Dear Dog Lady,
Ever since my dog was a puppy, we lived in a house with a big backyard. The only interaction she got with other dogs was through the slats of the fence. Now, eight years later, we have moved into a large condo building, where it seems every other person owns a dog.
Every time we go for a walk, my dog wants to play with all the pups in the neighborhood. I have no problem with this. She gets along well with the other dogs, and I realize she needs the amusement. What I do have a problem with is what she does in order to get this playtime.
No matter if another dog is 10 feet away, across the street, or half a block away, she will lie down with all her weight (60 pounds) and not budge until the dog approaches her, or is out of sight. Of course, the other dog owners comment how cute she looks when she does this. And I must admit it was, the first couple of times. But it's very aggravating when a 10-minute walk around the block takes almost an hour.
There have been times when I have had to pick her up and carry her home because she refused to move. I have tried yelling, and I've tried being playful about it. I've also brought her to the dog parks, thinking she would get enough fun there. Nothing works. Please help me get an otherwise well-behaved dog to walk normally.
— Bowser Won't Budge
Dear Bowser,
You must take control of the situation by training your dog to walk on a leash — something she didn't have to do when you could just let her out in the backyard.
Carry small treats (freeze-dried liver bits are best) and coax her along by holding out the treat and rewarding her when she moves. Also, rouse her with a high, happy voice to progress as you walk along briskly. Hold the leash with two hands - one on the loop handle and one down close to the collar. Use a sturdy tether and not one of those odious telescoping leashes, which are tough to manipulate. When she does move her butt, praise her mightily and pop her a tidbit.
Stick to one method. Don't be trying this and trying that. Dog keepers can be so impatient when a determined doggy doesn't want to do things their way. Your sweetie may be eight years old, but she's in training to walk a mile in your shoes.
Dear Dog Lady,
My 4-year-old black Lab mix has been eating grass since she was a puppy. It doesn't seem to hurt her. When we go for walks she stops and munches on the greenest, juiciest pieces she finds. Is this normal?
— Ari
Dear Ari,
It's normal within the range of abnormality, if you catch Dog Lady's drift. Your question about grass munching is often asked by confused dog keepers who wonder if their mutt is morphing into a farm animal. Even veterinarians do not have definitive answers for the behavior, except to suggest the dog seeks something — a stomach herbal medicine, delicious vegetable matter (in the spring), earthy carbs (in the late fall) - not available in the customary diet. Make sure you ask your own vet about this habit.
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