The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [74]
REVIEW THE ADMISSION POLICY. Responsible centers require that all doggy guests be up-to-date on their vaccinations, be on regular flea and tick maintenance programs, be spayed or neutered, and be nonaggressive.
Once you’ve chosen a place, pay close attention to your dog’s reaction to attending doggy day care. If he enjoys his time there, he will show his excitement by ushering you to the door when he is dropped off, not resisting and yanking the leash in the opposite direction. He should be happy to see you when you pick him up at the end of the workday but not desperate to leave or acting anxious and nervous.
Case of the Shrinking Bed
Q I live in a small town and have three big dogs that range in weight from 85 to 160 pounds. One drools. They are all males, ages three to six. They are very sweet, but their physical size seems to scare off potential boyfriends — that and the fact that I allow all three to sleep on my queen-sized bed at night. Obviously, there is very little room for even me to sleep. How can I find a great mate who isn’t intimidated — or turned off — by my canine trio? How can I get my canine trio to accept a serious boyfriend into my bedroom?
A Sounds like you want a guy who loves dogs but doesn’t act like one! Use the fact that you love your three dogs to your advantage in the dating game. Surveys show that people who own dogs are perceived as nicer and kinder than those who don’t.
You have several options. Consider joining the growing number of pet-friendly online dating services. Hang out at your local dog park and strike up conversations with guys. Offer to volunteer at a fund-raising event for a local shelter or rescue group. Look for a “yappy hour” in your area (but take only one dog at a time!). The key to finding a guy who shares your love for dogs is to be honest. Let guys know right up front that you share your home with three large dogs. In searching for a mate, don’t sacrifice your beliefs and certainly don’t dismiss the needs of your dogs. Steer clear of any guy who tells you to decide between him and your dogs. Those “me or else” guys aren’t worth your time or energy.
DATING GOES TO THE DOGS
The world is changing rapidly, and a sign of the times is that pets are commanding more attention in many human relationships. About 62 percent of U.S. households have pets. Of those, about 40 million are single people. There are Web sites for people with pets looking for mates who have pets or who at least like them. A national survey recently conducted by a leading pet product manufacturer reported that a majority of people would stop dating someone who didn’t like their dog or whom their dog didn’t like.
By the way, given the sheer size of your canine pals, I strongly recommend you provide them with their own beds in your bedroom and retrain them to sleep there instead. Pets are definitely one of those environmental factors such as sound, temperature, humidity, light, and movement that contribute to poor sleep. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center have discovered that about half the people who let pets share their bed at night suffer from disrupted sleep that results in being tired each morning. Initially you may need to tether them safely to a heavy piece of furniture with their leashes so that they cannot physically reach your bed.
As for introducing another human to your room, make sure your canine trio meet your boyfriend outside the bedroom first. Let them spend some time getting treats from him and playing with him. They need to build a bond with him that will strengthen the trust to feel okay about him being in any room in your house.
Poodle Hogs Pillow
Q My poodle, Precious, earns her name, at least during daylight hours. She is sweet, gentle, and always ready to learn new tricks. My problem is that she turns into a pillow pig at night. She starts out by putting her head on the edge of my pillow but by the middle of the night, she has taken over half or more. Her activity wakes me up. Sometimes she presses her cold wet nose against my neck