dogs asks: What is Science?
Hi Dogs!
Funny, when I first saw your question, I thought it was a joke. I mean, everyone knows what Science is, right? But then I tried to come up with a definition — and it’s really hard, isn’t it!
The Merriam-Webster website defines it as:
1: the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from Continue reading
Chupa Chup asks: I am 11 years old. My 7 year old sister told me that my mum and dad were fighting one night because both of them wanted the phone, and my mum got the phone and accidently banged it into the side of my dad’s head and my dad got knocked out, and my mum went to jail to explain what happened to the police officers because my dad was in the hospital. When my sister told me this, I burst into tears. I have been really stressed lately because of this, and because I had a huge fight with my friends (who are not my friends anymore because they’re always mean to me and they always speak over me when I try to say something). I just need to be in a quiet place where I can scream as loud as I want to, sort of like heaven.
Hi Chupa Chup –
Wow, you are going through a really really rough time. It is totally normal that, after hearing what you heard about your parents, you would feel very alone and friendless. There’s a really good chance your friends aren’t being terrible, but just don’t know how to respond to what you’re going through. But either way, this stuff you’re experiencing is just awful.
If you’ve looked around this website much, you’ll have seen that I often give advice to my Pack friends, but then suggest that they might want to talk to a therapist or counselor about what they’re dealing with. For you, Chupa Chup, I’m insisting: you need to Continue reading
Sridevi asks: I am not sure if I have OCD. Sometimes I get really scary thoughts, or pictures in my mind, like that I’m harming someone. It causes me great pain and anxiety. I once had a panic attack for about five seconds – then I listened to some soothing music and felt okay. I do not have any compulsions, though; I don’t do any repeated tasks. I am so confused! Please help!
Hi Sridevi –
Well it definitely sounds like you don’t have OCD. The “C” of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is “Compulsive,” and you don’t have that. It also doesn’t really sound like you’re terribly obsessive either.
But it sounds like you’re absolutely right when you say that you have a lot of Continue reading
CaNdAcE asks: Do you have any ‘natural’ beauty tips for teenagers?
Hi CaNdAcE –
I’m so glad you asked me about natural beauty tips. Because I have to be honest with you – as a dog, I don’t know anything about the artificial ones. I know some dogs do – Poodles with their curls all coifed into fancy balls, Malteses with ribbons in their fancy-cut hair. That is not me! I mean, I can’t even stand it if the shampoo Handsome uses when he bathes me has any scent to it – this is NOT ME AT ALL!
Now of course there are things that I think make me beautiful, like rolling in certain substances that Handsome isn’t very happy with (Have you ever walked behind a Continue reading
Aiahbel asks: Is there any acting job suitable for me?
Hi Aiahbel –
Well I’m not a casting agent (I’m a dog), but from what I see of the stuff on television Handsome likes to watch, I think the answer is Absolutely (but you need to learn to act first!).
I don’t know that there’s any sort of person who can’t get an acting job. Sure, most people you see on TV kind of look alike – all the tall blonde thin women and the tall guys with the jutting chins and such – but then I see fun movies like “Hairspray” and “The Wizard of Oz” and the Harry Potter stories, and I stop worrying about that.
The big deal, though, is that you have to be able to really act. Sure, not every performer who gets popular is a brilliant technical actor – but even the lesser ones, who maybe made it on their looks, are still good enough. So Aiahbel, I’d suggest that, if you’re still in school, you try to get into a school play. Or take an acting class. Or even just put together some friends and make a fun video.
It’s one thing I’ve heard a lot about actors: The best ones got acting jobs because they loved acting, and if they couldn’t get the jobs, they’d just act for free. So have the fun first, and see if it’s what you really want to do. And if it is – then get out there and make yourself a star, and when the magazines all ask you who encouraged you to make it, you just tell them “I knew the coolest dog!”
Good Luck!
Shirelle
Breanna asks: I’m 9 and I have had my first period, and I don’t know what to do.
Hi Breanna –
Well I think the first thing to say is Congratulations. (I never went through one; I had an operation when I was six months old that kept me from having puppies or developing in the way you have, so I’m impressed!) This is a big event for a young girl, and it’s totally normal for it to be a little scary. So I’m really glad you wrote me about it.
But the first thing to know is – there is absolutely nothing to be scared about! This is part of growing up, and while people don’t talk about it a lot in public, it’s absolutely normal.
The second thing, though, is that, because this is so important, it’s absolutely necessary that you talk to an adult about it. Do you have a good relationship with your mother or another female caregiver, so that you could tell her? Or maybe a teacher or nurse at school? That’d be the best first thing to do. Then, you should definitely see a doctor, just to make sure everything is working as it should.
But once you’ve done those, you’re basically in the clear. Of course you’ll have to deal with it every month, but that’s just like nearly every other woman. Wait, what’s that word I just said? Yes: What’s big and exciting is that this is really the beginning of you becoming a woman!
So what’s important, just as important as getting checked out by a doctor, is that you begin to deal with what becoming a woman means. Your body will have lots of other changes soon, and you’ll get looked at in different ways. So it’s your job to do two things from now on: To hold on to what makes you a great kid, and to start to think about the sort of woman you want to become.
This is your experience, Breanna. And while it makes sense that you don’t want to go around talking about it with everyone, it really does make you part of the world community. So be proud and enjoy it.
But please, please, do talk to some adults and see a doctor. Just to make sure you’re okay!
Thanks, and again, Congratulations!
Sara asks: There is a guy who told me that he loves me. At first I didn’t care, but really I’m caring now. I’m sure that he really loves me, and he asked me for my response, but I couldn’t tell him that I almost feel that I love him. I feel that something is preventing me from saying it. I don’t know why. In the past, I loved a guy and he didn’t care. That guy I loved broke my heart, and it took me years to forget him, but now another guy has appeared in my life. I’m afraid of having a broken heart again, so I avoid him. I don’t know what I can do. What do you think? Do you think I really love him?
Well Sara, a lot of people have been in your situation. There are some great songs about it. A couple of very sweet sad ones come to my mind. Have you ever heard “The First Cut is the Deepest,” which describes what you’re probably feeling? Or “Cold Cold Heart,” which I imagine describes what this new guy is feeling about you?
The thing that’s “preventing” you from loving him is clearly Fear. When someone has broken your heart, of course it’s scary to let someone else in. But the truth is, letting yourself fall in love again is the best way to get over that other guy. Letting yourself know that his not-being-interested-in-you didn’t mean that you’re not lovable, just that you weren’t his type. Hey as I say on here so often, some people like miniature poodles, some like pit bulls, and some even like Continue reading
avrilox26 asks: I’ve got 2 dogs, an Alaskan Malamute (3 years old) and a half breed one (1 year old), both females. My youngest dog was hit by a car 3 weeks ago; he was lucky, because he just broke his leg (even this is sad too). Before this accident, both my dogs were friends, and they are still, but my youngest dog can’t play now, because he had surgery. The problem is that my biggest dog is not eating much, just a little, and I’m starting to be worried… I think that she’s sad, but why? I’m playing with her, I’m staying with her, I’m feeding her, I’m going out with her (which makes her happy while we’re out). I’m trying to make time and stay with her as much as I can! I just wanted to ask you first and not go to the vet for this, because she’s active and otherwise seems fine. The food that we’re taking her is not the same everyday, so I don’t think this is because of the food. And she doesn’t have anyone else to miss… And she stays near her food, careful to not let the other dog take it, but then she just doesn’t eat it. Is this because of the accident? And how can I make her be happy?
Hi Avrilox 26 –
Thanks. This is a great question. And I can give you a “possible” answer. But of course, I’m not a veterinarian, and am not able to even see your dog.
The truth is that it’s possible that your older dog is simply responding to your younger dog’s injury. Dogs are (if I do say so myself) absolutely amazing at this. Handsome once had hernia surgery, and for the entire time of his healing, I slept by him 22 hours a day, and usually lay against the wound. Dogs are very empathetic (which means we feel what others are feeling), and we will “take on” the symptoms of those closest to us. So it’s extremely likely that your older dog could lose his appetite because of the younger dog’s injury.
However, I really want to stress – it’s also possible that this is only a coincidence. That your older dog is ill and that only just happens to be at the same time as the younger dog’s injury. So I’d say, if this eating problem has gone on more than a few days, I’d recommend taking him to the vet, just to be looked at. Hopefully nothing’s wrong (he’s just a very loving animal!), but just in case, you want to be sure.
Good Luck! And I’m so happy your younger one survived the car accident! Those are Scary!
Your Friend,
Shirelle
Nana asks: I would like to know how we could maintain a healthy friendship devoid of any form of intimacy which could lead to sex.
Hi Nana –
I wish I knew who you meant by “we,” because there are a few different answers to your question.
First, if you’re talking about you and one special person, with whom you’d like to have a friendship without sex (the big word for a relationship like that is “Platonic”), the answer is… just do it! If it’s what both of you want, you’ll be able to do it easily (It’s really easy to not have sex; I do it all the Continue reading
Shrek asks: How can I be romantic to my girlfriend?
Hi Shrek –
Well, first I’d have you look at my answer to ChrisFoxx’s question about who is more romantic, women or men (you can find it in the category of Relationships).
As I explain there, it really depends on the girlfriend. If you can find out what she likes, that’ll be the best way. Maybe you can ask some friends of hers what she’s told them, or perhaps you can just listen really closely to see if she drops any hints.
But here are a few Continue reading