Universal Press Syndicate

The Fourth of July is the ultimate summer holiday, a celebration not only of America's history and traditions, but also of family, food and fireworks fun.

But while we may love our pyrotechnics, pet lovers always need to remember our midsummer spectacular is no holiday for many of our animal companions.

While we humans are oohing and aahing, too often our pets are frightened out of their wits. They'll spend the holiday under the bed (or in the basement) cowering, shaking, drooling, and seeking safety and comfort. Scared pets have been known to jump out of apartment windows, leap over or dig under fences, or chew their skin until it's raw. They may also bolt out an open door to become lost but never found.

With the holiday at hand, make plans to ease the stress on your pet.

First, here's what you should not do -- reward your pet for being scared. Comforting scared pets may seem the right thing to do, but it sends the wrong message. If you remain calm and don't baby scared pets, they'll be closer to learning how to handle loud noises.

The best defense against Fourth of July problems is a good offense. Professional trainers and behaviorists start socializing dogs and making every potentially negative experience -- such as fireworks and thunderstorms -- into something rewarding. If a negative experience comes with tasty treats, then your pet is going to at least tolerate it, if not welcome it. This works best when started as a puppy, but don't give up hope if your dog is already an adult: New behaviors can be learned.

One way to help your pet is to expose him or her to commercial recordings of thunderstorms or fireworks, and play them at increasing volume. Play the recordings at a low volume -- recognizing how acute a pet's hearing is -- and give praise and treats. It's a party! As the volume and duration are increased during subsequent sessions, give them really tasty treats so they have the expectation of a repeat treat. Initially, play the recording for five minutes, eventually leaving it on during daily activities as "normal" background noise.

That's not going to happen with just a few days to plan, so make a note for next year, and get ready to cope with this year's racket.

Provide pets with safe, secure hiding spaces inside your home. Dogs and cats who are comfortable in crates can find them a good place to ride out the noise, especially if the crate is put in a quiet, darkened part of the house. Whatever you do, don't just throw your pet outside. A terrified pet can find a way out of the yard and, once out, will just keep running. The Fourth is a sadly busy time for emergency veterinary clinics, with a steady stream of pets hit by cars, and for animal control facilities dealing with an influx of lost pets.

If you know your pet becomes totally unhinged by fireworks noise, talk to your veterinarian before the holiday about an appropriate medication to calm your pet. Make sure you understand the dose and how long before the evening falls to give the medication. You might also ask to learn some acupressure points that will help to calm your pet.

This Independence Day, while we enjoy our parades, picnics and fireworks, don't forget your pet: He's counting on you!

SIDEBAR

Some products to help fight the fear

A handful of products can help get anxious pets through stressful times.

Head halters, such as the Gentle Leader head collar, mimic how mother dogs control and comfort their young by putting pressure on the bridge of the nose or behind the ear. You can also try the Calming Cap, a product that fits over a pet's head and eyes. The Gentle Leader head halter and Calming Cap are available through Premier products (www.premier.com, 800-933-5595).

The Anxiety Wrap (www.anxietywrap.com, 877-652-1266) applies gentle pressure to a dog's body to focus his attention away from what's scaring him. Advocates compare its use and effect to how whole-body pressure is used to calm overstimulated autistic children.

Some behaviorists recommend pheromones, such as those found in Feliway (for cats) and DAP (dog-appeasing pheromones, for dogs) (Petcomfortzone.com, 800-234-2269). These substances mimic those in nature that make animals feel more relaxed. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Q&A

Two dogs, five kids: Is harmony possible?

Q: Can you help a first-time dog owner do the right thing? We have friends coming to visit, and they are bringing their 10-month-old boxer with them. We have a 7-month-old goldendoodle who is very sweet and gentle. Both dogs are crate-trained, neutered males. We have three kids and our friends have two kids, so we will have five kids under the age of 10 as well as these two dogs. We hope to be able to enjoy the weekend. -- D.B., via e-mail

A: Your goldendoodle is much more likely to put out the hospitality mat to the visiting boxer if you arrange for the dogs to get to know each other somewhere off your property. Give the dogs enough exercise in advance so they're tired when they meet. Then meet in an open area, such as a park, and walk the dogs on leash in a parallel fashion. Be armed with distractions like treats and balls to allow the dogs to be aware of each other but not too focused on each other. Your goal is to help the dogs feel relaxed during the first meeting and to associate each other with the good feelings of a walk. Each person walking a dog should praise his dog's relaxed muscle tone. Be ready to distract each dog with a toy or a treat at the first sign of muscle tension.

Do not allow the dogs to meet and greet until they seem relaxed at a distance. Ideally, the dogs should have relaxed tails and wiggling bodies when they first meet. A wagging tail does not always mean a friendly dog. A tense wag is different from loose, relaxed tail-wagging.

If the dogs are meeting on leash, you can further prevent tension by keeping a loose leash and by keeping the dog walkers' bodies relaxed. Family members can help set a positive tone by letting go of all muscle tension, giving the dogs no direct eye contact and by talking in a happy tone in a stream of friendly talk: "Go play. Have fun. Oh, what a nice doggy!" Bounce balls and squeak toys to keep the mood light. If the dogs are relaxed, it would be ideal to allow off-leash play in a fenced area, such as a vacant tennis court, before taking them home.

When you take the dogs home, have them go into the backyard first and then into the house. Again, use toys and treats to keep the dogs' minds on the people. Keep the boxer on leash once inside the house, and give the goldendoodle complete freedom. If it's easier, kennel the boxer, but keep the kennel out with the family.

It is also important to properly introduce your children to the other family's dog and vice versa. Set up rules and supervise all activity in the beginning to prevent a bad experience.

Start with one dog out at a time, as the children learn to give the dog instructions to sit for a treat or toy and play fetch-type games. Do not allow running and rough-housing. When both dogs are out, keep their leashes attached. It will be easier to grab a leash if a dog needs to be separated from the fray. The adults will need to put dogs and children into a timeout if there is too much excitement or misbehavior on anyone's part.

As the visit progresses, and if all goes well, you may be able to relax on the constant canine and kid patrol. However, when in doubt, either supervise or give the dogs a timeout for safety. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net

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

PET BUZZ

Canine churchgoers: Opening the pews

-- As churchgoers enter the sanctuary every Thursday at the Underwood Hills Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Neb., some may sniff their fellow parishioners. An occasional sharp note may even cause a woof to waft through the sanctuary. But this is forgiving audience: It's full of dog lovers who join at least two other U.S. churches, in New York and near Boston, that allow dogs at regular weekly services, according to USA Today.

-- Games are one of the most popular categories in the Apple Apps store -- there are 6,700 of them. And while most games have been for single players, new games promise to allow a more social experience similar to multiplayer online games on computers. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ngmoco is working on a virtual-pet game called Touch Pets, in which players complete missions with their virtual dogs to earn points that can be redeemed for virtual items like clothing. When the new iPhone operating system is available, Touch Pets will use push notification to let users set up play dates with other players and their dogs.

-- The sleepiest animal in the world might be the koala, who naps for 22 hours. The animal that is awake most of the time is the giraffe, who sleeps (standing up) only 30 minutes a day, divided into very short naps.

-- A Parenting magazine poll showed that 42.61 percent of parents called their pets their child's "brother" or "sister." -- 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." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

THE SCOOP

Take two: Now's a great time for feline adoption

If you've ever thought about getting a companion for your cat, there's no time like now. Kittens are everywhere, and healthy, well-mannered adults are also in good supply. You're sure to find the perfect pal for your cat with a trip or two to the shelter.

Since the worst territorial spats -- complete with urine-marking -- are between cats who aren't spayed or neutered, your chances for peaceful coexistence are many times greater if the cats are both altered before any introductions are planned.

Prepare a room for your new pet, with food and water bowls, and a litter box and scratching post that needn't be shared. (Separate gear may be a temporary arrangement, or it may be lifelong. It all depends on the cats involved.) This separate room will be your new pet's home turf while the two cats get used to each other's existence.

Bring the cat home in a carrier, and set it in the room you've prepared. Let your resident cat discover the caged animal, and don't be discouraged by initial hisses. Let your resident cat explore, and when the new cat is alone in the room, close the door and let him out of the carrier. If he doesn't want to leave the carrier at first, let him be. Just leave the carrier door open and the cat alone.

Maintain each pet separately for a week or so -- with lots of love and play for both -- and then on a day when you're around to observe, leave the door to the new cat's room open. Don't force them together. Territory negotiations between cats can be drawn-out and delicate, and you must let them work it out on their own, ignoring the hisses and glares.

Eventually you can encourage them both to play with you, using a cat "fishing pole" or a toy on a string. And slowly feed them in ever-closer proximity. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Plant poisons to watch for

The Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. recently analyzed the more than 400 claims it received in 2008 to find which plants and plant products proved most likely to poison pets. Raisins and grapes topped the list, followed by mushrooms and marijuana. In 2008, the average amount claimed for plant poisoning was $427. The top 10 claims were for:

1. Raisins/grapes

2. Mushrooms

3. Marijuana

4. Lilies

5. Walnuts

6. Onions

7. Sago palm

8. Macadamia nuts

9. Azaleas

10. Hydrangeas

Source: www.petinsurance.com

PET RX

Any bite can be a true emergency

Accidents happen even to the cautious. One disaster that's all too common in a multipet household is a biting incident between a predatory animal (cat or dog) and a prey one (bird, hamster, rabbit).

A bite is a genuine medical emergency, even if the pet who has been bitten seems fine afterward.

Dogs and cats have bacteria in their mouths that can develop into a deadly infection in a bird or other prey animal. For many of these, a prompt trip to a veterinarian and a course of antibiotics will mean the difference between life and death. Nights, weekends -- no matter when it happens -- a bitten bird or rabbit needs help, fast.

Never assume your dog or cat won't bite your rabbit or bird. The prey-predator wiring can be very difficult to short-circuit. Keep these pets safely apart at all times. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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.

Universal Press Syndicate

Summer is the time when we enjoy our yards the most -- or would, if our dogs hadn't pulled up the shrubs, sat on the flowers, dug holes in the lawn and left yellow spots everywhere.

But it doesn't have to be that way. While it takes planning, work and dog-savvy, you can have a dog and a nice yard. You can't just plant whatever you want wherever you want and then throw a bored, unsupervised dog into the mix. Here are the basic guidelines:

-- Exercise your dog. Dogs who don't get daily exercise are likely to expend that energy and cure boredom doing things people don't like -- digging, chewing and barking. Dogs who are well-exercised are more likely to sleep while you are gone. A dog with too much energy isn't one you want to leave alone all day -- and yet that's exactly what many people do. If you don't take care of your dog's exercise requirements, he's going to take care of them on his own, by digging a hole to China or by removing the shrubs in your yard. (Leaving him inside just shifts the destruction -- although it will keep him from bothering your neighbors with his barking.)

When you leave, you should also offer your dog alternatives to choosing his own amusements: Provide him with chew toys. You can make them more appealing by praising him for using them and by stuffing hollow toys -- such as a Kong -- with something delicious, like peanut butter.

-- Work with your dog's habits when planning plantings. Observe how your dog uses your yard, and plan accordingly. For instance, many dogs consider it their duty to run the fence line, leaving a well-worn trail where many people hope to put flowers. Instead of fighting with your dog, go with his natural instincts. Place your beds and plantings away from the fence line, and let him do his guard-dog patrolling behind those plants.

-- Flush pee spots with water. After your dog relieves himself, flush the spot thoroughly with fresh water. This will dilute the urine and help to prevent the yellow spots in the lawn.

-- Redirect digging. Some breeds were developed to dig, and expecting them not to indulge in it is unfair. Give your dog a dig zone. While hardly clean fun, it is good fun, especially for dogs who are happiest with their noses in the dirt and their paws flying. In areas you want untouched, you can keep many dogs from digging if you keep them exercised, limit their access to dirt, and make the digging experience unpleasant. Sometimes, putting the dog's own stools in the hole and covering them with dirt deters them. Many dogs won't dig if their own mess is under the surface.

-- Put special plants in safer places. Raised beds and hanging planters are the place to put your most precious plants. In borders, put the plants that can take being stepped on in front. What are some dog-friendly plants? Mint is a good one. This plant is nearly indestructible and greets each assault with a wave of cool mint smell. Some lilies are tough enough to be stomped or sat on, as well, and your gardening center may have suggestions for others that are dependable growers in your region.

Dogs don't know a wisteria from a weed, and they never will. That's why it's up to you not to leave them unattended around plants you want left alone. When you leave for work, limit your dog's space for his safety and to protect your plants. Most of a dog's time alone is spent sleeping anyway, so he doesn't need to have the entire run of the house and yard. Outings -- for jogging, walking, fetch or swimming -- should be done with your supervision.

If your dog is allowed in your yard under your supervision only, the chance of his digging or chewing is just about nil -- you can stop him before the damage is done. And you can enjoy your beautiful yard together.

Q&A

Is there a fix for fur-pulling?

Q: Our cat has been pulling his hair out in chunks for the last two years. He now has bald spots. We took him to the vet, and they gave us medicine that didn't help. He began pulling out his hair when our dog got cancer and died. Could this be related? We have three other cats, so I can't imagine he's bored, and they all get along pretty well. What can we do to stop this behavior? -- J.M., via e-mail

A: Fur-pulling can become an obsessive-compulsive disorder in cats, one that starts as a coping mechanism in response to stress. Your cat may have started the fur-pulling to lessen the stress of losing his dog pal.

You mention the fur-pulling started when your dog was dying with cancer and finally died two years ago. The stress of not knowing what was happening and not knowing what to do could be a reason why your cat starting pulling out his fur. Your cat was unable to control the cause of the stress, but he could control the fur-pulling. When your dog died, the social dynamics in the household changed, and your cat may have lost confidence and continues to be stressed by it.

We understand how stressful it can be for many cats to ride in the car and to be at the veterinary hospital, especially if the cat expects scary and painful things to happen. However, getting a thorough veterinary exam with diagnostic testing is important. Fur-pulling can indicate a physical discomfort or stress, a hormone imbalance, a neurologic problem or other medical issue. We recommend ruling out allergies and skin infection. Your veterinarian can recommend a hypo-allergenic diet and a specialist for a complete dermatological workup to rule out allergies and skin disease. A fresh start with a veterinary specialist or a house-call vet may be easier for you and your cat.

Once you determine your cat is healthy and comfortable, the question becomes whether or not the fur-pulling is interfering with your cat's quality of life. If your cat's fur-pulling is at the expense of other normal cat activity, we urge you to get help from a veterinary behaviorist. On the other hand, if the cat is acting normally and not pulling fur all day long every day, then a reasonable decision is to simply let it go. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp, AnimalBehavior.net

(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." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

Pet-food companies report strong sales

-- The pet-food industry has lived up to its reputation of being recession-resistant, with U.S. sales up 6.4 percent to $5.9 billion in 2008, according to PetFood Industry magazine. Sales were also up for the first quarter of 2009.

-- Nobody has broken out of the Idaho State Correctional Institution in 20 years. Prison officials like to think a hard-nosed corps of sentries with names like Cookie, Bongo and Chi Chi had something to do with that. According to The Associated Press, this institution is the only state prison in the United States to use snarling, snapping sentry dogs to patrol its perimeter. In a program that began in 1986, 24 mean dogs roam the space between the inner and outer chain-link fences by themselves 24 hours a day. Get close to the fence, and they'll lunge at you with bared fangs. Set foot in their space, and they'll attack. The animals themselves are former death row inmates -- dogs deemed too dangerous to be pets.

-- Trustees of Leona Helmsley's estate say they're giving $136 million to charity -- with just $1 million going to the dogs. Helmsley had left her multibillion-dollar hotel and real estate empire entirely to dog-related charities. But a judge ruled that trustees for the Leona M. Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust had sole authority to decide which charities benefit from her estate.

-- An animal-rights activist has become the first domestic terrorism suspect named to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list. Daniel Andreas San Diego, a computer specialist from Berkeley, Calif., is wanted in connection with two bombings in 2003. San Diego is the 24th person on the list, according to USA Today. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

THE SCOOP

Some parrots can be taught to 'go'

With patience and consistency, many birds can be taught to relieve themselves on command, in a place of your choosing. Young birds seem to pick up the skill most quickly and reliably, but you can sometimes teach an older bird new tricks, too.

Start by observing your bird, noting the times of day he's most likely to relieve himself and the body language he uses just before, such as wagging his tail feathers. Pick your desired command. "Go potty" or "hurry up" will do, as will anything, just as long as you're consistent.

When you see your bird getting ready to go or you know it's the usual time he does (such as first thing in the morning), ask him onto your hand and hold him over a lined wastebasket, newspaper, paper plate or whatever "poop zone" you've chosen. Give your potty command and praise him when he obeys -- even though the response is just a coincidence at first, of course.

The larger the bird, the longer the time he can "hold it." Budgies and cockatiels aren't good for much more than 15 to 20 minutes, tops, while large parrots can hold it for several hours or more. Be aware that no bird can ever be expected to be perfectly reliable: Sometimes a bird just has to go. -- Gina Spadafori

BY THE NUMBERS

Rabbits hop to popularity

When it comes to small mammals as pets, rabbits are the most popular, followed by hamsters and guinea pigs. All small mammals are common children's pets, but most have considerable followings among adults as well. Among those households with small mammals as pets, here's how the animals rank in popularity (more than one answer allowed):

Rabbit 43 percent

Hamster 36 percent

Guinea pig 20 percent

Mouse/rat 8 percent

Ferret 7 percent

Gerbil 5 percent

Chinchilla 4 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

Pet Rx

Cigarettes a hazard to a pet's health, too

Everyone knows cigarette smoking is dangerous, but what about cigarette eating? Nicotine poisoning is a real concern anywhere a pet may find cigarettes, cigarette butts, chewing tobacco, or even nicotine gum or patches.

The toxic dose for nicotine in pets is 20 milligrams to 100 milligrams. A cigarette contains 9 milligrams to 30 milligrams of nicotine, and a cigarette butt contains about 25 percent of the nicotine of the original cigarette, despite its deceptively small amount of tobacco. (Smoking seems to concentrate some of the nicotine in the tail end of the cigarette.)

Some good news: One of the first things nicotine does in the body is induce vomiting, which may save the pet's life. Still, if you think your pet has eaten cigarettes or other tobacco products, call your veterinarian right away.

And as always, the best medicine is preventive: Watch what your pets get into. -- Dr. Marty Becker

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.

Universal Press Syndicate

Look, we get the shelter volunteer thing: The work can be depressing, and it's truly not for everyone. People who want to "take them all home" are not really candidates for this sort of volunteering, nor are people who cannot enjoy the small victories of a perfect pet placement or a sick pet saved when other pets aren't as lucky.

But just because you aren't cut out for shelter volunteering doesn't mean you can't help animals in your community. And in these current economic situations, your help has never been more needed.

The fact is that every little bit helps. After all, if every one of us animal lovers did one small thing a couple of times a year, the total effort would be grand indeed.

Here are a few suggestions for helping animals:

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

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

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

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

When animal-related legislation is introduced, study it and then let your elected representatives know your stand. Not all animal-related legislation is good, so do your homework.

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

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

-- Help a shelter or rescue group. Volunteers are always needed to help with the animals in the shelter or to foster pets who need a home environment. But if you don't want to contribute on a regular basis, then see if you can help on a short-term project. Can you check people in at a spay-neuter clinic? Work a pet-behavior hot line now and then? Follow up on adoptions?

Many groups have fundraisers throughout the year. They need volunteers to help with ticket sales, setup, concessions and cleanup.

You can also help by finding out what your local shelter or rescue groups need in the way of services or supplies and then calling to ask for donations. Shelters are in constant need not only of pet food, litter, old newspapers and towels, but also office and janitorial supplies and building materials. Get a wish list from your shelter and get to work!

Those are just a few ideas. If you have others, let us know and we'll share them on our Web site, at PetConnection.com.

(Mikkel Becker Shannon contributed to this article.)

Q&A

Don't assume dry skin is from home's dry air

Q: Our house is on the dry side, even though we run a humidifier. My cat's skin has been extremely dry. Is there something I can do to eliminate this massive white dander he is scratching out? -- P.T., via e-mail

A: I wouldn't be so certain the low humidity in your house is causing the problem. After all, cats are descended from desert-dwelling creatures, and low humidity alone shouldn't cause a massive amount of flakiness.

See your veterinarian to determine what's causing your pet's skin to be so flaky.

By the way, other pets do have a problem with the dry air of the modern home, most notably birds. Many species of pet parrots originally came from hot, humid environments. For these, dry air presents a problem and may contribute to feather-picking. That's why parrots need to be offered frequent opportunities to get damp, such as by being misted or being allowed to bathe. -- Dr. Marty Becker

No head halters

Q: I've heard that head halters can cause serious injuries if used wrongly. A too-abrupt tug could jerk a dog's head, causing neck or spinal injuries, couldn't it? The pet store recommended one of these, and I bought it, but my dog hates it. Are they really safe? -- A.K., via e-mail

A: Anything's possible, which is why I don't recommend using a head halter with one of those long, reel-type leashes. The force of a running dog hitting the end of a 30-foot line does have the potential to cause injury.

In truth, just about every piece of canine equipment has the potential for problems if used incorrectly. Slip-chain collars can choke a dog or injure his neck. Breakaway collars, designed to release a dog who's caught on something, can result in a dog being off-leash when it's least safe, such as next to a busy street if not clipped on properly. And head halters can jerk a dog's head around.

A lot of dogs hate head halters, at least at first. Training a dog to walk calmly on a loose leash with a buckled or snap collar can be accomplished -- get help in a training class or a couple of private sessions with a trainer. In the meantime, instead of using a head halter, use one of the newer front-clip harnesses, which work great to control pulling.

If you don't know what's right for your dog or how to use it, find a trainer who can help you choose the appropriate equipment and show you how it works. Every piece of training equipment is right for some dogs, but no single item is right for all. And no piece of training equipment is safe or effective unless it's fitted and used properly. -- 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." Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.

PET BUZZ

Rats can locate killer land mines

-- Land mines can be sniffed out -- or should we say, ratted out. Some 60 million land mines are scattered in 69 countries. Dogs are often deployed to sniff them out, but HeroRATS has found out that rats are easier to train and are light, so they don't detonate the mines they find. According to National Geographic, HeroRATS uses the African giant pouched rat, with its very sensitive nose. Rats are trained with rewards to scratch the ground when they smell explosives.

-- A new genetic test for heart disease is a breakthrough for boxers -- and people, too. The gene responsible for causing arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy disease in boxers has been discovered at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and a genetic test for the mutation is now available. The test costs about $70 and is done with a simple cheek swab. This achievement not only helps breeders of these dogs avoid this disease when planning their litters, but also provides an extraordinary advancement to the study of human heart diseases resulting from electrical conduction defects and the resulting heart muscle changes that occur.

-- It seems even tough-as-nails police dogs can flee the scene if thunder is involved. A Chicago police dog named Bear is a scaredy-cat when it comes to thunder: The German shepherd scaled a fence and disappeared after a roaring thunderstorm frightened him. After a few days of looking, Officer Ann Jaros was delighted when a safe but dirty Bear recognized her squad car and jumped right in. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

PET Rx

Take care of yourself after loss of a pet

Choosing to end a pet's life is the hardest decision we make when it comes to our pets. Your veterinarian can offer you advice, and friends and family can offer you support, but no one can make the decision for you. When you live with an elderly or terminally ill pet, you look in your pet's eyes every morning and wonder if you're doing what's best.

Everyone makes the decision a little differently. Some pet lovers do not wait until their pet's discomfort becomes chronic, untreatable pain, and they choose euthanasia much sooner than others would. Some owners use an animal's appetite as the guide -- when an old or ill animal cannot be tempted into eating, they reason, he has lost most interest in life. And some owners wait until there's no doubt the time is at hand -- and later wonder if they delayed a bit too long. There's no absolute rule, and every method for deciding is right for some pets and some owners at some times.

The bottom line remains: What is in the best interest of the animal? Choosing to end a pet's suffering is a final act of love and nothing less. Knowing that decisions are guided by that love is what carries pet lovers through the sad and lonely time of losing a cherished animal companion.

Taking care of yourself is important when dealing with pet loss. Some people -- the "it's just a pet" crowd -- won't understand the loss and may shrug off grief over a pet's death as foolish. The company of other animal lovers is very important. Seek them out to share your feelings, and don't be shy about getting professional help to get you through a difficult time.

Many veterinary schools and colleges offer pet-loss counseling by phone -- and the services are free. -- Dr. Marty Becker

BY THE NUMBERS

Popular Birds

Cockatiels and budgerigars (commonly but incorrectly known as "parakeets") are the most popular pet birds. Here are the top birds among people keeping one avian pet:

Cockatiel 34 percent

Budgie 29 percent

Conure 7 percent

Lovebird 5 percent

Amazon 5 percent

Macaw 4 percent

Other small parrot 4 percent

Canary 3 percent

Cockatoo 2 percent

Other large parrot 2 percent

African grey 2 percent

Other 3 percent

Source: American Pet Products Association

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Kitten-proof home before new arrival

Proper preparation of your home before you get a kitten can get your pet off to a great start.

Start with a litter box that is not too big for a kitten to get into. Make sure window screens are secure and that household cleaning products, houseplants, strings and other potentially dangerous objects are out of your kitten's reach.

Select the tallest scratching post you can find, preferably with a climbing and resting area on top, so your cat can stretch, groom his claws and perch himself off the ground. Keep all these items and your kitten in one room for a couple of weeks to lower kitten stress, control safety and prevent behaviors you don't want in an adult cat.

(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.