Q: Our female Lab puppy is now 8 months old, and we got one of those metal choke collars for her to stop her from pulling when we walk her. However, even with it on, she will pull ahead of us until she actually starts to choke and cough and yet she never seems to get the idea. How in the world is this supposed to work? Does it not bother her when it gets so tight around her neck?
A: A choke collar actually should be called a training collar as the objective with it is not to actually choke the dog but to just get its attention. It needs to be put on the dog so that when you give it a yank it tightens up and then quickly releases. You do not want it to tighten around the dog's neck like a hangman's noose.
These collars are best used by a person with time, patience and knowledge. You do not just put the collar on the dog and go.
A much better solution for your dog is a gentle leader or head halter. This actually goes around the dog's face as a halter goes on a horse and the leash is attached to a ring under the dog's jaw. If the halter is fitted correctly, when the dog pulls ahead the lead turns him or her around so that the dog is now facing you. Thus the dog decides that pulling ahead does it no good. Be sure to get the type of gentle leader that attaches to the dog's collar as well as to the lead. (Some dogs have been able to get the leaders off, and if it is attached to the collar then at least you still have control over the dog. It also helps if you first practice with the gentle leader on the dog indoors until both you and the dog are comfortable.
About the only problem that I have ever seen with the gentle leader is that it resembles a muzzle to some people, so you may get some funny looks as you walk the dog. But your shoulders will be thanking you.
Q: Our neighbors have chickens and at least one rooster. This rooster crows consistently for hours at a time, usually from 9 a.m. on. It is so loud that you can hear it three houses down with the windows closed. I thought that roosters just crowed at sunrise and that was it. Is this normal and do you have any suggestions I can offer to the rooster's owner to quiet him down?
A: I personally have never found the answer to this problem. A rooster in good condition can and will crow whenever he feels the need to announce his presence. My current neighbors are very tolerant of my animal shenanigans and I do my best to keep our rooster quiet, but nothing works. I put him downstairs in our basement in a covered carrier every night and he still starts crowing in the dark carrier as soon as he hears us stirring upstairs and does not stop. Then I put him outside after the world gets up and goes to work and he does it all day long. This has been the pattern for every rooster I have ever had. I welcome help from any readers out there who can offer a solution.
Q: For the last six weeks, there has been a stray black-and- white cat that comes to my door or sits under my car waiting for me to come out and feed it. As soon as I come out she runs off, but after I put the food down she creeps back and then eats. I would like to adopt her and make her into a house pet, but how do I do it? She has never had any human contact and I would like to at least pet her.
A: You are very kind to take pity on this kitty. You do have to do something or next year she will start to have kittens in your yard and you will soon be overrun with cats. She has chosen to connect with you out of all the other humans in the world. So most likely she can be a nice pet. Many of my favorite cats were originally feral strays like yours.
First you have to buy a raccoon trap and wire it open so that the cat can go in and out of it freely. This is important with a fearful and cautious cat like yours. Set the wired open trap right where you feed the cat and put the food dish in it and allow her to go in and out of it to eat for a few days. Cover the trap with a secure waterproof tarp to protect the cat food from the rain and also to protect the kitty when she does get caught. When she shows no hesitation about going into the trap, then you can actually set it and she will get caught right away.
The cat will then panic, so be sure to keep the trap covered so that she cannot see out, then carry the whole thing to a vet to get the cat vaccinated and spayed.
While the cat is at the vet, you can prepare a room for her to stay in _ preferably one that does not have any place for her to hide. If she stays hidden all day she will never have the chance to get to know you and determine that you are a nice person who would be a good friend to her. It will also help to put some soil from your backyard in her litter box so that she knows that this is what the box is for since she never has experienced cat litter before.
Then it is just a matter of time before she forgets her old life and enters the new one. Just do not force yourself on her and allow her to come around at her own pace and most likely you will be pleasantly surprised.
Q: Our family wants to know what your favorite pet is. If you could have only one pet, what would it be?
A: Ferrets are my favorite animals. They are just like me, always optimistic. In their world, the glass is forever half full.
