Q. Our 4-year-old Scottish Terrier has developed a stubborn streak about going for a walk. He was attacked by a neighborhood dog, and even though he healed quickly, he has been afraid to walk very far past our house. How can we get him to stop balking about walking around the neighborhood?

-Jane Kofroth
Media, Pennslyvania

A. He’s scared for good reason—his life! Pet training consultant Barbara O’Connor, who co-wrote the behavior chapters in our book, Your Adopted Dog, advises that you must regain your Scottie’s trust. Start at home by carrying the leash to desensitize associated fears, while feeding your pooch his favorite treats. Incorporate the leash into games with favorite toys. Try short walks with a friend who has a gentle, friendly dog buddy, and bring the treats, too! Protect your best friend by carrying a dog deterrent such as pepper, citronella spray, or an unpleasant noisemaker such as a bag full of shake cans to chase off loose dogs. He will heal emotionally once he sees you are taking care of the problem. (To make a shake can, rinse an empty soda can, allow it to dry, drop in a few pennies or nails, then tape over the opening.)

-Shelley Frost and Katerina Lorenzatos Makris,
authors of Your Adopted Dog

A. It would be very helpful to communicate with your dog, to let him express what happened, how he felt, if he’s in pain or is worried in some way. Then we need to rebalance both of you to be able to have a great walk together. Be sure and check your own fears about him walking around the neighborhood. Both people and dogs, are designed to rebalance quickly—physically, mentally, and emotionally—after a trauma or incident like this and should be able to recover fairly easily. However, dogs cannot move forward when their person is continuing to communicate fear, tension, or anxiety, which then reaffirms to them that there is something to be worried about. Your dog knows why he’s behaving this way, so the key is to talk with him so you can work through the issue together.

-Val Heart, animal behaviorist & animal communicator, San Antonio, Texas

-Shelley Frost and Katerina Lorenzatos Makris,
authors of Your Adopted Dog

Q. Every night, like clockwork, my cat waits impatiently for me to get into bed. She’ll then stand by my side until I give her a gentle push to climb on top of my stomach where she’ll lie down and purr like an engine until I drift off. While this is very nice, why exactly does she do this?

-K. Rice
Campbell, California

A. Understanding how cats behave in the wild can serve as a light bulb moment in helping us understand why they do what they do inside our houses. In the wild, felines follow a daily and nightly routine. Any disturbance in their routine is an unwelcome event, because it can signal danger. As a classic creature of habit, your purr pal is happiest and most comfortable in her own environment (home) when she is able to conduct her personal habits in the exact way she conducted them the previous night, and so on. Her impatience as you dilly-dally before bedtime stems from her eagerness to put you to bed, just as she does every night. Sweet dreams!

-S. Frost and K. Makris

A. This is lovely behavior from a very sweet, well-mannered feline friend who is also a healer. She is telling you to get settled, and then waits patiently until you are ready for her attention. Then she positions herself carefully in an area of your body that needs healing, and goes to work. She is also helping you go to sleep by putting you in an alpha state of mind, which is where true healing and deep rest and regeneration occurs. Every cat around the world purrs at a specific frequency that science has proven to be a healing energy—the energy where bones knit and tissues mend and repair. So she is doing her part to help you be as healthy and balanced as possible—what a gift! You are lucky to have her in your life.

- V. Heart

Q. I have a large dog and am unsure how to feed him. I know that if I leave his bowl on the floor then it reduces the risk of bloat, but if I feed him in an elevated bowl, it will help prevent arthritis and back problems. Which is a better option?

-Cindy Stafford
Louisville, Kentucky

A. Veterinarian Dr. Donald Conkling, one of the health consultants on our book, explains that in very large breeds at risk of bloat, the development of the problem has less to do with the placement of the food bowl and more to do with what the dog eats, how he eats (how fast, etc.), and how soon after eating the pooch exercises or rolls around. Likewise, the raised bowl has nothing to do with preventing arthritis. An elevated bowl does make it more comfortable if the animal has arthritis in his neck or spine. So, as a compromise, we would advise raising the bowl to a medium height.

-S. Frost and K. Makris

There are so many other factors that contribute to bloat, arthritis, and back problems that also have to be considered. Communicating with your dog allows us to ask him which bowl height works best for him! I would also want to know if he was in pain, how his neck/back/hips feel, and if he has ever felt his stomach bloat or was uncomfortable after eating. I would check his diet to be sure the food is appropriate for him. The bottom line is that this isn’t just about bowl height. You want him to be healthy and well balanced. It is important to communicate with him, so that he can tell you if he’s having a problem and together discover what to do to resolve it.

- V. Heart