My Pet World: How to help a shy dog gain confidence in you
During the visit, speak softly to her and give her a few tasty treats. Your extended arm might scare her, so toss some strong-smelling treats on the ground a few feet away from you, eventually tossing them closer to you as she gets more comfortable with your new friendship. If she is trained to not eat things off the ground, then put her dog bowl near you and put a few treats in it at time. Whenever she comes toward you, toss a treat on the ground (or place in the bowl), and tell her "good girl."
Just be present with her and don't force anything to happen. Don't make sudden movements or use loud, booming voices that could startle her. Do these things on every visit, and eventually Scooby will be relaxed and happy to see her grandpa from Ft. Lauderdale.
Dear Cathy,
I was very interested in your answer to Michelle from Naugatuck, Conn., about painting the house with birds in the home. I took my birds to my daughter's house to avoid fumes from roof coating. It was so stressful for them. I will never do it again. But my house needs painting. If there is a 100 percent safe paint product, I would love to know what it is. -- Michelle, Oro Valley, AZ
Dear Michelle,
Sadly, there is no 100 percent safe paint product for birds. The Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and no VOC paints mentioned in the previous column are your best options. If you can't take your bird someplace else while you paint, then use only these paints and move your bird to a room in the home not being painted that day. Close the door, close the air vent, and open a window in that room to keep fresh air circulating for your bird. Move your bird back into the painted room only after the paint thoroughly dries. These paints are not supposed to release VOCs once it's dried.
========
(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)
(c) 2017 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
