Furry Forum
Q. My boyfriend recently moved in with me, and he and my 2-year-old Yorkie Romeo didn’t get off on the right foot. My boyfriend says the dog pees in his shoes and on his clothing when I’m gone. Romeo looks a little sad to me. How can I get these two to get along?
-Farrah Robinson, Glenside, Pennsylvania
A. To bond with a dog is to walk with a dog, so have your boyfriend keep taking Romeo for some walks around the park or neighborhood—just the two of them. And have your boyfriend keep feeding Romeo. A relationship between dog and man is a two-way street. Starting with these two responsibilities will get the juices flowing. Finally, when you aren’t home, keep Romeo in an exercise pen in the kitchen or a common area where he feels safe. Don’t allow him the opportunity right now to pee in the house. Once he is fine in the pen for awhile, slowly give him more freedom by increasing the space.
-Jennifer McCarthy, Jennifer McCarthy World Class Dog Training, Longmont, Colorado
Q. My 1-year-old indoor rabbit has a horrible problem with digging on the carpet. I have rearranged the furniture to make it harder for him to get to the edges of the carpet and have made several digging boxes for him with litter, hay, and shredded paper. He still finds ways to tear up the carpet, though. What else can I do?
-Angelica J., Carmel, Indiana
A. If possible, give your bunny time in the yard that will permit him to exercise this natural digging behavior that comes with the species. Think about where rabbits often live—underground. If you do not have access to a yard of your own, perhaps a friend would allow you to “borrow” theirs, or you could take him on a leash, to a safe park or open space where nature and the laws would allow him to exercise his instincts.
Neutering might take some of the behavioral edge off, and aging might also diminish the energy with which he applies himself to this activity. The only other answer I can think of is better containment in the house. That would come down to caging him or establishing a carpet-free area for him to live in. A combination of these changes would probably lead to the happiest solution for you and your bunny.
-Dr. John N. Quick, small animal and wildlife veterinarian, Morgan Hill, California
* The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Tails Pet Media Group, Inc. Please consult your veterinarian before making any major decisions for your pet.
-Farrah Robinson, Glenside, Pennsylvania
A. To bond with a dog is to walk with a dog, so have your boyfriend keep taking Romeo for some walks around the park or neighborhood—just the two of them. And have your boyfriend keep feeding Romeo. A relationship between dog and man is a two-way street. Starting with these two responsibilities will get the juices flowing. Finally, when you aren’t home, keep Romeo in an exercise pen in the kitchen or a common area where he feels safe. Don’t allow him the opportunity right now to pee in the house. Once he is fine in the pen for awhile, slowly give him more freedom by increasing the space.
-Jennifer McCarthy, Jennifer McCarthy World Class Dog Training, Longmont, Colorado
Q. My 1-year-old indoor rabbit has a horrible problem with digging on the carpet. I have rearranged the furniture to make it harder for him to get to the edges of the carpet and have made several digging boxes for him with litter, hay, and shredded paper. He still finds ways to tear up the carpet, though. What else can I do?
-Angelica J., Carmel, Indiana
A. If possible, give your bunny time in the yard that will permit him to exercise this natural digging behavior that comes with the species. Think about where rabbits often live—underground. If you do not have access to a yard of your own, perhaps a friend would allow you to “borrow” theirs, or you could take him on a leash, to a safe park or open space where nature and the laws would allow him to exercise his instincts.
Neutering might take some of the behavioral edge off, and aging might also diminish the energy with which he applies himself to this activity. The only other answer I can think of is better containment in the house. That would come down to caging him or establishing a carpet-free area for him to live in. A combination of these changes would probably lead to the happiest solution for you and your bunny.
-Dr. John N. Quick, small animal and wildlife veterinarian, Morgan Hill, California
Have a question you’d like to ask about your pet?
Please write to FurryForum@TailsInc.org
* The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Tails Pet Media Group, Inc. Please consult your veterinarian before making any major decisions for your pet.
