How do I stop my dog barking at neighbour?
Ask the vet
My dog keeps barking at my neighbour when she’s out in the garden. My neighbour is friendly and it’s quite embarrassing, what can I do?
Barking dogs can annoy some people but not all barking is a problem. In fact, your neighbour might appreciate having an effective burglar alarm next door! It may be your dog is barking to let you know someone is there and if this only happens occasionally, it’s less likely to be an issue. However, it can also be a sign of fear or frustration and excessive barking can be distressing for both the dog and the humans around them. If your dog is barking all the time or seems distressed or upset, it’s a good idea to get help. Consider taking your dog to training classes or contact an accredited behaviourist for more advice.
My Yorkie, Missy, had a fight with a bigger dog and now she gets anxious leaving the house. How can she regain her confidence?
A dog fight can be scary; Missy may just need some time to get her confidence back. It’s important you don’t rush or force her to go anywhere that she doesn’t want to as this will make her anxiety worse. Start out with a short walk when there aren’t too many dogs around. Once she’s happy with walkies again, try asking someone to walk their friendly dog at the same time, but at a distance ( e. g. across a field). Gradually walk Missy a little closer to them, praising her for staying calm and relaxed. If she gets anxious, calmly stop, turn around and walk away. Over a few weeks, you should be able to get closer to the other dog until, eventually, Missy is happy to meet them. For
expert help, contact the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.
I know rabbits like fresh leafy greens, but can they eat fruit as well? Rabbits can eat fruit, but only occasionally and in small quantities due to the high sugar content. Apples, grapes, pears, plums, strawberries and tomatoes ( not the leaves) are OK in small amounts ( e. g. 1/ 8th of an apple or pear, given occasionally). A rabbit’s ideal daily diet should consist of at least their own body size in good quality hay, a handful of dark fresh greens morning and evening, and a tablespoon of rabbit nuggets once daily. Lettuce has high water content and can cause
diarrhoea so should only be given occasionally. Carrots are actually high in sugar too so, despite the traditional image, they should only be given occasionally in small pieces. Carrot tops are great and a good source of calcium.
My dog has stopped putting any weight on one of her back paws. She won’t let me anywhere near it though, so what can I do to help her?
A vet needs to examine your dog’s leg as soon as possible – if your dog is limping she’s likely to be in pain. There are lots of reasons why her foot might be sore. She may have a foreign body in the paw ( such as a thorn or shard of glass), a fractured bone, ligament damage, a broken nail or a soft tissue injury. Your vet will examine her leg and may recommend x- rays to help make a diagnosis.