Question: Freeze your dog’s favorite meat and give it to them for lunch on a hot day. They will love this cold “bone” and the entire thing is edible so they won’t leave any lying around when they’re finished. Answer: Amanda, via e-mail.

Question: All dogs love to be scratched, rubbed, etc, on their lower neck, around their chest area, between their two shoulders. This is the only place that they are unable to reach by themselves. You’ll find most will start to doze and will love you forever. Answer: Kellie Taylor, via e-mail.

Question: Hello, We have just purchased a puppy who has just met his new one-year-old sister. They continue to fight and the puppy has become aggressive. How can we stop them fighting and stop the new puppy becoming so aggressive? Thank you, Laura, via e-mail. Answer: This is a very common scenario when puppies first […]

Question: Never, never call your dog and then reprimand him when he comes. He will associate punishment with the command to come to you and will hesitate to obey or refuse completely. Answer: Even if he doesn’t come immediately, reward him with lots of praise when he does come. Eventually, he will learn that this […]

Question: My maremma has a really thick, long coat and I feel so sorry for her in the heat. Is it possible to clip her? I was told it should not be done. Marlene, via e-mail. Answer: I get questions like this all the time from people who have been scared off clipping their pets […]

Question: If you have a dog that loves jumping up and grabbing your clothes off the line (sometimes ruining them), fill some balloons with water and attach them at different lengths to your line. After a few faces full of water your dog will realise that it just isn’t fun anymore. Answer: Carol Matthews, via […]

Unfortunately, there are a lot of pets in this country whose futures aren’t very bright. Thirty-eight percent of dogs and nearly 60 percent of cats that the RSPCA received in 2002-2003 were euthanised because suitable homes could not be found. According to Say No To Animals in Pet Shops Incorporated, an estimated 130,000 dogs and […]

Question: If your dog is off the lead and won’t come back when you call, kneel down, then call. It lowers your dominance to theirs. Answer: Taz, via e-mail.

Question: My two-year-old desexed cat has to move house with us soon. Can you tell me what I can and should do to make this time less traumatic for him/us? I have heard a lot of old wives’ tales about things to do — cut his whiskers, put butter on his feet, etc. Karen, via […]

Question: I have a male Retriever who just loves water so much he tries to fit in his drinking bowl! So I bought a kids’ plastic clam and filled it up with water — cleaning it and replacing the water every day or two. Not only can Merlin drink from it, but he splashes around […]