Universal Press Syndicate

Nothing is more important to your bird than the cage you buy and where you put it.

You want your bird to be safe and feel secure in his cage. He should also feel included as part of the family, even when he's confined. A proper cage -- well-designed, large, and made of safe and sturdy materials -- and proper placement can achieve all these goals.

A good rule of thumb on size is to choose the next cage larger from what the labeling says. Your cockatiel will be far happier in a cage designed for a small parrot, for example. If you can afford it, go even bigger, but make sure the bar spacing isn't so wide that your pet can get his head caught.

Look for smooth welds and no paint chipping. Your bird will be working as best he can to destroy his cage, so you don't want him breaking off any toxic pieces.

Choose a location where your bird can be adjacent to family activities but not in the center of them. A bird will feel most comfortable if his cage is against a wall, so he can watch the goings-on without having to worry about anyone sneaking up on him. For the same reason, place the cage where your bird cannot be frightened -- for example, away from large furniture that may block his view of the room, and the coming and going of family and friends. Birds don't like to be startled.

Position the cage far enough away from a window that direct sun rays don't fall on your bird and possibly overheat him, since he cannot escape. Putting the cage near (as opposed to next to) a window so your bird can see out isn't a bad idea, though, especially if the window overlooks a changing panorama that can help keep your pet entertained.

Although the kitchen may seem like an ideal place for your bird's cage, it's really not a good idea. The potential for your bird to breathe deadly fumes, such as those from overheated nonstick cookware, is too high in the kitchen. These products can kill your bird before you even realize there's a problem.

Probably the best place to situate your bird's home is the family room or any other place, aside from the kitchen, where the people in your home hang out.

After choosing the location, set up the cage. Two or three well-chosen toys are a must to keep your bird busy. Use a variety of natural (cleaned tree branches) and store-bought perches, and be sure to position them so they aren't directly over food and water dishes. You don't want to encourage your bird to poop into his dishes.

Line the cage bottom to make cleanup easy, and you're ready to introduce your bird to his new home. Don't be surprised if he reacts with horror, though. It's only natural.

You can help your bird conquer his anxiety by putting the new cage next to the old one for a few days if possible so your bird can observe it. Even if the new cage is his first and you have no choice but to put him directly into it, be patient and understanding during the transitional period. Your bird will soon be enjoying his new environment.

SIDEBAR

Bird toys

Toys are essential to maintaining the physical and mental well-being of parrots large and small. Playthings help keep pet birds fit while fighting the boredom that can contribute to behavioral problems such as feather-picking.

Shopping for bird toys can be fun, but the costs do add up, especially if you have one of those gleefully destructive parrots. With some creativity, you can make your money go further by complementing store-bought bird toys with alternatives.

The cardboard cores of toilet-paper and paper-towel rolls are perfect for shredding, especially for smaller birds. Other cheapies include old toothbrushes, hard-plastic baby keys, pingpong balls, old plastic measuring cups and spoons, and plastic bottle tops. Wash them in soap and water, rinse well, and air-dry before offering them to your bird. -- Gina Spadafori

DOGCARS

Mini's new Clubman has room for dogs

The Mini Cooper, in both the coupe and convertible edition, has never been anyone's idea of a DogCar. But with the introduction of the Clubman, dog lovers can now enjoy the sporty little retro-styled darling, too.

The Clubman wagon isn't all that much bigger than the regular Mini -- about 3 inches wider and 6 inches longer. The nonexistent rear-seat leg room -- plus the contortionist-required way of gaining access -- almost guarantees its use as a two-seater where two-legged passengers are involved.

But we're all about the dogs, so how does the Clubman rate for the four-leggers? It's about as good as it gets in the small-car category.

With the rear seats dropped flat, the tiny Clubman is amazingly spacious -- 33 cubic feet of cargo space, nice and square to accommodate dogs and gear. The headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers are so generous that getting in the car is like a magic act, a mind-blowing presto-chango from the tiny exterior to the comfortable interior.

As part of the week's test, I took the Clubman on a trip from Northern to Southern California. The car had no problem keeping up on the North-South Autobahn, although with so many SUVs and minivans on the road, you sometimes feel as if you're driving in a high-walled canyon if you stay in the middle lane.

Minis are mini, make no mistake.

In city driving, the Mini's sharp handling will get you to the dog park with delight, and as for parking ... if there's even a tiny space near the vet's, it's yours.

The Clubman, like all Minis, is built low to the ground, and that means even an older dog should have no problem getting in once you open the novel "barn doors" on the back. Crates won't be an option for big dogs, but ample anchor points make safety harnesses easy to use.

Price for an entry-level Clubman starts around $21,000, with fuel-efficiency rated at 28 mpg city/37 mpg highway for the manual version, 26 mpg/34 mpg for the automatic. -- Gina Spadafori

PET BUZZ

New vets graduate at a steady rate

-- The 28 U.S. veterinary schools graduated 481 new animal doctors in 2008, a number that has remained flat for the past 20 years. Colorado State University graduated the most new veterinarians, totaling 136 graduates (117 of them women), followed by Ohio State University, with 134. DVM Newsmagazine reported one of the most unusual graduation stories from the University of California, Davis, where a mother and daughter graduated together. (The husband and father of the pair was also a veterinarian; he died in 2000.)

-- A couple in Liunan, China, received a caution from police after they were caught trying to teach their dog to drive on a local expressway.

-- Occupational asthma is a risk for veterinarians, who are bombarded with animal dander, powder from latex gloves, powdered medication and more. In fact, the Journal of the Veterinary Medical Association reports that the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology identifies veterinarians as one of the professions at highest risk.

-- The biggest cat in history was an Australian, weighing in at 46 pounds, 15 ounces, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

-- Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could theoretically have more than a million descendents. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Help for cats who chew on clothing

Dogs will chew on almost anything, especially when they're puppies. Destructive chewing is a common behavior complaint made by people with dogs, but there's a destructive chewing problem in some cats, too.

It's called "wool-sucking," because wool sweaters and blankets seem to be the most attractive to cats who have this behavior. (Some wool-sucking cats, in fact, prefer plastic materials, such as those found in common plastic grocery bags.) The chewing isn't quite like a dog's total destructive gnaw-it-up, either: Wool-sucking cats typically work the same spot on a piece of cloth, sucking and chewing on that one spot and returning to it if distracted.

Some have attributed this behavior to a kitten's being weaned too early, or to the taste of lanolin in wool cloth. In fact, the behavior most likely has a hereditary component, since it's most common in the so-called Oriental breeds such as Siamese or their mixes.

In some cases, adding more roughage to the diet (such a pureed pumpkin) can reduce a cat's desire to destroy wool clothing and other household items. The best advice, though, is to put away what you don't want the wool-sucker to destroy and be sure your cat gets enough exercise. The more interactive play the better to help reduce nervous energy. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

Thinking inside the box

There's a case to be made that the invention of the litter box is what turned barn cats into house cats. More facts about the fixture and filler most feline fans deal with daily:

Cat owners with litter boxes: 83%

Cat owners who buy clumpable litter: 72%

Cat owners who have more than one box: 21%

Cat owners who buy litter deodorizer: 41%

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

PET TIP

Breath freshener? Try apple slice

Looking for a quick breath-freshener for the dog who has eaten something you wish he hadn't? Try a couple of slices of fresh apple.

Many dogs love the sweetness and crispness of apples, especially if you're sharing your treat with your pup. And the fruit does a pretty good job of eliminating doggy breath, albeit temporarily. Apple slices are a natural treat that, like baby carrots, are often recommended as a better choice for pudgy pets than a steady flow of commercial treats.

Of course, if your dog (or cat) has an ongoing problem with bad breath, you need to visit the vet. Chronic bad breath is often a symptom of dental problems that may mean constant suffering and pain for your pet -- and potentially more serious health problems down the road.

An apple slice a day won't keep the vet away, in other words. -- 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

The observable delight cats get from a good scratch is reason enough to provide them with non-destructive opportunities to indulge in this satisfying behavior.

But too many people seem far too willing to deny their pets this normal behavior by declawing them without even trying to train them. While it's natural on our part to not want our furniture demolished, it's also possible to let cats keep their claws and channel their behavior in ways we humans can live with.

If you're going to have any success in getting your cat to scratch where you want -- instead of somewhere you don't, such as the corner of your couch -- you need to provide alternatives -- scratching posts and boxes, and cat trees -- that are not only sturdy but are also made of a material your pet can enjoy digging into.

Stability is important, because the first time a scratching post or cat tree comes crashing down on your pet is the last time she'll ever use it, rest assured. As far as material, sisal, a natural ropelike covering, is popular with cats, as is a carpet with loops that aren't too shaggy.

Many cats love cat trees, especially those with shelves, hiding spaces or perches. These days, these products come in all shapes and sizes, and many are designed to fit in attractively with the decor -- no more leftover '70s shag carpet covering!

Horizontal scratching boxes or pads offer another alternative, as do doorknob hangers made of cat-friendly scratching material. Try to offer as many choices in as many places as possible.

Be sure to place scratching items in places your cat frequents. A cat tree won't be of any use if it's hidden in a garage or basement, after all. You can ease the transition by positioning the scratching post, tree or box near the place where you're discouraging scratching. If that's not an aesthetically attractive spot, you can slowly move the scratching material to a more eye-pleasing location after your cat gets in the habit of using it.

You can make scratching posts, trees and boxes even more appealing by rubbing fresh catnip on them, by adding toys, or by playing games with your cat on (or near) the scratching material. These strategies will help make your cat comfortable with preferred scratching areas and will help to encourage return business.

Once you have pleasant places for your cat to scratch, you can discourage use of the furniture by covering the corners (or other scratched areas) with double-sided tape or panels of foil. The use of such materials is temporary: Once your cat gets in the habit of scratching where you want and leaving the unpleasantly padded furniture alone, you can remove the tape or foil and enjoy the look of your furniture again.

Keep squirt bottles handy as well, and be sure to deploy them in a way that makes the cat think the water that hit her didn't come from you.

Always remember to reward your cat with treats, praise and gentle physical attention when she scratches in a suitable spot.

Above all, be positive! Why punish your pet when you can offer alternatives and reward your pet for using them? If you're patient and persistent, your cat will learn to focus all that happy scratching on the places you've provided, leaving your expensive furniture unscathed.

SIDEBAR

Clipping your cat's claws is easy

Keeping the sharp tips of your cat's claws blunted will also help make living with your cat easier.

All you need is patience and a nail trimmer (either human or pet variety works fine). While your cat is relaxed and sleepy -- after a meal is a great time -- slowly expose a single claw and praise your cat. Over time, let your cat get used to you handling her feet gently as part of a petting session, exposing all her claws without clipping them.

After your cat is comfortable with having her paws handled -- this step can take a few days or more, depending on your cat -- nip off the very tip of a single claw. Don't push: While some cats may not mind a swift progression to having all claws nipped in a single session, others may tolerate only one nail tip a day.

Always end your trimming session with praise and petting, of course! -- Gina Spadafori

Q&A

Too many dogs for the park

Q: We have a problem in our dog park with a dog walker who brings in a half-dozen dogs at once and turns them all off-leash to run. They don't mind him, and he can't control them off-leash. He doesn't even try, and usually he's talking on his cell phone while completely ignoring them when they bully the other dogs.

People have told him he should bring in only as many dogs as he can control, but he says he can do what he wants. Others can't use the park when he's there. Do you have an opinion about this? -- B.C., via e-mail

A: No one should be in the dog park if he is unable to handle the animals he brings in, whether it's a single dog or a half-dozen or more.

Everyone who takes a pet into a dog park needs to be responsible for the behavior of that animal, watching to be sure the dog is neither bully nor victim and that no one gets hurt. The dog park is not for catching up on one's reading or cell phone conversations, but rather for safely exercising and socializing a dog. One dog is hard enough to monitor properly; multiple dogs are nearly impossible.

To operate safely, dog parks need good basic rules, an active community to police through peer pressure and plenty of common sense. Your dog park needs to review its rules -- not to ban dog-walking professionals from using the facilities, but to insist that they behave in ways that are safe for all involved.

With the rules changed, you can then point to them and insist that the dog walker shape up or get out. -- Gina Spadafori

Q: To put it bluntly, our dog stinks. We've tried all kinds of products, and nothing works. Is there something we can feed him that will help? -- D.S., via e-mail

A: If you're constantly wincing at your pet's objectionable odor, you need to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Bad breath can be a sign of rotting teeth or gums, and smelly ears are often a result of infections. An overall bad smell may indicate skin problems.

Don't ignore these warning signs. Disease can make your pet miserable and shorten his life. Stinky pets aren't normal. Proper diagnosis and treatment by a veterinarian can improve your pet's quality of life -- and your life, as well, by keeping your pet sweet-smelling. -- Dr. Marty Becker

(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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

Hotels offer best for pets

-- A mosquito explosion has increased the number of heartworm infections in dogs and cats. Veterinary experts say dogs and cats that haven't been checked for the parasite in the last six months should be tested and put on some preventive medicine. Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine notes that heartworm preventives can kill the young heartworm before it reaches the heart.

-- With an increasing number of pet lovers taking their dogs on the road, hotels are responding with tail-wagging gourmet meals fit for a king -- a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, that is. USA Today reports that entrées including Zen Yo ($11), a hearty vegetable stir-fry with poached eggs and steamed brown rice that's designed to help pets adjust to jet lag and altitude, are available at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix. Or dogs can devour an organic Buddy Burger hamburger with cheese ($5) at the Los Angeles Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, which also offers organic and locally sourced foods and in-room doggy dining service with cooked-to-order items.

-- The robotic nose may replace working dogs someday. Scientists are developing an electronic sniffer that could be used to detect drugs, bombs, termites and other unwanted things that working dogs currently handle. The super-sensitive nose will be made of a thin film that will capture gas molecules, with the information processed by sensors and computer software to identify the smell.

-- The tragic death of a horse at this year's Kentucky Derby may be influencing a change in attitude toward the Sport of Kings. A recent Gallup Poll reveals that 38 percent of Americans are in favor of an end to the racing of horses and dogs. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

BREED TYPE

French Bulldogs a perfect city dog

You see them everywhere you look these days, hardy little dogs with upright ears, trotting pugnaciously next to their owners. Their growing popularity is no surprise, given their compact size, happy natures and easy-care coats.

The French Bulldog -- or "Frenchie," as his friends and fans usually call him -- is in many ways the perfect dog for city dwellers. Topping out at 28 pounds, he's ideally sized for apartment living. Despite his characteristic "tough guy" attitude, Frenchies are far less likely to become nuisance barkers than other small dogs. They also have minimal grooming and exercise requirements, making them great companions for seniors or those with physical limitations.

Devotion to their owners is a hallmark of the breed, which can be a blessing in terms of companionship but can make them less than ideal for anyone who spends a lot of time away from home.

Frenchies can also be a bit harder than other breeds to house-train and aren't always the best with cats. They can have a number of genetic health problems, including breathing difficulties, spine malformations and heat intolerance. And they snore. Loudly.

The Frenchie's popularity is on the rise, which means you'll want to avoid those seeking to profit from his popularity with careless or greedy breeding practices. Be sure to obtain your French Bulldog from a reputable rescue group (www.frenchbulldogrescue.org) or a breeder who is a member of the French Bulldog Club of America (www.frenchbulldogclub.org). -- Christie Keith

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

What reptiles need

Here are the top pet supplies purchased by owners of pet reptiles, by percent of those who reported purchasing the items:

Glass habitat 64 percent

Habitat furnishings 58 percent

Books on care 54 percent

Incandescent bulbs 39 percent

Fluorescent bulbs 38 percent

Bedding 30 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

PET TIP

A recipe for 'de-skunking'

Forget tomato juice. If your pet ever gets skunked, the most effective de-stinking recipe is one you make fresh, from ingredients that you should keep on hand.

The recipe: Take 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, such as Ivory. Mix and immediately apply to the stinky pet. Rinse thoroughly with clean tap water.

The key is to mix the ingredients immediately before applying them to your pet. The chemical reaction bonds with the molecules that produce the smell and neutralizes them.

Use a washcloth to work carefully around your dog's eyes and ears. And don't even think of storing any leftover solution. The chemical reaction of the combined ingredients cannot be contained -- so just throw the leftovers away. -- 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

The first step in turning an adult dog into a reliable house pet is to embrace a key concept: There's no such thing as a "partially" house-trained dog. He either is or he isn't.

Why is realizing this important? Because if you have a dog who is "sometimes" reliable, you have a dog who isn't getting the picture, probably because no one took the time to teach it to him properly in the first place. To do that, you're going to have to go back to square one.

Before you do, though, make sure you're not dealing with a sick dog. If you have a pet who was perfectly house-trained and is no longer, you must determine that what you have is really a behavior problem, not a health problem. That means you need to check with your veterinarian first.

To be fair, if you've just adopted an adult dog who seems to be urinating all the time, you should have him checked out, too, before assuming he's not house-trained. If everything is fine, you can start training him.

You need to teach your dog what's right before you can correct him for what's wrong. To do this, spend a couple of weeks ensuring he has nothing but successes by never giving him the opportunity to make a mistake. Here's how:

-- Leash him to you in the house so you can monitor his every move during his training period. If he starts to mess, correct him with a sharp "no," take him outside, give a "go" command, and praise him for doing right.

-- Confine him when you cannot watch him. Dogs don't like to mess where they're sleeping, and most will quickly learn to "hold it" when resting in a crate or carrier. Make sure he has a favorite chew toy to work on while he's confined, so he's less likely to be anxious or bored.

-- Take him outside first thing in the morning, at lunch, as soon as you get home from work and just before you go to bed, when you put him in his crate for the night. Always remember to give your "go" command when you're out with him, and praise him when he does as you wish.

The most difficult part of house-training an adult dog is your attitude toward limiting his options in such a way as to make success possible. You may not like the idea of keeping such close tabs on your dog, but bear in mind you won't need to do it forever. Crates and leashes are training tools, not lifelong crutches.

If you've been consistent, your dog will likely have a good idea of what's expected of him at the end of the two weeks, so you can start to give him a little freedom. Don't let him have the run of the house yet. Keep his area small and let him earn the house, room by room, under your supervision, as he proves his understanding of the house rules.

Accidents will happen. If you catch him in the act, correct him with a sharp "no," take him outside and give him the chance to set things right. Give your "go" command, and praise if he does. Clean up the mess promptly and thoroughly, so he won't feel so inclined to refresh his smell there.

If you aren't catching him messing, you're not keeping close enough tabs on him. Go back to the crate and leash and start over.

Consistency and patience are necessary for house-training an adult dog. If you have both, you will likely succeed. Without them, you'll have a very difficult time getting the results you're hoping for.

SIDEBAR

Want to win $1,000 in pet-care supplies?

Every month the Pet Connection sends out a free e-mail newsletter, offering the news and information you need to know to keep your pet healthier and happier. All you have to do to have it delivered to your e-mail inbox is visit PetConnection.com and sign up. We don't sell or share your information, so all you'll be getting is the free e-mail newsletter.

Even better, on the first of every month we draw a name from our e-mail newsletter subscribers and give that person a collection of pet-care supplies with a retail value of $1,000. Past collections have come from Premier Pet, Oster and Kurgo.

The Sept. 1 drawing is for a complete aquarium setup from Hagen, everything you need to get started in fish-keeping except the fish. For more information or to sign up, visit PetConnection.com.

Q&A

Iguana release against the law

Q: Our son has lost interest in his iguana now that he's in middle school. I never liked the thing, and now he's my sole responsibility. We live in South Florida, and it seems the iguana would do OK on his own. I know I've seen other iguanas around. What's the harm in turning him loose? It seems he'll survive just fine. -- M.Q., via e-mail

A: Aside from the cruel proposition of turning loose a pet to fend for itself, your plan is a bad one for the environment -- and in Florida, it's against the law.

The release or escape of non-native plants and animals causes a great deal of problems in places where they can do well enough to displace native species -- and nowhere is this more true than in Florida. The green iguana has been living wild in Florida since 1966, according to state biologists, and is one of more than 40 species of non-native reptiles with a presence in the state.

Shelters and rescue groups do take iguanas and other reptiles, but the number of new homes available for even a healthy, well-socialized large iguana isn't many.

If you cannot or will not keep your pet, you are showing your son that living things are disposable, and that's not a lesson you'll want him to take into your old age. That said, I would always rather see a pet placed in a new home rather than neglected in an old home. So contact your veterinarian, local shelters and rescue groups, and be patient as you work to find a good home for your iguana, if that's the final family decision.

"Iguanas for Dummies" author Melissa Kaplan maintains a current list of reptile rescue groups, along with information on how to find a new home for your pet -- and considerations on how you may be able to keep him instead. Check out the page of resources at www.anapsid.org/societies. PetHobbyist.com has a large and active community of reptile enthusiasts who may also be able to offer advice. -- 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 monthly drawing for more than $1,000 in pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

No dog-cat war in most homes

-- While the idea of dogs and cats at war with each other is a comedic staple, in fact, 47 percent of people who share their homes with a cat also have a dog. These pets get along to varying degrees, from out-and-out loathing to familiar affection. If properly introduced (as in slowly, at the animals' own speed), dogs and cats can usually tolerate each other well. More households have dogs, by the way, but there are more pet cats in the United States. How is that possible? More dogs are "only children," while the average number of cats kept in the average household has increased to nearly 2.5.

-- The phrase "Beware of dog" is so old, its Latin equivalent -- cave canem -- has been found on signs in Roman ruins. The word "watchdog" isn't quite as old, but it has been around a long, long time. The first mention of it: by Shakespeare, in "The Tempest."

-- Most cats have five toes on their front paws, but only four of them hit the ground. The fifth toe is called a dewclaw and is found on the inside of the front paw. The dewclaw is the feline equivalent of our thumb, and it's used for grasping prey and climbing trees. A normal feline back paw, by the way, has four toes that are all called into service when walking.

Any number of toes over the norm (usually an extra one or two, but occasionally as many as three or four) makes a cat polydactyl, which means "many fingers." Polydactylism is a dominant genetic trait, which means just one polydactyl parent is enough to make a litter of polydactyl kittens.

-- Helen Keller, the blind and deaf Alabama girl whose triumph over her disabilities made her an international sensation, was the first American to own an Akita. On a speaking tour of Japan in the days before World War II, Keller became infatuated with the courage, loyalty and lore of the Japanese breed and was promised a dog of her own. A breeder offered her an adult, but then realized a puppy was better-suited for her. The puppy was Kamikaze-Go, called Kami by Keller. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

Tall, taller, tallest: Irish wolfhounds rule

While we humans measure our height to the top of our heads, the height of a dog is measured at the highest point of the shoulder, called the withers. The tallest living dog is a Great Dane named Gibson, who is 42.4 inches at the withers -- but more than 7 feet tall when standing on two legs.

In general, though, the Irish wolfhound is considered the tallest breed of dog.

The recent trend toward ultra-tiny dogs has a lot of petite pups being carried around, but the smallest so far is a Chihuahua named Heaven Sent Brady, 6 inches long from nose to tail tip.

The heaviest breed of dog is the English mastiff. For the biggest of the big, you have to go back a few years. Zorba de la-Susa, a male English mastiff born in London, was certified as the world's heaviest dog at 343 pounds. Zorba, who was born in 1981 and died in November 1989, was also the world's longest dog, at 8 feet, 3 inches long.

And that brings up an important point: While we love superlatives -- biggest, smallest and so on -- when it comes to our dogs, breeds that are extreme in any way tend to struggle with chronic illness and die young. It doesn't really seem fair that these animals should suffer because of human whims when it comes to how dogs should look.

Nature seems to have limits to just how far we can push the design of dogs, and we go beyond those lines at peril to our pets. -- Gina Spadafori and Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Big birds more popular

While the overall percentage of birds kept as pets has remained small -- 6.4 percent of all households in 2004 -- the trend in bird ownership has been away from small birds such as canaries and finches. Ownership percentages among bird owners:

1998 2004

Small birds 58 percent 45 percent

Medium birds 30 percent 53 percent

Large birds 12 percent 18 percent

Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Dogs don't get why people spank them

Primates often swat at their offspring, but dogs do not use their paws in this way. Rather, when dogs paw at each other, it's a friendly invitation to play. When it comes to showing leadership -- or trying to -- dogs growl, show teeth or try to look bigger, with hackles up, ears and tails raised.

Puppies know instinctively that size and voice tones matter. Standing tall and using a low tone in asking your dog to sit transmits authority in a way a dog can understand.

Bottom line? Don't spank your dog. At best, it's a miscommunication; at worst, dogs who are spanked may become afraid of hands or are likely to see moving hands as a threat and a reason to bite.

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Roland 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.

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