Dear Dog Lady,
I have a problem involving my love and his dog. I have been with my boyfriend for five-and-half months. He's everything I dreamed I would find in a man. We aren't officially living together yet, but we are slowly working toward it. He has a beautiful 3-year-old blonde Labrador retriever named Sadie. She is his love. I understand why because she is truly one of the smartest and sweetest dogs I've ever met.
The problem is as clear as glass. He truly loves his dog more than he will ever love me. He does not ever leave Sadie alone for longer than six hours or we have to take her to his parents so they can watch her while we go out. When we are at home just hanging out, he repetitively and constantly says her name in whispers and baby talk voice: "Saaaadie Saaadie girl" or "Sadie girl I love you" over and over. He never talks cute or sweet like that to me.
I just can't help but feel neglected by my boyfriend and feel jealous of how he treats Sadie differently than how he treats me. I wonder if I am fighting a losing battle. I think he only needs Sadie in his life to make him happy,
— Jessica
Dear Jessica,
He's just not that into you. The classic line from the HBO series, "Sex And the City" - about making excuses for people we yearn for — bears repeating in this situation. You have laid out the scenario succinctly. He shows more interest in his dog and his misdirected attention makes you jealous.
Unless you're willing to date others, pull yourself away. He must move toward you if this relationship has any future. Until you make an effort to detach yourself, be prepared to stew about sexy Sadie, a leggy blonde with a clamp on your boyfriend's heart.
Dear Dog Lady,
I have a wonderful mixed breed girl named Zoey whom we believe is a shepherd/Lab/husky mix. A dear friend who is a veterinarian found her dumped and frightened outside his clinic. She has the sweetest disposition and bonded with my boyfriend and me immediately. We've had her for three years and can't imagine our lives without her.
I've noticed that she slips some acorns into her mouth as we walk through the neighborhood. For the most part, I can prevent this so it happens occasionally. She is a healthy dog and I have no idea why she is doing this, unless this is the equivalent of popcorn at a movie since she loves her walks. Can you enlighten me on this?
— Florence
Dear Florence,
Your analogy about scarfing popcorn at a movie is sweet. Yes, this is the way to think about your dog with acorns. And the nuts don't cost $6.50 for a small bag with faux butter.
Zoey must be hungry, bonding with squirrels or need crunchies in her diet. There is no indication that acorns are toxic for dogs but you probably do not want your dog to subsist on a steady diet. Check with your veterinarian about this, of course. You might want to carry a biscuit or two in your pocket so you can substitute a cookie when Zoey gets the crunchies.
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