Why doesn’t my daughter’s dog seem to like me?

DEAR JOAN >> My daughter’s dog does not like me. When he comes to visit, he walks right past me.

The worst thing I have done to him is step on his toes when he is under foot.

Why doesn’t he like me? — Josephine B., Pleasanton

DEAR JOSEPHINE >> I’m not so sure that the dog doesn’t like you. He’s not showing any sign of aggression toward you, and it sounds more like he has no opinion. Perhaps that’s because the only impression you’ve yet made on him was on his toes.

It’s hard getting a dog to pay attention to you when someone he really loves — your daughter, his owner — is nearby. You really have to work at it.

The easiest way to win a dog’s heart is through the stomach. With your daughter’s approval and direction, start offering him treats. Praise him as you give him the treat and show him some affection by scratching behind his ears and petting him.

You also could take him for walks and play with him. Buy him a special toy that you know he likes and that you can keep at your house. Some dogs like squeaky, plastic toys while others like to mangle a stuffed animal. When he comes to visit, show him the toy and engage him in a game of fetch or tug.

Anytime you see him, speak lovingly to him, using his name and praising him as a good boy. If he still ignores you, try all these things without your daughter being present. The dog could be too focused on her to appreciate you.

Keep trying, avoid stepping on his toes and I’m sure in less time than you might think, you’ll be good friends.

DEAR JOAN >> I am seeing more people in my neighborhood riding their bikes with their dogs running beside them. Can you tell me what your thoughts are on this?

These people seem to love their dogs. It is obvious they want to spend time with their animals and want them to get exercise, but it just really bothers me.

It seems abusive to me — is that too strong of a word? — to expect a dog to keep running while you are riding your bike. How does a dog let their owner know to stop if they are tired? — Therese, San Jose DEAR THERESE >> I’m not a fan of dogs running alongside bikes. To me, there are dangers involved that the loving dog owners might not have considered.

You’ve pointed out one — overtiring the dog. Larger, active dogs require a lot of physical activity to keep them healthy and fit. Running alongside a bike might be good for them, up to a point. With any dog, the owner needs to know their pet’s limitation and not exceed it.

Other risks include the dog being struck by traffic, the bicyclist being pulled off balance if the dog suddenly stops or runs in another direction, and the bicyclist accidentally hitting the dog with the bike.

There are devices owners can purchase that attach to the bike frame to help keep the dog the proper distance from the bike, but anyone who has ever walked a dog knows that they can become distracted and quickly reverse direction or pull on the leash.

If you want to ride with your dog, take the proper precautions and train your dog to run safely alongside you. Then be careful not to overtax the dog’s endurance. Just because you can ride for miles doesn’t mean your dog can, or should have to, keep up.