My Pet World: You dog will love yourcar as much as you do

Q: Will our dog recognize that we have a shiny new car? -- T.U., Lincolnwood, IL

A: Your dog will instantly realize this "moving machine" is different from the old jalopy. Even if your old car didn't smell like "dog" to you, it sure did to your pet, and it also carried the scents of other family members. Still, for most dogs, the adjustment period is less than five seconds. Enjoy your new wheels; your dog certainly will.

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Q: Last Christmas, while visiting our son and his family, their Australian Shepherd attacked our Sheltie. My husband broke up the fight up before any serious damage was done. We love traveling with our dog, and our grandkids and the dog love one another.

What can we do to prevent such attacks? My daughter-in-law and I are on the outs over this, as she feels her dog was OK acting the way he did in his own home. My daughter-in-law doesn't know how to handle this kind of situation, so she ignores it. What do you think about this? -- K.W., Brooksville, FL

A: "Perhaps it's true that your daughter-in-law doesn't know how to handle this situation," says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lore Haug, of Houston. TX. "The bottom line, though, is that you may be taking a chance with your dog's welfare by bringing him along."

Haug, president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, says you have a couple of choices.

"Perhaps there's a way to separate the dogs so they don't come together. My concern, however, is that the grandkids might mistakenly leave a door open and then the dogs could meet. Without adult supervision, bad things could happen."

It seems the two best options will make either you or your daughter-in-law upset. One is to leave your dog home when you visit. Another is for your daughter-in-law to board the family dog at a kennel or veterinary clinic when you visit.

"As much as the Sheltie loves the grandkids, it's not fair that he may be bludgeoned and is worried about his personal safety," Haug says.

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Q: I now have two cats. One I've had forever, and the second simply showed up. Unfortunately, now that I've allowed the stray into my home and heart, the first cat is mad as hell and is pooping on my bed! Will this animosity pass, or will I have to give up the stray? I love both cats. Ella, my original cat, is the most important thing in my life. Scarlett, the new cat, is a love. I know I'm a sucker. Can you help? -- S.M., Henderson, NV

A: You're hardly a sucker, rather someone with a big heart who rescued a cat. Unfortunately, it's unlikely you introduced the two cats in a careful, deliberate manner. Ella is not being vindictive, though. When a cat defecates on the bed, it's for one or a combination of reasons: The bed is high and safe, allowing for a good field of vision to determine what's coming. It also smells like you and is soft, which may be the kind of comfort the cat needs.

The key is repairing the relationship between the cats. It's best to start over. Place Scarlett in her own room with a litter box, food and water dish (on opposite sides of the room) and toys. Go in there as often as you can to just watch TV or play with Scarlett.

Tone down the anxiety in the house by using Feliway diffusers (a copy of a naturally-occurring calming feline pheromone) and/or a chewable called Anxitane (L-theanine, a nutritional supplement with calming properties). Place something that smells like the other cat close to the food dish of each so they associate the other cat's odor with something positive.

Their introduction -- weeks from now -- should be gradual. They should only come together, at first, for tuna or salmon treats. Give them a reason to like one another.

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Q: Rocko is my delightful 1-year-old Cocker Spaniel-Poodle mix. We had him groomed for the first time when he was 6 months old, and it was a disaster. The groomer applied a muzzle and said she couldn't complete the grooming. When Rocko was neutered, the veterinarian groomed him. This went well because Rocko was still under anesthesia.

Now, Rocko needs grooming again and I don't know what do to. Except for grooming, he's really well-socialized, and good with people. We don't want to sedate him each time he goes to the groomer. Any advice? -- C.R.D., Las Vegas, NV

A: "One (bad) experience is enough to impact your dog, and as a result, today he believes all grooming is bad," says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lisa Radosta, of Royal Palm Beach, FL. "Ask friends with dogs or your veterinarian to find a groomer who's willing to work with you and your dog."

To begin, just visit the groomer for dog treats, then walk out. Do that as often as you're able to convince your dog that visiting this place is fun. Next, offer your dog Kong bones (or another toy) smeared inside with (low fat, low salt) peanut butter. Have your groomer merely take out his/her equipment without using it.

Once your dog is fine with the grooming facility and the noise the equipment makes, it's time for the groomer to actually begin work. For the first experience or two, you might want to be there to distract your dog with a chewy.

"This method requires patience and timing," says Radosta. "It might be best to get help from a veterinary behaviorist (www.dacvb.org)."

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