds like the Chinese crested, animals with thin, light-color coats, and pets whose coats have thinned with age. Animals who are recovering from surgery are also at risk on the areas that were shaved.

Prevention is always better than treatment. Keep high-risk pets out of direct sunlight. If your pet must be in the sun, apply sunblock. Recommended products include Johnson & Johnson's Waterbabies, Bullfrog waterproof and EltaBlock waterproof. The benefit of waterproof products is that they're also dog-saliva-proof.

You can also try putting a child's T-shirt on the animal to protect him from harmful rays. Pets with a small problem area, such as a light spot on a nose, may be a candidate for having the area permanently tattooed with dark ink.

If your pet gets sunburned, liberal amounts of an aloe vera preparation can be applied. Do not apply any other medication without first discussing it with your veterinarian.

Sun protection is important not just for sunburn -- the same kinds of dogs who are vulnerable to sunburn are often at risk for skin cancer, too.

(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

Training your cat can be fun for you both

Some people point to the dog's ability to learn obedience commands and tricks as proof that dogs are smarter than cats. Others point to the same thing as proof that cats are smarter than dogs -- cats don't have to work for a living.

Cats and dogs are different in how they relate to us. Dogs have an ingrained need to be part of a family structure and to have a job to do within that family. Dogs are that way in large part because wolves are that way -- survival depends on the family, or pack.

The cat came from a different place, descended from solitary hunters who didn't need teamwork to survive.

If you want to put a good spin on it as a cat lover, you could say that dogs need to be with us, while cats choose to.

Because of this distinction, you absolutely cannot get a cat to do something he doesn't want to. Something must be in it for him. When training a cat, that something is usually food.

For example, you can start teaching the "sit" command to a hungry cat using a table, a quiet room and some treats. Get your cat to stand up by touching her in front of her tail. Then hold the treat a little over her head, saying her name and the command "sit." Slowly move the treat between your cat's ears, but not high enough for her to pick her front paws off the ground and grab the tidbit. Instead, she'll sit. After she does, praise her and give her the treat. Work in short sessions and be patient. Your cat will eventually get the idea!

Build on your successes. From "sit" can come "sit up." Many cats also love active tricks, such as jumping through hoops.

"Clicker" training -- marking a correct behavior with a noise and following with a treat -- works great when training cats. Clicker-training guru Karen Pryor offers a collection of instructions, streaming video, books, and other tools and tips for clicker-training cats on her Web site at www.clickertraining.com/training/cats.

PETS ON THE WEB

Resources for the hard-shelled

Felice Rood is a dynamo, a one-woman army fighting for the good of turtles and tortoises everywhere. Felice's World of Turtles Web site (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/felicerood) lets more people in on the commonsense care tips and lively sense of humor she shares in person with members of the Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club.

Best bets: excerpts from the club's newsletters, especially Rood's stories of her pets. The care sheets for various species are lifesavers, and you can order either or both of Rood's turtle and tortoise care videos on the site. World of Turtles would be helped out a great deal, though, by providing links to other sites devoted to these charming beings, such as the extremely comprehensive site of the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society (www.nytts.org), the California Turtle and Tortoise Club (www.tortoise.org), or the reptile resources on Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection (www.anapsid.org).

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

Obedience training for dogs, necessary as it is for the development of a well-mannered companion, has one built-in problem, in the mind of dog trainer and author Liz Palika.

"General obedience has a tendency to be too serious," she says. "Even when you're trying to be positive with your dog, there's a tendency to be too serious."

Peg that to the boot-camp mentality a lot of pet owners can't shake when it comes to obedience training, despite the introduction of more positive motivation methods in most training classes. In the minds of many dog lovers still, you take your dog to class to "break" him of annoying behaviors, to bark commands at him, to correct him for being "bad."

Your dog may be learning, but neither of you is having any fun. That's why Palika likes trick-training.

"When you get people to laugh, you have it made," she says. "It's so much fun for the dog, too. They're getting your attention, and you're laughing. Dogs know what laughter is, and they pick up your attitude."

Palika has been a dog trainer for more than 20 years and the author of pet-care books for a decade. She started her career as a dog handler in the military and now teaches dog-training classes out of the tidy compound in a former pasture north of San Diego. Obedience training may be her bread and butter, but she loves to get her students to teach their dogs tricks, too.

Sometimes it's not just for fun: Some of the trick-trained dogs from her classes end up showing off their skills at pet-therapy visits, and a couple have landed paid gigs in advertising.

But it's that changing of attitude that Palika likes about trick-training most of all. You're having fun with your dog, but he's still learning, she says, and this can be a great confidence-builder for a shy dog.

So where to start? Palika says to consider the temperament and physical abilities of your dog. Some tricks are best for active dogs, while others are well-suited to couch potatoes. Some physical limitations apply as well: Dogs with long backs, such as dachshunds, shouldn't be taught to beg because sitting up can put strain on their backs. "Safety is always an issue," she says.

Above all, be modest in your expectations. "Don't try to do the more elaborate tricks first," says Palika. "Your dog will get discouraged, and you'll get discouraged. Start with the basics and work your way up."

The basics start with some of those behaviors commonly taught in obedience classes: "sit," "down" and "stay," along with the request for attention, "watch me." From these basics, it's easy to train the more simple of tricks, including "shake hands" and "roll over," ideal for the more sedentary dogs. For active dogs, weaving through an owner's legs while walking is an easy one to teach. With the addition of some relatively inexpensive equipment, such as hoops, tunnels and jumps, you can come up with routines that everyone will enjoy, including your dog.

Best of all, when your dog does succeed, the relationship between you will improve. "Once you're successful at a couple of tricks, it's addictive," says Palika.

SIDEBAR

Trick-training resources

Are you ready to have fun with your dog? Trick-training doesn't take much more than a dog, some treats, some time and an upbeat attitude. Several books are available to help get you started. Among them:

Liz Palika's "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dog Tricks" (Alpha Books, $15) not only shows you how to teach your dog tricks, but also helps you to understand why trick-training is so useful and rewarding for you both. The guide explains how to decide which tricks are best for any individual dog, and how to lay the groundwork for ever more advanced behaviors. Clear step-by-step instructions and lots of pictures help immensely.

If you want to learn a few new tricks yourself, pick up Deborah Jones' "Clicker Fun: Dog Tricks and Games Using Positive Reinforcement" (Howlin Moon Press, $20). "Clicker" training uses a small noisemaker to "mark" a good behavior and then follows that noise with a treat. The technique is called "operant conditioning" and got its start as a practical tool by trainers of marine mammals. The use of a clicker has really gained ground in dog training in recent years, and it's well-suited for training tricks. -- G.S.

Q&A

'Dusty' cockatoo perfectly normal

Q: We bought a cockatoo and cage recently from some people who were moving. Diva is very affectionate and playful, but she constantly sheds white powder that gets all over our clothes. It doesn't seem like it would be healthy to breathe, either. Is there something we can add to the diet, or spray on her, to stop this? -- D.B., via e-mail

A: Some species of pet birds -- the cockatoo is perhaps the best example -- give off a great deal of feather dust, a natural, powdery grooming material that originates from the powderdown feathers over the flank and hip areas. As you've discovered, this powder can make quite the mess. I once spent a few minutes snuggling with an adorable Moluccan cockatoo at my veterinarian's office and ended up with my dark T-shirt almost completely covered in white powder.

I'm sorry to say that the powder is perfectly normal and necessary for your bird, and living with it is part of the deal of sharing your life with a cockatoo. A room-sized air cleaner will help remove the floating powder and will make breathing better for all of you, Diva included. The only other advice I can give you is the same advice given by a friend with a large white dog who sheds constantly: Never wear black.

Keep a kitty garden

Q: You've said it's a good idea to provide indoor cats with plants to chew on. What kind of plants are best for cats to eat? -- P.C., via e-mail

A: It's easy to keep greens on hand for your cat's nibbling pleasure. It doesn't take much of a green thumb, and indoor kitties in particular will be ever so grateful for your thoughtfulness.

Grasses are always a favorite. Since cats seem to like the most tender shoots best, sow a fresh crop every couple of weeks in a wide, shallow planter. Alfalfa, rye and wheat seeds are ideal. You can find seeds from catalogs or nurseries. Choose organic seeds to make sure they haven't been treated with something your cat doesn't need to eat. If you search pet-supply stores, catalogs and Web sites, you can find pre-packaged kitty greens, complete with seeds, soil and planter. All you need do is add water.

Parsley and thyme are also popular with some cats. Any decent nursery will have seeds or young plants ready to be transplanted into a pot. Experiment and see what your cat like best!

Spaying young kittens

Q: Our sweet old cat died last year. After a few catless months for the first time in our marriage, we decided it was time for a kitten. We were a little shocked to find out the shelter spays the kittens before they go to new homes. Is that really safe? -- L.E., via e-mail

A: Puppies and kittens can be safely neutered as young as 8 weeks. And studies have consistently shown no long-term problems with health or behavior for surgeries that are done earlier than the 4- to 6-month ideal previously considered to be standard procedure.

If your shelter's policy is to insist on early spay-neuter, I wouldn't let that deter you from adopting a kitten there. On the contrary, such policies show that the organization is actively fighting pet overpopulation by trying to stop the "kittens-out, kittens-in" cycle that happens when last year's babies become this year's parents.

If you end up with a kitten from another source, follow your veterinarian's advice on when to alter your pet. Although early spay-neuter is safe, not all veterinarians are comfortable with performing the operation that early.

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

PET Rx

Encouraging cats to drink more

Do you think of nutrition as being just about what your cat eats? Don't forget that what your cat drinks is just as important to her well-being. Water -- clean, fresh and ever-present -- is essential to nearly every process of your cat's body, which is 70 percent water.

The tiniest cells of living beings cannot survive without water. Nutrients are carried and wastes removed by water. A cat may be able to survive without eating for weeks if need be (please don't test this fact, though), but without water, death comes in days.

Problem is, cats can be difficult to keep hydrated. Always make sure you supply your cat with water, and encourage her to drink by keeping the dish clean and the water fresh. Some cats prefer running water, and some owners oblige by opening taps for their pets.

Some manufacturers sell pet fountains that constantly recycle water to make it seem fresh to a finicky feline. If your pet-products supplier doesn't carry these products, check out the ads in the back of any cat magazine. Feline fountains pop up pretty regularly there.

(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

Indulge your catnip junkie

Not all cats like catnip. The ability to appreciate the herb is genetic, with slightly more cats in the fan club than not. These hard-wired preferences aren't immediately apparent, though, since kittens under the age of 3 months don't react to catnip at all.

Among those cats who do like catnip, you'll find two basic kinds of reactions: Your cat may seem to become a lazy drunk or a wired-up crazy. Credit a substance called "nepetalactone," which is found in the leaves and stems and causes the mood-altering behavior.

Is catnip safe? While some cat experts recommend that you grow your own catnip or buy only organically raised products, the consensus is that you can treat your cat as often as you (and your cat) wish. Catnip is considered to be nonaddictive and harmless.

PET TIP

Big dogs present big challenges

Is a large dog right for you, or will a smaller one do?

Large dogs are the perfect choice for active people: joggers, hikers and cross-country skiers. Large dogs can pull a wagon, walk for miles, chase a ball for hours. They are usually not so sensitive to the ear-pulls and tail-grabs of children, and a solid pat on the ribs will not send them flying across the room.

Of course, there are trade-offs. The bigger a dog gets, the more food eaten and the more waste produced. Big dogs are harder to handle, especially when young. They're more likely to knock over your toddler or your grandmother, more capable of destroying your home, and more likely to inflict a serious injury should they decide to bite. A pushy small dog is annoying; a pushy large one is dangerous. Large dogs are harder to travel with and more expensive to arrange vacation care for. If you don't own your own home, you may find securing housing that accepts a large dog nearly impossible.

Larger breeds generally need more exercise and are more likely to find other ways to shed nervous energy -- like digging, barking or chewing -- if they don't get enough to keep them happy. Even the largest dogs are not impossible to keep in apartments, townhouses and homes with small yards, but you have to work doubly hard to meet their exercise needs under those circumstances.

In some breeds, the size difference between males and females is dramatic -- as much as 3 to 6 inches and up to 40 pounds or more. If you're attracted to the looks of large breeds such as the Rottweiler or Bernese mountain dog but want don't want such a large pet, consider a female.

PETS ON THE WEB

Site for fans of eight-legged pets

Looking for a pet that's a little different and sure to scare most of the people you know? Consider a tarantula! The American Tarantula Society (www.atshq.org) has put together a site that celebrates these large arachnids (that's spiders to the rest of us) with useful care information as well as articles that are more in-depth and academic in tone. The pieces include information on how to know when a tarantula is sick and what to do to help.

Most interesting is the gift shop, where you can buy T-shirts, books and even live spiders. Yes, for a small cost you can have a baby tarantula show up in your mailbox. (The stuff of some people's nightmares is a dream come true to others, I suppose.) The ATS site also has pictures, and a nifty bulletin board frequented by serious hobbyists and beginners alike. Arachnophobics, beware! -- G.S.

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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