Universal Press Syndicate

Anyone who has ever lived in a big city has seen dog walkers -- people who take pets out for a midday potty break while owners are at work.

But a dog runner? While many a runner has a dog as a training partner, ultra-marathoner Bob Halpenny of Sacramento, Calif., may be forging new trails as an entrepreneur in the booming pet-services industry.

"It just seemed a perfect match for me," said Halpenny, who started his business at the beginning of the year and now has five dogs in training with him up to three times a week. "I love running, and I love dogs."

Halpenny's On The Trail Dog Fitness may be a rarity for now in the pet-service industry, but he's in good company otherwise. Service businesses aimed at pet lovers are booming, according to industry experts.

"This trend is being fed by people with no kids -- either those who are empty-nesters, or young people who are delaying having children for career or other reasons," said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, which is based in Greenwich, Conn. "When my kids were at home, they let the dog out, walked the dog, whatever. Now you have people who need these things done, and they're willing to spend on everything from pet-sitting to poop-scooping."

It's a trend that has picked up more than just poop -- revenues from these businesses are up 15 percent in the last two years, according to an APPMA survey. And the demographics are ripe for even more innovative pet-related businesses to start up.

"We've seen a lot of growth, especially in the last couple of years," said Mike Dillon of Dillon Media LLC, an independent pet-industry consulting firm in Berkeley, Calif. "Every segment of the pet industry is moving up market, driven by the affluent, by people who make upward of $70,000 a year."

Good thing, too, because while pet-care services aren't as expensive as comparable ones for humans, they can add up for regular users of such services. For example, Halpenny charges $20 per dog per run, with packages available for multiple dogs and regular customers. Compared to the cost of a personal trainer who works with people, the service is a bargain. But it likely seems pricey to anyone whose idea of getting a dog some exercise consists of throwing a tennis ball a few times.

For those whose high-energy dogs are bouncing off the walls and are indulging in destructive behavior because of boredom, however, a dog runner or a doggie day-care center can seem a bargain at any price. Vetere notes that such services can be a way for people with busy lives to be able to keep pets.

"I guess nothing surprised me after I saw the poop-scooping businesses start up," said Vetere, who noted that this particular industry is so strong, there's even a national organization and franchise possibilities. Even industry consultant Dillon is drafting on the success of pet-service businesses: He started his company in 2001 after the dot-com implosion and never looked back.

"I was laid off and turned off by technology," he said. "My last three jobs were very disappointing. This is a lot more fun."

"Fun" surely isn't the word anyone would apply to scooping poop for a living, but Vetere says the relative ease at which pet-related service businesses can be started is part of their appeal. And many offer flexible hours, which means people who can't do or can't stand the 9-to-5 grind find them attractive.

"There's good money to be made, and the start-up costs aren't necessarily high," Vetere said. "I know a lot of college students who can use their flexible hours to their advantage and start a pet-service business."

Halpenny's no college kid, but he saw the advantage of combining his love of dogs with his love of running. And he says you'll never see a happier group of runners than the dogs who train with him.

That's a change from working with people, says Halpenny, who also helps to prepare human runners for marathons.

"The dogs are always ready to run," he says. "It's never too cold, too early, too wet for a dog. I show up, and they can't wait to get going."

SIDEBAR

New pet businesses push phone book changes

The addition of new kinds of pet-care services has had telephone directories adjusting their categories. Business listings in many area phone books have had to expand pet-care listings in ways previous generations could never have imagined, according to Veterinary Economics magazine.

In recent years, animal chiropractors and doggie day care have been added as categories in some phone books, joining such longtime pet-service industry stalwarts as dog training and pet boarding -- not to mention veterinarians. Want someone to clean up your yard on a regular basis? Look under Pet Waste Removal. -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

New pet door? Keep the flap up

Q: I recently installed a panel pet door in a sliding-glass door. My dog will not use it. Only once was I successful in tenderly pushing him through it so he could see how it works. Last night, I tried to coach him through it with his leash on, but his mind was made up that he wasn't going anywhere near the door. I even placed some treats on the other side of the flap, and he still wouldn't budge.

I read that I should first try taping the flap up so he can see that it's an outlet to the patio and then, over time, let the flap down. Do you have any ideas? Gus is 12 years old and has never used a doggie door before. -- L.H., via e-mail

A: The easiest way for an animal to learn to use a pet door is to have another pet who's already using it. But since that's not an option for you, you'll now have to start over with the training.

Start by taping the flap securely out of the way, or by removing it completely for the time being. If you are going to tape it up, be sure you use enough material to keep the flap from falling down. If your dog gets hit in the nose, the training will take even longer.

Yes, you'll have to deal with bugs for a while. But it's the only way to show your dog that this is the way in and out.

Next, every time your dog needs to go out, let yourself out the sliding-glass door and close it behind you. Then call your dog, while kneeling on the other side of the flapless dog door and coaxing him with praise and treats. Chances are your dog will look through the wide-open door and come right on through. Never open the sliding-glass door to let your dog out. From now on, go out without him and make the dog door the only way out.

After he's going in and out with confidence, set the flap halfway up so he can still see through opening. Once that's working, you can put the flap all the way down.

Assuming your dog is in good health at age 12, with no mental impairments, he's perfectly capable of learning to use the dog door. And assuming that the dog door is level with the floor and that he has no arthritis issues, he should be able to use it just fine as long as he can get around on his own four feet. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Give your cat choices in boxes

Just as some people like rap music and others prefer classical music, cats have personal preferences when it comes to the litter box. If a cat doesn't like something about the box, forget about him using it. If your home has turned into a giant litter box, consider these strategies to get the cat mess back in the box.

Think "litter box buffet." Provide a wide variety of boxes and litter types -- some covered boxes, others open. Some cats like to beach it in the sand, while others prefer clay that doesn't stick to their paws. Big and deep is always better except for arthritic cats, where lower sides are better.

Avoid high-traffic areas in your home when placing the box. How relaxed would you feel in a public toilet that didn't have stall doors? Remember that all cats value their privacy.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

THE SCOOP

Got kids? Adopt a grown-up pet

A dog or cat can be a kid's best friend. And for many families, an older pet is the best option. The nation's animal shelters and rescue organizations are full of older animals eager for homes and eager to please. And thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, healthy senior pets (7 years of age or older) still have a lot of life and loyal companionship to give.

These wonderful seniors offer advantages for today's busy households. Compared to the average kitten or puppy, they're generally calmer, often already house-trained, and aren't as likely to chew furniture, shoes or fingers.

Before bringing a new pet home, learn as much as possible about the animal. Many pets up for adoption come with histories that tell whether they've lived with children or how they get along with them. And make sure you and your child spend time with the pet in a place where everyone can interact. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PET Rx

The fix is in when it comes to a healthy pet

Neutering can prevent the deaths of millions of unwanted pets every year, while preventing health and behavior problems in those animals who are safely in loving homes already.

Neutered pets can't produce unwanted offspring, and they experience far fewer behavioral and medical problems. From a behavioral standpoint, early neutering will prevent the aggressiveness, territory-marking, fighting and roaming of both dogs and cats. Many of the pets hit by cars are unneutered males who will roam in search of mates or territory. Female pets who aren't spayed face a common infection of the uterus called pyometra, which is a life-threatening condition requiring surgery.

As for cats, all that catting around almost guarantees their exposure to contagious and mostly fatal diseases.

Medically, the news is better yet. Neutered pets have a greatly reduced incidence of some forms of cancer, along with a reduced incidence of urinary tract disease. Early neutering helps prevent prostate disease in male dogs and decreases the chances of your female pet getting mammary cancer to almost zero.

Forget that old idea that pets should be spayed after the first heat. Better to do it before the hormones kick in, from both a medical and behavioral standpoint.

Veterinarians used to recommend neutering and spaying pets after the age of 6 months old. Now we've found that it is simple, safe and effective to sterilize pets as young as 12 weeks old. At an early age, the procedure has less bleeding and is easier to perform because of less body fat. Best of all, it can be accomplished at the time of your pets' last set of puppy or kitten vaccinations.

If you love pets as much as I do, let's work together to halt the birth of unwanted pets. And encourage your friends and family members to spay/neuter their pets. -- Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Spending on Reptiles

Although some reptilian or amphibian pets can be expensive to acquire and set up, they're generally not that expensive to maintain. Popular purchases reported in 2004 survey include (multiple answers allowed):

Glass habitat: 64 percent

Cage furniture: 58 percent

Books on care: 54 percent

Fluorescent UVB bulb: 38 percent

Incandescent bulb: 39 percent

Bedding: 30 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

ON THE WEB

Humane handling of feral cat problems

For years, the accepted way of handling a surplus of feral cats -- domestic cats gone wild -- was to trap them and kill them.

Humane advocates thought there had to be a better way. So in recent years the practice of trap, neuter and release (TNR) has gained ground. Ferals are trapped, vaccinated and neutered, and then released to the area from which they originally came. Kittens and cats young enough to be tamed are removed and placed as pets. Maintained in place by people who feed them, the remaining feral cats will keep others from colonizing an area as their own numbers slowly dwindle.

Alley Cats Allies (www.alleycat.org) is one of the groups most active in advocating TNR programs to deal with feral cats. The group's Web site is a must-see resource for anyone trying to cope with spring's kitten boom. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

Universal Press Syndicate

More products pulled, more questions and more worries: The pet-food problem, which started on March 16 and has continued with additional recalls for more than a month, has left pet owners wondering how to feed their animals safely.

Veterinarians are doing their best to keep on top of the situation, and your veterinarian is still your primary source of advice on what's best for your own pet. But as long as the situation remains in so much flux, pet lovers must make an extra effort to be sure their pets are protected.

The vast majority of pet food now on the shelves presents no risk to animals, but the number of recalls and the wide range of brands involved make choosing products a challenge.

More than 5,500 pet-food items have landed on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recall list -- from store-label brands to premium offerings, and even a diet offered by prescription only through veterinarians. And although no one will ever know for sure, it's more than likely (based on several sources) that thousands of pets have been sickened and many of those have died.

To protect your pet, you must double-check the FDA's list before you go shopping. Go to the FDA's Web site (www.fda.gov) and click on the link for pet-food recall information. If you don't have Internet access, ask a friend or relative to check for you, or call the reference desk of your local public library.

If you have a pet who has eaten any of the recalled foods -- even if there are no symptoms -- call your veterinarian. The damage could be hidden. Your pet may need relatively inexpensive diagnostic tests to catch an illness that needs to be treated. If your pet is sick -- vomiting, increased thirst, increase in or lack of urination, lethargy, sudden bad breath, diarrhea, or lack of appetite -- you have an emergency situation, and your pet needs a veterinarian now.

Pets made sick by any commercial food should be reported to the FDA's consumer complaint lines -- the numbers are listed on the FDA Web site. The American Veterinary Medical Association's Web site (www.avma.org) is providing updated information, and our PetConnection.com Web site has been recognized from the first as a top information site during the recall.

With the potential contamination now spread beyond the initial source of wheat gluten, it's just not possible to recommend any food as "safe" beyond doubt at this time. Your veterinarian should be able to guide you to a specific product that's best for your pet, or to suggest guidelines for home-prepared meals that will take care of your pet's nutritional needs while the situation with commercial foods sorts itself out.

If you wish to go the home-prepared route, work with your veterinarian and read up on pet nutrition. One good reference for preparing meals at home is "Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: The Healthful Alternative" (Iowa State Press, $43). The author, Dr. Donald Strombeck, is a retired professor of veterinary nutrition from the University of California, Davis.

Commercial diets are not going away, and they have helped pet lovers to care for generations of cats and dogs. But in the short term, all pet lovers need to not take anything for granted when in comes to pet nutrition and stay on top of the news.

SIDEBAR

Tips for switching your cat's food

Most healthy dogs will eat what you give them, but getting a cat to switch to a new food can be a challenge. With recalls forcing many cats to eat new foods, it's important to know how to do it safely.

You must first understand that your cat isn't being "finicky." He was biologically programmed in kittenhood to recognize certain textures, smells and tastes as "food" and others as "not food."

Start switching by going to scheduled mealtimes, not free-feeding. Put the food down for a half-hour and wait. Only if your cat has eaten none of the new food during that half-hour should you put down the old food. After several days, he will probably begin eating the new food.

Not working? Put a bit of the old food on top of the new. Don't mix them; you want your cat to get some of the new food in his mouth when he eats the old food.

If after a few days that hasn't done the trick, or if for some reason you can't continue giving the old food even for a short transitional period, you can try letting hunger do some of the work.

But talk to your veterinarian before going this route.

While healthy, normal-weight cats can safely miss a meal or two, fasting can cause life-threatening health problems for other cats. Ask your veterinarian if a medically supervised food transition is necessary for your cat. -- Christie Keith

Q&A

Keeping cat calm during a move

Q: Our cat doesn't like change. She hates going to the vet, hates it when we move furniture and hides when we have company. We're moving, and we're worried about what a basket case she'll be. Any tips? -- W.M., via e-mail

A: While you'll never manage a stress-free move, for either you or your cat, you can make the best of the situation by keeping your cat secure before, during and after the move, and then by allowing your pet to ease into her new surroundings.

The best way to move your cat is to confine her to a small area -- I call it a "safe room" -- before and after the move. The ideal place is a spare bedroom where your cat isn't going to be disturbed. Outfit it with food and water, a litter box, a scratching post and toys.

Don't feel bad about confining your pet: She's more comfortable in a small space, and she isn't subjected to the stress of seeing people tromping out of the house with her belongings. Confining your cat also prevents her from slipping out during all the commotion.

Your cat should be confined in her safe room before packing begins and be moved to her new home in a carrier. Then confine her again in her new safe room until the moving is over, the furniture is arranged and most of the dust is settled. When you get to your new home, put the carrier down in the safe room, open the door, and let your cat decide when to come out.

After she's a little calmer, you can coax her out with some fresh food or treats. But don't rush her and don't drag her out -- you may be bitten or scratched. After a couple of days, open the door to the safe room and let your cat explore at will, on her terms, but just within the limits of the house.

Again: Above all, don't rush your cat. A slow transition with a period of confinement is also good for avoiding behavior problems that might pop up with the stress of moving. By limiting your cat's options to the litter box and to a scratching post in her safe room, she will quickly redevelop the good habits she had in your old home. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Allergies needn't mean a pet-free life

If you can get a good night's sleep, you'll be better able to cope with almost anything, even allergies. That's why one of the best pieces of advice to those who are allergic to their pets is this: Declare your bedroom a "no-pets zone," at least during the worst of spring allergy season.

That can be tough advice to follow for those of us who love to share our bedrooms, and even our beds, with our dogs and cats. For many allergy sufferers, though, establishing a pet-free sleeping area is a necessary compromise that will allow us to share our lives with pets despite our allergies.

Reduce allergy triggers further by keeping your sleeping area sparsely decorated with furnishings that do not attract dust, and be sure everything is cleaned frequently. Bedding should be washed often to combat dust mites, and pillows should be made of non-allergenic material -- no feathers. Consider running a HEPA air cleaner in the room at all times.

The idea (both in the bedroom and outside of it) is to keep your total "allergy load" -- pets and everything else that triggers your allergies -- to a level that you can live with or that can be controlled by medication. It's worth it to make an effort. Out-of-control allergies can make lives miserable and, in the case of asthma, can be life-threatening as well.

Her are some more tips for those who have both pets and allergies:

-- Work with your doctor. While you'll still find allergists who insist that your pet must go, look for one who's willing to work with you and will prescribe medications that allow your allergies and your pets to coexist.

-- Limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, cigarette smoke and strong perfumes. Consider using a mask when doing yard work and housework, especially when pollen counts are high or your home is especially dusty.

-- Let someone else do the dusting and vacuuming, if at all possible, and if not, invest in a vacuum that filters the air it releases.

-- Keep pets well-groomed. It's essential for pets to be bathed frequently and to be kept combed and brushed. Ideally, a non-allergic member of the household should assume this responsibility. Even cats should be bathed, by the way: A weekly rinse of your cat in plain water has been shown to help people who are allergic to them. -- Gina Spadafori

DOG CARS

Honda's CR-V gains everything except dog room

Oh, Honda! Why have you forsaken us?

You've taken what was one of the best small sport-utility vehicles ever made for dog lovers -- the pre-2007 CR-V -- and turned it into one of the best "cute utes" ever. But in so doing, you took away some of what we dog lovers cherish most: cargo room.

I blame it on the swoop. Honda's stylish redesign of the boxier old CR-V is undeniably good-looking, but the sleek new angles slant the back down too far, too fast, making the otherwise ample cargo space just a little less versatile for those of us who safely crate our dogs for traveling.

It didn't used to be that way. My friend Mary has a CR-V that, with the rear seat pulled, can take three or even four crated retrievers (and even an occasional calf) just about anywhere. And she has done so for a couple hundred thousand miles of "anywhere," all over Texas. That old square back made every inch of cargo space functional, and I know a lot of dog lovers who made an art out of packing their old CR-V.

But the new CR-V? It's packed with features for a good price, economical to run and a blast to drive. But it's more sport than utility now -- plenty suitable for the trips to the vet or the dog park but not so much for the hard-core dog nut with multiple mutts and lots of gear.

With fewer dogs or less-challenging terrain, though, the CR-V's just the ticket. The top-line model I drove came in a tick under $30,000 and is loaded with all kinds of cool features including heated seats and a navigation screen that flips down to provide a shelf for an MP3-player. Fuel economy isn't bad either, at 22/28 for four-wheel drive, and even better for the two-wheel drive model.

All in all, it's a wonderful little cute ute. But Honda, we want it all: Lose the rear slope. Baby needs back. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Dogs and kids

Children and dogs are natural together. In a 2004 survey, pet owners listed the best reasons for getting a dog when you have children at home (multiple answers allowed):

Companionship, love, company: 96 percent

Fun: 75 percent

Another family member: 69 percent

Teach responsibility: 67 percent

Security: 58 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Take steps to protect your new kitten

Did curiosity kill the cat? Maybe not, but why take chances with your new kitten when it's so easy to make your home safer. Some tips:

-- Keep toilet lids closed to keep curious kittens from falling in and drowning.

-- Remove small objects from floors and countertops -- especially enticing pieces of yarn or string -- to prevent intestinal blockages that may require surgery.

Make sure your plants are safe. Check against the list of poisonous plants on the Animal Poison Control Center's Web site (www.aspca.com/apcc). Better yet: Remove all houseplants for now to keep your kitten focused on using the litter box.

Keep dryer doors closed, and do a head count when starting a load of clothes. And don't forget to check under that recliner or rocking chair to avoid catching your kitten unaware.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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

Universal Press Syndicate

Why do so many people end up with such ill-behaved dogs? The mechanics of dog training aren't difficult, after all, and it's not as if there aren't a million books, videotapes, seminars and training classes available. And yet most people end up with a dog who's "sort of" trained -- in other words, not very trained at all.

So what's the problem? I've always felt it was a matter of attitude. How you approach dog training has a great deal to do with how much you're going to accomplish. View it not as a horrid chore, but as an opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. You'll have a better chance at succeeding, and you'll both have a much better time.

Don't think of training as a "you vs. your dog" endeavor. Training is about teaching, showing your dog the things he needs to learn to be a member of human society. You need to approach the task with love and respect for your dog, both of which he will return in kind.

Learning and practice need to become part of your dog's life, and that means your dog needs to be part of your life. So bring him in! Let him sleep in your bedroom and practice his "sits" in the kitchen. The more opportunities for interaction and practice you have, the faster your dog will learn and the more reliably he will respond.

You need to be positive in your training. Who likes a boss who's always ready to pounce on every misdeed? You don't, and neither does your dog. Positive reinforcement is essential to your dog's learning process. If all you ever do is tell your dog "no," your relationship isn't going to be a very good one.

Praise is cheap -- free, in fact! -- so use it a lot. Use praise when your dog's trying to get it right. Use it more when your dog's succeeding. Use it when your dog's just paying attention to you, because it's all connected. Reward the small stuff, and bigger things will follow. Be a fun person to be around, and your dog will love you for it.

And what about punishment? Here, too, people make some serious mistakes. Your dog needs -- craves -- structure in his life, and you need to provide it. But you also need to know how to respond when he pushes the limits, which he will.

A correction should never be a release of anger, a clearing out of pent-up feelings by unloading them on the apparent cause of the problem: your dog.

Instead, a correction is another way to communicate with your dog, to foster in him a clear understanding of his place in your human pack. As such, a proper correction is another way to strengthen the bond between you and your pet. "Punishment" could be as simple as the withholding of praise or using a distraction to stop the offending behavior and redirect your dog. Hitting or yelling at your pet isn't communication. It's abuse.

Are you being fair in what you ask of your dog? How would you feel about a boss who kept changing the names of your tasks or asked you to do two things at once? Or had different rules for different places and times? It would drive you nuts, wouldn't it? And yet, that's exactly what people do to their dogs all the time. Once your dog knows a command, use it the same way each time and never change its meaning. Be clear and be consistent.

What do I mean by consistent? One example I hear all the time is when someone says "sit down" to a dog when he really means "sit." Now you know that when someone says "sit down" to you, it's the same thing as "sit." But if you teach your dog "sit" as one behavior and "down" as another, you can understand why "sit down" is confusing. Which do you want? Sit? Or down?

Same for saying "down" when you really mean "off." I was visiting someone once when her cocker spaniel jumped on the couch beside me. "Down!" commanded her owner, and the dog laid down beside me, wagging her tail proudly. "She's so willful," said the woman, who didn't realize the dog had in fact obeyed her perfectly.

Keep training, and don't be shy about getting help over the rough patches by finding a good trainer or behaviorist. Dog training succeeds by degrees and by creativity. You expand the length of time and the number of situations in which your dog will execute a command, and you look for new ways to use what he knows so you can continue to develop and strengthen the bond between you.

So build, a little bit at a time, celebrating every step along the way. Living is learning, and learning is good.

Q&A

Tips for keeping kitty grounded

Q: We are having the worst time keeping our cat off the counters and tables. We turn our backs for a second and he's up in a flash, helping himself to food.

It's rude, and it's hardly sanitary. I've swatted him and screamed at him, but it doesn't help. He scats when he sees me coming, but he just gets sneakier about getting up there. Any suggestions? -- P.W., via e-mail

A: Interrupting your cat's unwanted behavior in a sneaky fashion is the key. Punishment just makes you a jerk in your cat's eyes and doesn't stop the counter-cruising when you're not around.

You need to outsmart your feline and make sure you are not caught in the act of correcting him.

You want your cat to think the counter and table are no longer fun places to hang out. Collect your arsenal: a water blaster gun, heavy magazine, air horn, empty soda can with pennies in it closed up with tape. Make a loud noise and startle him, or shoot the water gun. Do not aim for the cat; just be close. You want a startled response, not full-blown fear, pain or panic.

Once your cat learns that the counters and tables discourage his jumping up on their own -- remember, your cat can't know you're really the enforcer -- then your pet will be more inclined to keep his paws on the ground and his fur out of your food. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp

Q: I was more than a little surprised to see you write that raisins and grapes can be toxic to pets. Are you sure about that? We've shared both with our dogs before. -- Y.R., via e-mail

A: We got quite a few letters about our inclusion of raisins and grapes in the list of off-limits foods for pets. But it's true: The Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has recorded multiple reports of kidney failure linked to raisins and grapes.

No one's really sure what the problem is, but the APCC is concerned enough to warn pet lovers that these fruits should not be given as treats. For more information, visit the APCC site (www.aspca.com/apcc).

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

GOOD BEHAVIOR

Illness can cause behavior problems

Does your pet seem short-tempered lately? Think it's spite? Think again. Imagine you have a toothache, feel fire when you use the bathroom or have bugs crawling all over you that make you itch. Would you be more or less likely to snap at a loved one?

Even low levels of discomfort can trigger aggression. Before guessing at the problem and possibly making it worse, start with a thorough veterinary exam for both minor and major medical conditions. Blood work, urinalysis, radiographs and other diagnostics rule out physical irritations and serious illness. Regulating thyroid and altering pets removes hormone-related aggression.

Aggressive behavior is also learned. So after medical causes are removed or ruled out, do yourself and your pet a big favor by starting a program of behavior modification using reliable, gentle methods. Veterinarians work with behaviorists, using medications to help pets in the initial stages.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

PET TIP

Cats can learn to walk on leash

Many indoor cats can be trained to enjoy an outdoor outing on a harness and leash. Choose a harness designed for cats, not for dogs, in a figure-eight design. As with collars, harnesses come in many colors, with lightweight leashes to match.

Don't expect your cat to heel like a dog, however. Walking a cat consists of encouraging your pet to explore with treats and praise, with you following. Never leave your cat tethered and unattended, which leaves him vulnerable to attack or to a terrifying time of hanging suspended from his harness should he try to get over a fence.

While no indoor cat has to be walked on leash, some of them come to enjoy it enough to make leash-training worth the effort to try. Be sure to walk your cat in an area that's free of such dangers as off-leash dogs, since a terrified cat on a leash is no fun to handle. -- Gina Spadafori

THE SCOOP

Parrots need to be handled properly

To make the most of a relationship with a new parrot -- in any size from budgie to macaw -- you need to set the right tone from the start. You need to assure your new bird that you are a wonderful, kind and fun person, but you also need to gently but firmly establish that you are the boss. This is done through consistent, firm handling and gentle training -- never, ever through punishment.

It's not hard, if you follow some basic guidelines:

-- Learn when to leave your bird alone. Birds are emotional and sometimes quite moody, and there are times when it's best just to let them be. Give him space when he needs it.

-- Control your bird's comings and goings. Instead of opening the cage door to let your pet out, ask your bird to step up onto your hand and then bring him out. Likewise, give the "step up" command when it's time to put your bird back in his cage.

-- Don't let your bird ignore a command. If you say "step up," persist until your bird complies. Birds are very smart, and if they figure a way around you, they'll take it. Once your leadership starts to erode, you'll have a hard time reclaiming your position.

-- Keep your bird at a level lower than your head. In the bird world, higher birds are leader birds. In the beginning, keep your bird's cage and play gyms below the level of your chin. When playing with your bird, keep your arm low, too, and don't let your bird on your shoulder.

Above all, don't ruin any good habits the breeder instilled in your bird by letting your pet become a demanding brat. Set limits and stick to them. Your bird will love you for it. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

I saw it on TV!

New way of reducing shedding? Great new toy for pets? If it's new and you've heard about it, chances are you've bumped into it in a store or seen it on TV. The top sources for pet owners to hear about new pet products (multiple answers allowed):

Browsing in store: 58 percent

Television: 57 percent

Print ad: 42 percent

Veterinarian: 26 percent

Friend: 24 percent

Direct mail: 19 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

PETS ON THE WEB

Dogpatch loves agile canines

The Dogpatch (www.dogpatch.org) is one of the oldest comprehensive sites for dog lovers on the Web. The information on it is excellent -- especially the offerings on the sport of canine agility -- but things can be a little tough to locate.

That's because the site started small and just kept growing, with search engines, indexes and navigation more or less added as an afterthought. But don't let that discourage you, because it's a fun site just to poke around in. You'll surely find something of interest to you and your dog, even if it wasn't exactly what you were looking for in the first place.

Don't forget to visit the Dogpatch Forum, where dog lovers help each other with every aspect of care and training. The links page will help you find a lot of super new dog sites, too. -- Gina Spadafori

Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

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