MOTHER KNOWS BEST

 

Dear Mom,

     We have the most adorable Wheaten we are convinced. He came home with our college-aged daughter and is now living with us. We love him to death, but he can counter surf and feels anything he can reach is something he has the right to eat.

Thanks, Surfer Dude

 

Dear Surfer Dude,

   There are a few tricks you can try to discourage this. Number one is keep things pushed back to the wall edge as much as possible. However we have to be realistic, especially when other children live in the house, that this will not always happen. Keeping bread, treats, and other easy-to-eat edibles in closed containers can help too.

   One thing you can try is placing empty soda cans in a small pile (like a little pyramid) of cans towards the front of the counter. When the dog gets up on his hind legs and looks around it is often enough to have them collapse onto the floor and hopefully make a big enough racket to discourage this activity. A friend used a pie pan with a bit of water in it, and when that fell on the head of the offender it was enough to discourage further investigative activity. A mousetrap seems cruel and unusual punishment, but one can be tempted, can’t one!

 

Dear Mom,

   We have an aging Wheaten that has decided he is not hungry. We have tried tempting him, leaving food down, and he is ignoring it. What can we do next?

Thanks, Hunger Striker

 

Dear From Hunger,

   This is difficult. First and foremost, take him to your vet and explain the situation. Be sure his teeth are checked and anything else the vet can think of.

   Then Mom believes in smaller more frequent meals when we have dogs that are aging. They still need as much exercise as they can handle too. This stimulates all the juices and can make them hungry. If he will take a treat from your hand, try that too. Sometimes a bit of baby food or hot cereal is a tempting,