ArcaMax

Creating an indoor garden is a wonderful way to bring the beauty of nature into your home. However, for pet owners, it's crucial to ensure that the plants you choose are safe for your furry companions. Many common household plants can be toxic to pets if ingested, leading to harmful consequences. To strike the perfect balance between greenery...Read more

Dear Cathy,

Some friends of mine have two dachshunds. They are no longer puppies and still potty in the house. The owners say dachshunds cannot be trained. I don't believe it. What recommendation do you have for this situation?

— Colleen, Missoula, Montana

Dear Colleen,

Well, I have heard this many times from dachshund owners over the ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

About four years ago, we started domesticating a young cat we named Grey. We installed a cat door with a plastic flap and placed a barrier over it at night. Grey comes in to eat and sleep and sometimes spends the night indoors. While she would occasionally bring in a dead mouse or bird, this spring the hunting has ramped up.

What ...Read more

As a syndicated pet columnist, I usually spend my time writing about everyday animal issues – litter box avoidance, anxious pups, and barking dogs.

But this week, I’m writing as a resident of Kerrville, Texas.

My hometown is grieving. A catastrophic flood tore through our community, claiming the lives of young girls at a summer camp, ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

We got Kasey when he was two, many years ago, from my daughter who passed away. He’s now a healthy 14-year-old tuxedo. Kasey is afraid of me and avoids all men. He connects with my wife on a limited basis, sometimes sitting near her or briefly on her lap, but only in the evening, near her lounge chair, and only if I’m not in the...Read more

Dear Cathy,

My daughter's dog is a 12-year-old Border Collie/Aussie mix. He's the best dog, except when it comes to thunderstorms, or even gentle rain. When she's home, he will stand shaking with his head down. With thunder, he'll find someplace to hide, but if she's not home, he becomes destructive, even to the point of clawing the hose from ...Read more

Dear Cathy,

My six-year-old Aussie Doodle gets so excited she urinates when a female guest visits and shows her some attention. When she is ignored, she jumps on that person. How can I stop this behavior?

— Elaine, Westbury, New York

Dear Elaine,

The first behavior – urinating when a guest pays attention to your dog – is known as ...Read more