ON THE MOVE!

Pets mean extra work for the people who work at these places, so let's try to keep them on our side.

Tails From the Road

Send us your pictures, tips and stories of your travels with your pets. We'll use the best in an upcoming column, and put others up on our new Web site, DogCars.com. And it's not just about dogs: We'd love to get some stories about cats who travel. Contact us at petconnection@gmail.com.

Don't forget to check out DogCars.com. We're loading up reviews of new vehicles, pet-travel supplies and more. We also offer a bulletin board for readers to talk about traveling by car with pets, offering their own opinions of vehicles, supplies and even pet-friendly destinations. -- G.S.

Q&A

Their dog scares me. He runs the household and is snappy when crossed. I'm so worried he will hurt the baby. What can I do? -- P.H., via e-mail

A: You need to talk to your daughter and son-in-law. Have them answer these questions and be brutally honest:

-- Has their dog ever "stared them down"? If a dog gives a hard, fixed stare, it needs to be recognized for the challenge it is.

-- Does the dog adopt a dominant posture with people? A dog who's trying to be boss will be up on his toes, with his legs stiff, ears forward and hackles raised. His tail will be held up or out, and may even be wagging a little. Don't confuse the latter for friendliness. There's a big difference between the wide, relaxed wag of a friendly dog and the stiff, tight one of an aggressive animal.

-- Do they avoid doing certain things around the dog because they elicit growling or a show of teeth? Some people live their lives in fear of their dog, avoiding the animal when he's eating, sleeping, playing with a toy ... the list can be endless.

-- Do they consider the dog safe, except in certain situations, such as around food, toys or children?

-- Has the dog ever bitten anyone? Whatever the reason, no matter the excuse, a dog who has bitten once is more likely to bite again than the dog who has never bitten at all.

A "yes" to any of these questions means there is a serious problem, and they need to find help. Encourage them to talk to a veterinarian about a referral to a trainer or behaviorist with experience in canine aggression.

While some dogs with aggression problems cannot be reformed, others can, with a combination of medication and retraining, and a big dose of dog-savvy on the part of the owner.

If their dog cannot be trusted, even after professional help, please encourage them further not to try to pass the problem along to someone else just because it's too hard to do what needs to be done. They may be sparing their child a bite, but putting someone else's in a danger.

A dangerous dog who cannot be retrained or safely managed needs to be euthanized. It's a very hard decision, but the only right one to make. -- Gina Spadafori

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection by sending an e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.

PETS BY THE BOOK

DePrisco's "gaydar" locks onto irresistible and seldom visited subjects like hosting a puppy shower, picking a proper gay name for your puppy and choosing the right bling around the collar, but he also does an exhaustive job of exploring critical functions for every pet owner such as matchmaking, finding a trainer, groomer and exercise.

If you're curious, buy this book. I guarantee you'll have something rare these days: a book wickedly funny and highly informative. -- Dr. Marty Becker

PET BUY

Collars come in tartans, velvets, embroidery, tapestries, silks, satins and other lush fabrics bonded to strong nylon webbing. The Museum Collection, which features heavy watermarked satins and ornate gilt trim, is worth a special look, even if you're just window-shopping. The company also offers a special collection of holiday-themed tapestry fabrics.

Suitable for cats and all sizes and types of dogs, the collars come in both "sighthound" and conventional buckle and snap styles, and a variety of widths. ("Sighthound" collars have a self-limiting tightening function built into the design.)

Custom tags and leashes are also available. For more information visit www.mrsbones.com or call 877-767-1308 -- Christie Keith

THE SCOOP

But what works for a supple small animal falling from a tree branch doesn't cut it in the modern world, where a cat's more likely to fall from a window than a tree. And despite their abilities, cats can be injured or even killed in falls.

Many cat lovers assume their pets would be smart enough to be careful when up high enough for injuries, but it's just not in an animal's ability to make that kind of judgment call. Cats are comfortable in high places, and they cannot understand the difference in risk between a one-story fall and a six-story fall.

It's possible to give a cat fresh air safely, no matter what kind of housing you have. If you're in multifamily housing, you can't alter a fire escape because of safety issues, but you may be allowed to screen in a balcony to give your cat access to fresh air and a good view. If you're in a detached home, you can put in a more permanent structure, such as a screened-in multilevel cat playground.

If none of that's possible, you don't even have to pop for built-in screens. Most home centers have low-cost adjustable screens that fit into windows and can expand to fill in the gap.

While screens aren't completely safe and can pop out under pressure from a determined cat, they will keep most cats out of trouble most of the time. -- Gina Spadafori

PETS BY THE NUMBERS

1. Moving

2. Landlord issues

3. Cost of pet maintenance

4. No time for pet

5. Inadequate facilities

6. Too many pets in home

7. Pet illness

8. Personal problems

9. Biting

10. No homes for littermates

Source: National Council on Pet Overpopulation Study and Policy

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

It's not difficult to teach your kitten to come when you call or to sit for a treat. Start with a hungry kitten, and use a favorite treat to lure your cat into positions you want to teach. Reward your kitten when she gets in the right position.

Keep training sessions short and fun for both of you!

(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)

COPYRIGHT 2007 UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Follow us on Twitter.