Category Archives for "Life Skills"

0 What are the side-effects of waxing?

Silver Tears asks: Can waxing cause hormonal imbalance?

Hi Silver Tears –

Okay, let me start off with what THIS dog thinks about waxing.  The idea of someone dripping hot wax onto me so that they can rip off a swath of my fur all at once is…  hmmm… the word “unpleasant” comes to mind.  Most particularly, “unpleasant” for the person who tries to do it.  You see, I would be experiencing a sudden flash of searing pain, and my only thought would be a great desire for THEM to feel even more pain, and that I have a wonderful set of teeth just tailor-made to achieve that!  Teeth that would go so nicely into their legs, their behinds, and the hands that are trying to rip off even more of my fur!!  grrrrrrrrooOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLCH!

However, onto your Continue reading

0 What to do when you feel everyone hates you

bella asks: I hate my life! Everyone around me hates me! I don’t know how to respond to some questions, and so sometimes I answer in a rude way, even though I don’t mean to be rude.

Hi bella –

I know how you feel.

We dogs never hate our lives (even when we’re locked in cages, treated horribly, hurt, etc., we just love being alive; it’s part of being a dog), but I’ve seen so many humans who feel just the way you’re describing.  It’s really sad and unfair.  I’m sorry you feel that way.

I also know what it’s like to feel like everyone hates me, and that is based on experience.  Have you ever been put in a Continue reading

1 How to stop oneself playing computer games at bedtime.

Chicken asks: In the past few weeks I’ve been staying up late on my iPad and playing games when I’m supposed to sleep. I try to sleep but I can’t. I’ve been tired in the day, and if I tell my parents I will get in trouble. I can’t stop staying up late on my iPad. Please help!

Hi Chicken –

Okay, let’s start with the obvious here: the iPad is fun!  Of course you like staying up playing with it.  Also, computer games can get pretty addictive, and while you’re trying to master one, it’s awfully easy to lose track of time and suddenly find that hours have gone by.

Because of this, you are experiencing what some call a “teachable Continue reading

0 Is it a good idea to change your surname?

amber asks: I’m thinking about changing my surname to that of my mom’s side of the family, and wondering how my dad would feel about this. I want to change it because my current surname means nothing to me. My dad never spends time with me or ever rings. We have some contact, but last Christmas he made up an excuse so he wouldn’t have to visit (he only lives about an hour away from me). I just don’t understand why he doesn’t like spending time with me. Last time we actually spent time with each other was when I was six and now I’m fourteen. Last time he was down to visit it felt like I was talking to a stranger. It’s like I don’t know who he is. What should I do?

Hi amber –

There are two aspects to your question, and both are… well, huge!

First, you’re wondering about your father, and why he’s been so distant.  Oh my friend, I wish I were psychic and could tell you what’s going on in his mind, but, smart a pup as I am, I simply don’t know.  Maybe he just doesn’t know how to deal with you (perhaps because he feels guilty about not Continue reading

0 What to do if you’re self-conscious about leg hair

Zack asks: I’m too hairy-legged to wear shorts, and in our country it’s really really hot this summer. I’m a swimmer, and so I want to shave my legs or wax, but my parents won’t let me. I’m too shy to wear shorts, because when do everyone is looking at me. What should I do? Just wear jeans on hot days?

Hi Zack –

Hey, I don’t care how hairy you think your legs are, mine are hairier!  Unless you’re that Jacob guy in the movies, no human has anywhere near the thickness of growth on their body that I do!

But of course, the difference is that I think my fur is beautiful, and almost everyone else does too!

So here’s my question to you, Zack:  Who says your legs are too Continue reading

2 How to get your parents to treat you more fairly

jessanna11 asks: I’m 12 years old turning 13 in a few weeks . Everyone at school has the latest technology, whereas I don’t. I don’t want to sound like a spoilt brat because I’m not, but I just wish they weren’t so stubborn. I have a Nokia phone made in 1999, and it’s really embarrassing because my friends all have iPhone 5s. I begged and begged mum for an iPhone for my birthday (I have never gotten a present before – I just get money, except once I got my cat). I ask why I can’t have one and she says, “to teach you the value of money, so you know that nothing’s going to be handed to you in life.” Money is not the issue, but it just seems so unfair that I’m being brought up this way while other kids get luxuries. I am the eldest in the family, and I feel like my parents are tougher on me; I do have a laptop and iPod touch, but I bought those two things myself from doing work like cleaning, and saved up birthday money. Meanwhile my 7-year-old twin sisters have laptops, and my nine-year-old sister has a Android smartphone and laptop that my parents paid for. I didn’t get treated that way when I was young, so why do they? I’m a perfectly well-behaved child, I do soccer, I’m in the Navy cadets where we learn discipline, I am in extension classes at school for History, English, Maths and Science, and I work after school every night for two hours (earning about $8 every afternoon; I haven’t actually being paid yet but I’m to scared to ask). So how can I convince my stubborn parents to give me something for once in my life, other than the necessities, instead of just trying to teach me a lesson?

Hi jessanna11 –

I feel for you, but I think you’re asking the wrong question.  The issue here isn’t why you’re not getting a top-of-the-line phone, which is a super luxury, especially for someone your age.  Rather, it’s why you’re being treated unfairly, compared to the other kids at school, and even your own siblings.

I’m saying this to clarify the situation.  If your family was deeply impoverished, the idea of you getting a smartphone wouldn’t even come into anyone’s mind, but you’d care a lot about Continue reading

0 What is Love?

sazuna45 asks: What is your definition of love?

Hi sazuna45 –

Your question is so simple, yet it’s been asked and answered for milennia.  If you look up famous quotes about Love, you’ll see thousands of great thoughts.   Some of the best, I think, come from:

Rumi: “This is Love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of Continue reading

1 How to handle a younger sibling getting all the attention

Cookie Vidal asks: Hi I’m an 11-year-old and I have a 7-month-old brother and everyone gives him the attention that I want and I feel low at my house. I’m not like some people who, when they feel rejected, don’t play with their younger siblings. I just want people to at least know that I’m still alive. How do I let myself look visible?

Hi Cookie Vidal –

This is a very common problem, for lots of people (and dogs!).  You have a very specific situation, with a baby in the house.  But it can happen with older siblings, or even classmates.  So I first want to show you a piece I wrote for someone who was jealous of someone at school getting everyone’s attention all the time.  But then I’ll come back to your actual issue:

It sounds to me like you’re dealing with a very odd concept called Continue reading

0 What to do when a friend suddenly stops contacting you

prettyndsweet12 asks: My friend recently moved and I really miss her. She’s like a second mom to me. The only contact that I have with her now is through social network chatting. But I haven’t heard from her in the past three days, and I’m worried and sad because I really want her to text me back. What should I do?

Hi prettyndsweet12 –

Your question “rang a bell” in my mind, and I was sure I’d answered one like it recently.  Imagine my surprise when I found that I had – and it was to you!  So I know we’ve already talked about missing your friend.   I’m guessing that the really tough issue is what to do when you don’t hear from her.

Well, my friend, I relate!  Every day, Handsome leaves me locked up in our Continue reading

0 How to get kids to do start doing things on their own

Cookie Vidal asks: My brother always asks me to do something when he can do it himself, and I get frustrated. How do I approach it?

Hi Cookie Vidal –

Your situation reminds me of something I went through as a puppy.  When I was about six months old, Handsome took me to the veterinarian to have me spayed (the operation that makes a female dog not able to have puppies).  I had a lot of stitches in my abdomen, and had to walk carefully while it healed – but no one was able to tell me that in a way I could understand.

Right away, after we got home, I tried to jump up on the bed to take a nap.  Well as you can guess, I couldn’t jump very high, and the trying really hurt!  So Handsome lifted me up and put me on the bed.  Then, once I’d had a little nap, I jumped off the bed onto the Continue reading