Pet Etiquette

Well, today we're going to talk about standards of etiquette where your pets are concerned and good manners for your pet. And, believe me, I've seen it all.

First I'll tell my worst case scenario. This really happened to me and taught me a valuable lesson about taking one's pets for visits.

Veterinarians tend to be gregarious folks, often learning their open door policies from their country upbringing. When I was a kid there were always enough beds, enough food and enough time for anybody who showed up at the door.

That level of hospitality endured in the small town of Auburn, Alabama, among veterinary students existing and prospective. When I was invited to interview for one of Mississippi's 15 openings in what was to become the Class of 1980 at Auburn University, my wife and I needed a place to stay, and we had our pick of several students' homes.

As a (bad) last minute decision, we decided to take along our few-months-old Beagle puppies, Sam and Blossum. We'd made arrangements for their care at home, but couldn't bear to leave them. On our first night with our hosts a huge thunderstorm hit town. Sam and Blossum, accustomed to sleeping in our kitchen, had shacked up with their hosts in the pen outside. The storm sent them seeking shelter and they thought it unnecessary to share their shelter with their new friends.

Banished to the midst of the fury of the storm, the hosting dogs set up a howl that woke all of us. The only cure was for me to brave the storm, put my wet dogs into our car, and spend the night with them.

While our hosts were too polite to mention the audacity of our dogs booting their dogs out of their own doghouse, the tension was evident. Never again have I taken my pets for an overnight visit to someone else's house.

If the shoe fits, you may borrow it.

Probably the most irritating bad habit of dogs is begging. The best cure is prevention. My pets, for example, have never tasted human food, so, while an occasional smell might be interesting to them, they don't associate our food with their concept of "something to eat." For that reason, they can share the kitchen with us at mealtimes just as they share all other parts of our lives.

If you have created a food beggar, visitors' meals may be less than enjoyable, if not outright ruined. Most people are thoroughly turned off by such behaviour. Their appetites may be similarly affected, despite your culinary expertise.

Aversion therapy usually works best to change this bad habit. Techniques suggested by veteran trainer Brian Kilcommons, in his book Good Owners, Great Dogs, include setting "booby traps" in the kitchen. When your dog starts to beg, a firm correction with his training collar and a firm command "LEAVE IT!" will change his mind about desiring your meal. Be patient. The urge to eat steak and boiled okra won't be diminished overnight, or even in a month. But consistency will help to turn your mealtime beggar into a welcome mealtime companion.