Dear Matthew: Whenever I take my dog for a walk, it seems like I'm getting twice the level of exercise that he is. Mostly, it's because it seems like I'm having to drag him wherever I go!
What can I do to make sure my dog keeps up with me as I'm striding along? Too often, he wants to stop and sniff things or wander into the bushes. Is there any trick that can help me keep his attention?- Lauren in Manassas, Va.
Dear Lauren: When you're taking your dog for a walk, you've got to make sure he pays more attention to you than to his surrounds. If you can accomplish that, then you'll have to worry less about him lollygagging behind you.
So, next time you go for a walk, verbally encourage your pet to keep up with you whenever he lags. Keep glancing back to make sure he's watching you and not getting distracted. If he starts to slow down, give the leash a little tug.
Be careful not to drag your dog, particularly when you're walking him on concrete. If you do, you could injure the sensitive padding on his paws. You might want to check his feet when you get back from a walk to make sure they aren't getting rubbed raw.
Dear Matthew: My cat has been acting rather slow and lazy recently. One of my friends mentioned that a kitty vitamin might do the trick. She suggested giving my feline some vitamin E to get the life back in her step. What do you think?
Do you know of any other dietary supplements that might make my cat a little more energetic, like she was when she was a kitten? I'd really like to know!
- Loretta in Madison, Wis.
Dear Loretta: If you're feeding your cat virtually any respectable commercial cat food, she shouldn't need additional supplements. Vitamins like B and E are plentiful in most good cat foods. Some generic cat foods are less likely to have all the nutrients your cat needs, but it would be less expensive to buy better food than to play chemist and try to mix vitamins for your kitty.
Frankly, I think it's unreasonable to expect your adult cat to be as energetic as she was when she was a kitten. Are you as energetic as you were when you were 9? Somehow, I doubt it. As cats get older, they become less active - that's not a medical condition, that's nature at work.
So, if you think your cat isn't getting enough exercise, you're probably expecting too much of her. But if you want her up and running around, try spending some quality time playing with her - not stuffing vitamins down her throat.
And if it looks like your cat truly has a medical condition, don't take your friend's home-remedy advice. Take your pet to a veterinarian for a checkup. If there really is something wrong, you want it taken care of by an expert.
Dear Matthew: I'm interested in getting a basset hound. They're such adorable-looking animals, with their big, floppy ears and their sad expressions. I really don't know much about the breed, however. Do you have any advice for me? Is there anything I should be made aware of?
The last thing I want is to stumble into getting the wrong animal. I'm a single 28-year-old guy, so I don't have to worry about the dog being around kids or anything. Thanks.
- Rob in New York City
Dear Rob: It's a shame you don't have kids, since basset hounds are very good around children. They're excellent apartment pets, as they aren't very active and will never go tearing through your rooms, knocking things over.
I hope you aren't expecting to go out jogging or Frisbee-playing with your basset hound, though. If you're looking for a sporty dog that loves exercise, buy a golden retriever.
Basset hounds are smart dogs, and they generally respond well to training - although you should be careful that their ears don't get hurt when you're leash-training them. Also, since these dogs are very passive, you shouldn't have to be too assertive when training them.
Finally, basset hounds are diggers and chewers, so be ready for a little mischief, especially when they're young. I've also noticed that they're sometimes harder to housebreak. But with a little work, this shouldn't present much of a problem.