Dear Dr. Doug,

My neighbor’s dog barks constantly. I have tried to talk to her about it, but my concerns fall on deaf ears. What do you suggest I do?

-Frustrated Neighbor

Dear Frustrated,

Unfortunately, some dogs are barking fools. Obviously, it’s quite natural for dogs to bark, but usually for one reason or another. Typically, dogs will bark to “alert or alarm,” like a deer in the backyard, or an unfamiliar person in the home territory. In other cases, dogs may bark to get the owner’s attention to a special need of theirs, like being uncomfortable, hot or cold, or being hungry and thirsty. Finally, dogs bark due to emotional reasons like boredom, anxiousness, excitability, or simply as a means to draw attention. These latter reasons likely fit your neighbor’s noise-maker.

Diplomacy is always the best first step. You have tried casual hints, per your note. I would have you and your husband invite the neighbors over for a visit, preferably when the dog is likely to be barking. Make a direct request that they recognize and acknowledge that the barking is actually occurring; then, that they recognize this as a real problem for you and possibly other neighbors. In fact, you might see if other neighbors have the same concern and enlist their help, too.

If the neighbors with the barking dog acknowledge the problem, then discuss possible causes, and help them by suggesting options. Limiting outside times or creating a schedule of suitable outside times may prove useful. Suggest that they talk to a trainer who can alter these behaviors by technique or by training tools like a bark collar.

In the event that your neighbors respond negatively, you might have your neighborhood committee send a letter of concern to them. Many communities will even ticket a pet owner whose animals are creating a disturbance. In a worst-case scenario. you may have to address this issue through legal means. Hopefully, the former options will prove successful. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Doug,

Shana, our 2-year-old Maltese, has decided that chewing on our furniture legs, be it a couch, chair or piano, is a fun and tasty way to entertain herself. We hate the thought of getting rid of her, but are so frustrated. Help!!

-Shana’s Mom

Dear Shana’s Mom,

Chewing can also be a sign of pet boredom. My first suggestion is to consider the obvious – when family is not around to supervise Shana, she needs to be kept in an area away from the furniture. Dog kennels work great, and most dogs will learn to accept their crate as a place of security and solitude. It may be just the trick.

If crating is not an option, or if an isolation room is not available, consider a behavioral trainer who can help guide you through methods to discourage Shana’s chewing. I have heard of people trying to discourage chewing by painting the wood surface with some sort of deterring flavor, maybe even bitter apple, or something on that order. Again, I would assume that keeping Shana away from those surfaces would be the simplest approach.

Hang in there. Finding Shana a new home means that some other family will be shopping at Weekend’s Only in short order.

Dear Dr. Doug,

Batsum, our 12-year-old cat, has decided to urinate outside his litter box. I am fed up. The house stinks of urine. It is either got to stop, or Batsum is gonna become an outside cat only!

-Batsum’s mom

Dear Mom,

Batsum is certainly an interesting name for a family pet. I wonder what features must have drawn that name to mind?

Aside from that, one of the most common reasons that cats are given up to shelters is for this very problem, “inappropriate urination patterns.” My first suggestion is to visit your veterinarian and rule in, or rule out, the possibility of a urinary tract infection. Your vet’s exam interview will include questions regarding the onset of the problem; possible activity changes in your home; the possible introduction of a new pet, cat or dog; or, any number of other queries that help to determine probable cause for this new behavior.

Should the exam rule out infection or bladder stones, the next usual suggestion is to rule out changes in home activities. Cats tend to be very sensitive to schedule changes like a pet owner’s work times or family travel away; or, new faces in the household as occurs with family visitors, and when house remodeling creates noise and introduces strangers. Regardless of the cause, it may prove useful to isolate your cat to a single room, possibly a utility room. Place one or two litter boxes in that space and be sure to keep them clean of stool and urine clumped litter. Spend time with your cat in the room to avoid creating more emotional stress, but the intent is to re-associate your cat with his box. The more successful the cat is at utilizing his box, the quicker he is re-learning his obligation to it.

You should anticipate a two-to-three week commitment to this action. Finally, be sure to cleanse those areas already exposed to Batsum’s urine. Odo-ban cleanser, found at many commercial stores. or a veterinary labeled product like Feliway (a hormonal deterrent), can prove useful in keeping him away from previously soiled sites. I am hopeful you can turn your Batsum around!

Dear Dr. Doug,

Our new puppy finds eating his poop in the yard, or in fact, any animal’s poop! Geez, we are grossed out. What can we do?

Dear Poop Pup’s Mom,

You are not alone with this behavior issue. Some folks will simply control their pup’s access to stool in the yard with extra cleaning efforts, or by walking the puppy on a lease, thereby keeping him away from available tasty morsels. Yecch! Veterinarians and possibly pet stores, carry a product called FORBID, which is added to the dog’s diet and discourages them from searching out yard stool.

Others have used Adolph’s Meat Tenderizer, as a coating on yard stool, but this latter method requires searching out the product in your yard in order to pepper it with this product. Obviously, if you take the time to do that, you might as well pick it up and dispose of it instead.

Have fun with this project. In many cases, puppies will grow out of this inappropriate behavior.

Dr. Doug Pernikoff, a local veterinarian who has practiced for more than 30 years, is based in Chesterfield at the Clarkson-Wilson Veterinary Clinic. He can be heard with Frank O’pinion on KTRS radio each Wednesday afternoon. To send him a question, email [email protected] and be sure to write “Ask Dr. Doug” in the subject field.