Popular canine mystery author Laurien Berenson shares how her stories come together

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Are dogs a detective’s best friend? That appears to be the case based on the numerous cozy mystery series that feature dogs as sidekicks, partners and inspiration to gumshoes and amateur sleuths alike. (Check out a list here: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2016/4/25)

Sometimes dogs narrate the story from their own unique point of view; sometimes they’re involved in taking down the bad guy thanks to their keen sense of smell or other singular canine characteristics; and sometimes they are the catalyst, unleashing the action through their role as kidnap victim, dog sport competitor or grooming client, among the many different setups and settings that focus on dogs.

Cozies -- a subgenre of mysteries -- usually have a light tone and humor, even if a murder is involved. And usually the person solving the crime isn’t a professional -- well, not a professional detective, anyway.

Dogs add the perfect touch for lots of reasons. We talk to them, and they help us think things through -- the kind of help every detective needs. And they’re as entertaining in fiction as they are in life.

“Anyone who lives with dogs knows they have so much personality,” says Laurien Berenson, bestselling author of the Melanie Travis mystery series, which she began writing in 1995. “Dogs are characters. When you’re walking around the house and your dogs are with you, you’re -- at least at my house -- having a conversation with them, and they are responding in their way. It’s like having someone to bounce things off of.”

Berenson’s main character, Melanie Travis, is a special education teacher and mom who also shows her standard poodles. Melanie’s dogs are her pets, Berenson says, so when things happen, the dogs are generally involved, even if they aren’t necessarily helping her solve mysteries. They don’t speak as if they’re human or narrate the story like Spencer Quinn’s canine character Chet; instead, they behave like dogs.

Berenson comes from a dog-showing family herself and was showing standard and miniature poodles at the time she began writing mysteries, so including the dogs was natural. “I had always gone to dog shows, and it just made sense to me that this was a really good milieu,” she says.

Poodles aren’t the only dogs in Berenson’s books. Her editor didn’t want to have poodles on the cover of every book, so she began working in other breeds. One book, set in Kentucky, had a Jack Russell terrier because that breed is often seen in stables. “Sometimes I start with a breed and go, ‘Hey, that would be fun,’ and figure out how to build a plot around it. And sometimes I know what the plot’s going to be and a breed will just step up and be a natural for it.”

Berenson has a dog-themed spinoff of the Melanie Travis series featuring Melanie’s opinionated Aunt Peg, a dog show judge, and Peg’s sweet sister-in-law Rose. In “Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble,” which came out in July, poodles abound as the two senior sleuths set out to solve the seemingly accidental death of Peg’s new beau.

Berenson’s latest Melanie Travis book, “A Furry Little Christmas,” came out in late September and combines two previous holiday-themed stories in a single book, making it a perfect stocking stuffer for the dog-loving mystery reader in your life.

If you’re interested in finding more pet-themed mysteries, I just finished reading Hugo Award finalist “The Spare Man” by Mary Robinette Kowal, a sci-fi riff on Dashiell Hammett’s “The Thin Man.” It’s set on a cruise ship to Mars and features a delightful West Highland white terrier service dog named Gimlet, who plays an important role in bringing down the villain. And to give cat lovers a fair shake, I’m going to be turning the pages of “The Cat Who Wasn’t a Dog” by Marian Babson.

Q&A

How to find

a dog trainer

Q: I need to find a trainer for my new dog. What should I look for?

A: First things first: Seek a trainer who uses rewards-based methods to teach and reinforce behaviors you want. This type of trainer will show you how to reward your dog for doing the right thing, help you prevent your dog from getting into trouble and teach you how to redirect unwanted behavior. They can also introduce you to strategies for channeling your dog’s energy, whether that is dog sports, puzzle toys, playing fetch or learning tricks.

The trainer you choose should have experience in working with your particular breed and in addressing your specific needs: teaching basic manners to a new puppy or dog; preparing for animal-assisted therapy visits; or learning to compete in dog sports. Some trainers can do all of the above, while others specialize in a certain area.

Your veterinarian can be a good place to start to get trainer recommendations. They may have a trainer or trainers that they work with regularly to help ensure that pets are comfortable visiting their clinic.

Dog-owning friends or your dog’s breeder may also be good sources, but it’s still important to check a trainer’s certifications and references from other clients.

If you are looking for a trainer who can prepare your dog for therapy visits or dog sports, start by reaching out to groups in your area that participate in those activities.

Trainer certifying organizations include the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and Fear Free Pets. Both have easy-to-search online databases. Don’t hesitate to ask how trainers qualify for the certification program, what it covers and whether it has a continuing education requirement. For more tips, check out the guidelines offered by Fear Free Pets here (fearfreehappyhomes.com/finding-a-trainer-or-behaviorist) and here (fearfreehappyhomes.com/finding-a-trainer-or-behaviorist-2). -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pet food label

changes to come

-- For the first time in more than 40 years, pet food labels will change. After eight years of study, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, which sets guidelines for ingredient definitions, animal feed labels, feeding trials and laboratory analysis standards, has revised its model regulations for pet food and specialty pet food. The new guidelines, based on multiple rounds of consumer research and feedback from industry officials, include standardized nutrition information, clear ingredient statements and storage and handling instructions. Changes to look for include a nutrition facts box resembling those on human food labeling; an intended-use statement on the lower third of the front display panel; an ingredient statement that allows common names for vitamins; and optional handling and storage instructions.

-- Looking to buy pet health insurance? Call an agent instead of applying through the company’s website. You may discover that you are eligible for a discount on your premium if you are a first responder, in the military or retired military, or have some other affiliation. You may also be able to tailor your plan to more closely meet your needs.

-- If you visit the Museum of Osteology (skeletonmuseum.com) in Oklahoma City, don’t be surprised if you run into a feline member of the “skeleton crew,” Sir Indiana Bones. Acquired from the Moore Animal Welfare Adoption Center in 2019, the little black kitten has grown into a handsome office cat who enjoys spending his days discovering new places to hide and nap, rubbing against antlers and sniffing fish skeletons. Indy has more than 30,000 followers on Instagram and more than 100,000 on TikTok, making him instrumental in attracting visitors from around the world to the museum. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

9 facts about rabies vaccinations for pets

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

The earliest rabies vaccine was given to dogs in 1885, and by the 1940s, routine rabies vaccination of owned dogs against the fatal virus gradually led to elimination of the canine rabies strain in the United States and Canada by 2008.

Today, rabies in humans is rarely seen in the U.S. and Canada and is primarily transmitted by wild animals. Elsewhere in the world, some 59,000 people die annually from rabies, most frequently transmitted by dog bites.

Getting pets vaccinated for rabies (and other deadly diseases) might seem like a no-brainer, but a study published last month in the journal Vaccine found that of 2,200 people who participated in an online survey, a large minority of dog owners consider vaccines administered to dogs to be unsafe (37%), ineffective (22%) or unnecessary (30%). A slight majority (53%) of dog owners agree with at least one of these positions. Their beliefs have a name: canine vaccine hesitancy, or CVH.

Vaccine hesitancy risks pet lives, especially when it comes to deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. No vaccine -- human or animal -- offers 100% protection against disease, but vaccinations greatly reduce the risk of disease and improve the chances of survival. With World Rabies Day coming up on Sept. 28, we thought we’d explore the must-know issues related to rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination law varies from state to state. Most states mandate rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets. In New Jersey, only dogs are required to be vaccinated for rabies, but vaccinations are strongly recommended for cats and ferrets. Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio are the only states that leave rabies law to the discretion of cities and counties.

Not all states mandate rabies vaccination for cats, but all cats, including indoor-only pets, benefit from rabies vaccination. Cats can slip out open doors, and it’s not unusual for bats to fly in through open windows (ask me how I know this).

Hybrid animals, such as dog-wolf crosses or domestic cat-serval crosses, can be vaccinated, but most states don’t recognize them as such. If they’re exposed to a rabid animal or they bite a person, they can be subject to euthanasia rather than home quarantine, which can be 10 days or longer.

Whether for a domestic or hybrid animal, the definition of “exposure” is determined by each state’s public health authority.

Unvaccinated domestic animals exposed to rabies typically must undergo a strict four- to six-month quarantine and vaccination within 96 hours of exposure. The cost of that long quarantine period can be several thousand dollars.

In most cases, euthanasia and testing are not required if an unvaccinated pet bites a person. Typically, exposed animals are subject to home quarantine for a specific period with revaccination on release. However, a person who is bitten by an unvaccinated pet can demand that the animal be euthanized and the brain tested immediately. No blood test or other diagnostic can determine if an animal has rabies.

No states recognize age or health conditions as reasons to discontinue rabies vaccinations. Nor do they recognize rabies titers as proof of vaccination. The only time a rabies titer is required is when a pet will be traveling overseas.

Rabies vaccines can be given annually or triennially (every three years). Generally, the only difference between the one-year and three-year rabies vaccines is how they are labeled. But if a pet is given a rabies vaccine labeled for one year, you can’t argue that you should be allowed to wait three years to revaccinate.

Animals are not considered vaccinated until 28 days after the initial inoculation, but once they receive rabies booster shots, they are considered immunized immediately.

Find more information on your state’s rabies laws at rabiesaware.org.

Q&A

Real talk on

hypoallergenic pets

Q: My kid really, really wants a dog, but my husband has allergies. He says we could get a hypoallergenic breed. Do they exist?

A: One of my pet peeves as a veterinarian is that certain breeds and cross-breeds are described as “hypoallergenic,” meaning they don’t cause allergic reactions. While some dog breeds and crosses (cats, too) may cause less severe reactions, it all depends on the sensitivity of the individual person and the level of allergens produced by the individual animal. Here’s what to know.

Poodles and other curly coated dogs, including doodles, are often said to be hypoallergenic because their coats have a long growth cycle, which means it takes longer for dead hairs to drop off and form dust bunnies in your living room. But it’s not hair that causes allergies, no matter what kind of dog or cat we’re discussing. Whether they’re furry or hairless, wirehaired or single-coated, all dogs and cats produce dander (dead skin cells), saliva and urine, all of which carry allergens.

Some animals produce more allergens than others, which is why people so often say that they’re not allergic to their own dog but they have reactions to the neighbor’s dog. And it may be that so-called hypoallergenic breeds are groomed frequently, so dander is removed on a regular basis. But licking can still set off a reaction because of the allergens in saliva.

Reputable dog and cat breeders, as well as shelters and rescues, never claim that their animals are hypoallergenic and often won’t sell to families if one person has an allergy. If someone tries to sell you a hypoallergenic pet, they’re simply making a money grab.

Now for the good news. If your husband’s allergies are mild, it’s possible to live pretty comfortably with pets. Here are some tips: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2017/02/27. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Saints contribute

to dog love, lore

-- “Love me, love my dog.” What dog lover hasn’t said that at some point? The saying originated with St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who said it in Latin: “Qui me amat, amet et canem meum.” But the Saint Bernard dog is named for a different cleric, St. Bernard of Menthon, who founded a hospice for travelers in the Great St. Bernard Pass of the Italian Alps. The dogs would go out to help find lost travelers, but it’s a myth that they carried small casks of brandy around their necks. That was a bit of artistic license by Sir Edwin Landseer, in his iconic work “Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler,” painted in 1820. You can see it at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

-- Cat lover Julia Child wrote the following: “We had a cat named Minette Mimosa who came with our first Paris apartment. On our first evening in the apartment, we were having dinner in our Louis XVI dining salon when three mice appeared. We brought in Minette, who caught them and ate all three in three minutes. We both adored her.”

-- Dealing with hairballs -- fur ingested as cats groom themselves, then vomited back up in clumps -- is not the best part of living with a cat, but it can be managed. Adding canned or fresh pureed pumpkin -- not pumpkin pie filling -- is a good way to increase fiber in your cat's diet and help hair work its way through your cat's digestive system. Many cats enjoy a teaspoon of pumpkin daily if it's mixed with something yummy, such as canned food or the water from a can of tuna or clams. Daily brushing can help prevent hairballs as well, by reducing the amount of hair a cat swallows. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

How to create a home environment that will keep cats content and comfortable

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Is your cat happy? September -- Happy Cat Month -- is a good time to find out what makes cats purr and ensure that you’re meeting their needs.

Cats have a reputation for being mysterious, aloof creatures, but if we look beneath the surface, we find that what makes them happy isn’t so different from what makes us happy. They enjoy companionship with people and other animals, play and activity, good food, proper care and an interesting environment. None of those things is difficult or expensive to provide.

Contrary to popular belief, most cats enjoy spending time with their people. A 2017 study at Oregon State University’s Human-Animal Interaction lab found that half of the 38 cats in the study sought out the company of humans -- even when food and toys were alternatives. Make it a priority to spend time with your cat in a way they enjoy, whether that’s a few minutes of lap time or play with a favorite toy.

Cats also can enjoy the companionship of other animals. When adopting a kitten, current advice is to get two from the same litter so they can be lifelong friends. Cats can also learn to love dogs, especially when introduced at an early age. The idea that cats and dogs are sworn enemies is a myth, a truth borne out by the many cat-and-dog friendships in thousands of households.

Watching a kitten or cat play is often more entertaining than any television show. Kittens, especially, will leap and spin and chase until they collapse for a nap. And you don’t have to spend a lot on toys for them. An empty box (uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2016/12/26), a wadded-up piece of paper or a paper bag with the handles cut off are all feline favorites.

Zazie Todd, author of “Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy,” says that rather than sturdy toys that hold up for a long time, cats may prefer paper or cardboard items they can shred. “Cats sometimes like when their toys start to disintegrate because it’s more like if they had actually caught something.”

Cats like variety and novelty, too. It’s a good idea to rotate toys regularly. When you bring them back out a few weeks later, they’re new again.

Cats have a reputation as fussy eaters, and that may be partly related to their status as obligate carnivores, or hypercarnivores, meaning they must have meat in their diet. That’s because cats lack the enzymes needed to produce the essential amino acids arginine and taurine; vitamins A, D and niacin; and some essential fatty acids. They have a genetic mutation making them indifferent to sweet flavors, plus at least seven functional bitter receptors, which may also influence what they’re willing to eat.

According to a 2019 study, cats appear to prefer diets containing about 30% of calories as protein, 27% as fat and 43% as carbohydrates. Always choose a food with a statement on the label saying the diet is complete and balanced and has undergone feline feeding trials.

One common misconception is that cats don’t need to be groomed because they clean themselves. Not so! Brushing is important to help remove dead hairs, distribute skin oils and make sure medium- and longhaired cats don’t develop mats and tangles. Most cats love the feel of being brushed, and it’s a great way to spend time with them.

What makes an interesting environment for a cat? Places where they can perch high, ideally in front of a window; places where they can hide; some safe, tasty and easily accessible potted plants to nibble on, such as tender grasses, parsley, thyme, valerian and of course catnip (no lilies!); an assortment of toys that will stimulate their hunting and pouncing instincts; a great scratching post (uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2017/12/18) and for cats who delight in the wet stuff, a small fountain. For more ideas, look here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/its-cat-play-fun-feline-enrichment.

Q&A

Yard-free

potty options

Q: We live in an upstairs condo with a small balcony, and it would be great to have an option for our dog to potty on the balcony during rainy or cold weather, if we’re unable to take him up and down the stairs because of our own illness or injury, or if he’s recovering from surgery or injury and shouldn’t use stairs. Do you have any tips?

A: You bring up some important concerns for people who don’t have yards. Both pet product manufacturers and clever pet owners have come up with several approaches that might work for you, depending on the size, age and trainability of your dog.

One is pee pads. Lots of people who live in high-rises use this method to housetrain their puppies or to give adult dogs a potty option if they’re gone for several hours. Start with an extra-large one so they have plenty of space to target, use a holder or frame to keep it in place or place it inside a small exercise pen or other area with limited space so it’s the only place the dog has for eliminating.

Some people place sod inside a kiddie pool or on top of a tarp so their dogs have a natural substrate where they can potty when the weather is bad or it’s too difficult to get them up and down stairs. You can also purchase squares of artificial or real grass to use on a balcony. Spritz it with water after use or change sod regularly to control odor, or purchase one with a bottom tray that captures urine and can then be removed and cleaned.

You can teach your dog to use a litter box filled with the litter of your choice, including shredded paper, paper pellets or dog-safe bark or mulch. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Be ready

for disasters

-- With the recent deadly wildfires in Lahaina and Hurricane Idalia in Florida, it’s a good time to remember that September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and that means pets, too. To be ready for a quick emergency evacuation, they need to be wearing updated ID tags and have a microchip registered with an organization so you can be contacted in the event you’re separated. Pack a storage bin or an easy-to-grab bag with a week’s worth of food, water and necessary medication for each pet (use and replace regularly so it’s always fresh); bowls, a can opener and spoon if you use canned food; a copy of your pet’s rabies certificate; an extra leash and poop pickup bags; and a favorite toy.

-- If you’re housetraining a new puppy or learning the potty habits of an adult dog, try tethering. That means the dog is leashed at your side at all times. It’s a great way to learn the signals a new dog or puppy gives when they need to go potty. It keeps them under your watchful eye so they can't get into mischief, and helps build a bond between you.

-- Have you ever looked at your cat's toes -- really looked at them? They have five toes on their front paws, but only four of them touch the ground when a cat is walking. The fifth toe, known as a dewclaw, is the feline equivalent of the thumb. While it's not opposable, the dewclaw does help the cat grasp things and climb trees. The toe anatomy makes it easy for cats to go up trees, but not so easy to come back down. The back paws have four toes but no dewclaws. Some cats have extra toes and are known as polydactyls, meaning "many fingers." -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.