Category Archives for "Kids"

1 How can a girl stop thinking about boys enough to study?

Charis asks: I seriously hate studying, and want to be in a relationship asap. The problem is, I’m 13! How do you focus on your studies and stop thinking about guys all the time?

Hi Charis!

Ummm… you can’t.

If you’re obsessed with something, there is no way in the world for you to stop thinking about it.  I’ll bet if someone hit you on the head with a hammer and knocked you out, you’d spend the next two days unconscious, dreaming about boys.  That’s just where you are today, and that’s okay.

But you do bring up two other issues.  First, how do you focus on your studies.  Well, when I was in Obedience Training, the way the teacher had Handsome keep me focused was to keep a bag of Continue reading

0 How to deal with a child who always wants to go outside.

NBN asks: How do I cope with my 6year old cousin, who cannot stay in the home for even a minute, always out all the time.

Hmm…  Well, Handsome makes sure we live in a house with a fenced-in yard, so I can go outside a lot, but I think he’s mainly concerned about me running away, while you’re more bothered about this kid just wanting to be outside all the time.

My biggest question is Why.  Why does he want to be outside all the time, and why does it annoy you?  You see, I love Continue reading

1 What is a crush.

alleah123 asks: what is the meaning of crush? And what’s the difference between love & crushes???

Oh alleah123, I love crushes!

You see, crushes are great, and innocent, and fun.  You can have a crush today, or when you’re ninety years old.  Even married people can have crushes, and it’s okay.

So what exactly is a crush?  A crush is something that feels like falling in love, but it’s clearly based on nothing real.  Handsome had his first crush when he was ten years old, and he never had a single Continue reading

0 How to deal with a shy boy you like.

Chupa Chup asks: Hi, I’ve been having problems with this boy. I really really like him and he really really likes me too, and he is too shy to tell me how he really feels. So I’ve been thinking maybe I should tell him, and then he may tell me… but than I’ll be to shy! I need help please?

Hey that’s great about that boy, Chupa Chup!  So now comes the fun and scary part — how do you find out for sure how he feels?!  Maybe get a friend to ask him if he likes anyone?  Or try hanging around him and see how he reacts?  Or you could do what I do – just jump on him and lick Continue reading

1 How to find a friend

Thesun asks: I need a friend. Where can I find them?

Hi Thesun –

What a great great question.  We need all the friends we can get.  So it’s terribly important to find them, and definitely good ones!

So here are a few suggestions:

1)    Many people are embarrassed to admit they need a friend, or that they don’t have enough.  So your bravery in asking your question is already a great sign.  The truth is MOST people are looking for new Continue reading

0 What is Science

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

2 How to deal with parents fighting

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

0 The Correct Age for First Boyfriend and Girlfriend

Courtney asks: At what age should you have a boyfriend?

Ah, Courtney, this is a very dicey question!  There are two terms that must be defined here – “Age” and “Boyfriend.”

Now I had my first boyfriend when I was about six months old.  I met Kuma at the dog park, and we fell madly in love and would beat the living daylights out of each other every chance we got.  But of course a six-month-old puppy is very different in maturity from a six-month-old human!  If Kuma had done to a baby what he did to me, the police would have Continue reading

0 How do we know Shirelle is a real dog?

Kevphia asks: If you are a dog, tell me what is the best thing you like to do. I’m not stupid — dogs can’t type! Send me proof that you are a dog!

Hi Kevphia –

I wrote a poem for you

How common are these current trends

Where doubt about us swarms:

Obama had to get his state

To release official birth forms.

And here you question me today

On whether I’m canine

And orange and white with floppy ears

And a very thin waistline.

So what can this pooch say to you

To make you to believe

If I sent you photos of me typing

You might think that’s naïve!

“But she just used her Photoshop

To make that pic!” you’d scream.

Yes, anything I’d give to you

Would seem just a cheesy scheme.

The fact is, dear, I simply can’t.

I can’t prove what I am.

All I can do is tell you that

My heart is not a sham.

I truly care about my Pack

I’m so glad you signed up.

And over time I hope to become

Just about your favorite pup!

Thanks!

Shirelle

2 How to tell if your dog is really sick, or just sad.

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