DEAR JOAN: Our 8-year-old male Australian shepherd, Bodie, has began a brand new conduct.
We’ve got a privateness display and youngster’s gate to maintain him and his huge brother, a border collie, within the dwelling space with us. Bodie now breaks by means of the privateness display through the nighttime, slams on the kid’s gate to deliver it down, after which runs upstairs to attend exterior our room.
We haven’t been in a position to detect any triggers that may trigger this conduct. He appears to acknowledge that this conduct just isn’t acceptable but persists.
Any ideas on what may be occurring with him? We love him however are troubled by his nervousness.
— Doug, Arnold
DEAR DOUG: As with every change in conduct in a pet, it’s at all times a superb thought for a check-up on the vet’s workplace to verify there isn’t a bodily rationalization.
As our pets haven’t but mastered human language and are solely so-so on a pc keyboard, they usually talk their emotions with actions that we typically wrestle to grasp. However Bodie is certainly attempting to let you know one thing.
He may very well be affected by an sickness that’s inflicting him ache or discomfort, and he needs you to assist him. That’s why we have to see the vet.
It may be that one night time earlier than the conduct change, one thing frightened, upset or involved him, and he needed to be as near you as doable.
It may be that he was so profitable in getting your consideration the primary time he did it, he’s determined to maintain doing it and now it’s a behavior.
The best way to interrupt habits is to alter the way you react to the conduct. Ignore the “wrong” conduct and reward the “right.”
You possibly can strive spending extra time with him earlier than bedtime. Enjoying and going for a stroll will give him the eye he may be needing, and can assist tire him out so he’ll sleep by means of the night time. Strive including some new toys and fluffy blankets to his mattress, or depart the TV on at low quantity so he has extra firm.
Canines could be humorous about what does and doesn’t hassle them, so that you’ll must play detective to search out out what has Bodie so anxious. He could overcome the concern and return to being Bodie.
DEAR JOAN: I’ve a hummingbird feeder that sits on my extensive fence ledge. For months, there have been no signal of ants however now they’re throughout and within the feeder. I even sprayed the fence with TERRO, however the ants prevailed.
Is there something I can put down on the fence ledge, surrounding the feeder, that’ll deter the ants however not scare away the hummers?
— Bonnie, Pacific Grove
DEAR BONNIE: Please put away the ant spray, which may very well be dangerous to the birds.
If doable, it’s greatest to hold the feeder, moderately than having it sit on a flat floor. That may put it considerably out of attain.
One other resolution is to set the feeder in a shallow container of water, making a moat that, for essentially the most half, will stop the ants from reaching their objective.
