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Mrs. Zulkey.com Will Tell You Who Let the Dogs Out

Dear Mrs. Zulkey.com,

My young terrier seems to eat everything she finds in the yard or on the floor - acorns, splinters of wood, pieces of paper and excrement. Inevitably I only figure out she's picked something up when she stops running and starts horking. Other than follow her around constantly yelling at her, what can I do?

Dear Puppy Lover,

You mention two of the most troubling words in all dog trainingdom: "young" and "terrier".

Having a puppy, like having a two-year-old, means you can never let her out of your sight because as long as she's awake, she'll be up to something. Yelling is basically ineffective unless you catch her in flagrante delicto, since unlike two-year-olds, dogs are not able to connect the dots between their misconduct and your displeasure.

Years of experience has taught me that some breeds seem to be more eager-to-please than others. But all dogs will respond to what is euphemistically called positive reinforcement, otherwise known as treats. They don't have to be special packaged goodies, but can be one or two oyster crackers or maybe some chunks of cheese. You can save money on dog training classes - unless it really means a lot to you to have your dog heel - by dispensing these rewards whenever she does something good, like come when you call her. Words of praise in an enthusiastic voice, a good pat on the head can go along with it, but it's really all about the food. And in that regard, they're not so different from the rest of us.

One more thing: There's no excuse for the Halloween costumes.

Mrs. Zulkey

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