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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