Weekly article archive

The following questions and answers have appeared in my weekly column in the Albuquerque Journal since July, 1996. Each week a new one is added. You'll find information on the physical and behavioral maladies of dogs and cats and a few other species too. I invite you to use the search feature to find the specific answer that you and your pet need.

Chewing Hands And Stealing

Hand chewing, garbage raiding, laundry stealing dogs are a laugh riot, aren’t they?-as long as it’s someone else’s hands, garbage, and laundry. Forget the mouth grabbing, scolding, and chasing. Your…

Read More

Digging Holes

The damage from a canine earth mover excavating your yard can be infuriating but your dog, well, he’s having the time of his life. It’s a problem that screams for…

Read More

Front Door Etiquette

It’s remarkable how a normally relaxed dog can suddenly become an aggressive maniac at the sound of a doorbell. There is no amount of yelling, leash jerking, or punishment that…

Read More

Eating Non-Food Items Like Stool

A dog’s stomach shouldn’t be a mobile landfill. Swallowed rocks, bones and dirty underwear will cause repeated vomiting or intestinal blockage. If your dog doesn’t heave his treasure on your…

Read More

Jumping On Or Mounting People

It’s great that your dog loves people; too bad your guests aren’t sharing the joy of getting jumped or body slammed by a canine linebacker. Dogs just wanna have fun,…

Read More

Teaching Good Manners

Pet parents of well-mannered dogs always wear that contented, all-is-right-in-my-world look. Sure, they’re lucky, but they’ve done a few things right too. Some of their secrets are listed here. These…

Read More

Compulsive Behavior In Dogs

Compulsive behaviors in dogs Pacing, tail chasing, sky gazing, flank sucking, fly snapping, and other odd behaviors are more than disruptive; they steal the life from affected dogs. These compulsive…

Read More

Licking, Chewing, Biting Own Body

Repetitive licking is a serious problem. For some dogs management is simple but lengthy; for others it’s more complicated. Skin disease, internal disorders or pain can masquerade as compulsive licking…

Read More

Loud Noises

Fireworks? It’s more like fearworks for some pets. Don’t wait until your hyperventilating dog is frantically trying to cram herself under the bed to help her out. Similar to fear…

Read More