Category Archives for "Questions"

0 How to deal with houseguests whose children break things

DeuceDog asks: Hi Shirelle – There is a neighbor boy (7 years old) who we love to have pay us a visit, but every time he comes by – he breaks something. Whether it’s a toy that we have for him and other children, or one of our gardening tools that he likes to slam onto the ground. His father is a nice guy, but a little slack on discipline – I don’t want to overstep my bounds and I don’t want to frighten this nice little boy – but his path of destruction is getting a little difficult. What would you say to him and his father to help appease the situation? Thanks.

Well, DeuceDog, if I haven’t made it clear enough, I was just like this boy!  I was a very destructive puppy, and just loved getting into Continue reading

0 Why people (especially teachers) are mean

Crooner62 asks: Why are some people so mean (like certain teachers) and what is the best way to not get my feelings hurt when they yell?

Mean teachers?  Like the ones who think the way to treat dogs to sit is to swat our hynie and yell at us?!

Mean people scare me.  I’m scared when they scream at me, I’m scared when they act like they’re going to hurt me, and I’m especially scared when they really do want to hurt me.  I guess that’s the definition of a mean person – someone who wants to hurt me in some way, whether it’s physical or not.

But I think it’s important to point out that there are different sorts of Continue reading

1 Which Beatle would Shirelle be?

DeuceDog asks: If you were a Beatle – which one would you be?

When I first saw this question, I was pretty offended. I mean, why would I want to be some nasty little bug with giant antennae?! But Handsome explained it to me – you want to know about Beatles, not beetles. And he reminded me of what their music is, and told me about their different Continue reading

0 Fair-weather Friendships

DCW asks: My friend, Patrick said “I wanted to be your friend because I wanted to be in your play,” then he wasn’t my friend anymore after the play. That’s when he said it. What should I do? I really want to be his friend.

Wow DCW, that’s really tough! It sounds to me like Patrick doesn’t really understand what friends are for, or what friendship is about. I imagine he’ll learn more as he gets older.

But for now, I don’t know Patrick. And you are my Continue reading

0 Fostering good relationships between siblings

Bert asks: How do you recommend fostering good relationships between siblings?

Hi Bert!

Great question!  First, check out my answer to “Why is my brother such a bonehead?”  Showing that to the kids might help.

But next, I’ll start with the bad news: Sibling problems have always Continue reading

0 Working when your dog wants to play.

Eiramam asks: I’ve got this silly dog that wants to play constantly. How do I get my work done?

Thanks Eiramam –

Why in the world would you want to work when your dog wants to play?  Is your work that great?

Ah, well, I have to say, I do Continue reading

0 Do manners matter?

Isis75 asks: Do manners matter?

You know the funniest thing about manners?  People train us dogs not to greet people the way we want to – sniffing, licking, jumping on them – and instead to “sit and shake hands.”  In other words, they’re afraid of our Continue reading

0 How should a parent discipline their child?

MaggieMay asks: How should I discipline my child?

When Handsome first brought me home from the pound, I had two main interests:  First was Not Going Back To The Pound, and second was Continue reading

0 When are bad words okay for kids and teenagers?

JoannaLove asks: What do you think about bad words?

I don’t speak with words, I bark.  But I definitely use bad language at times.  Like when I see a squirrel or a dog I don’t like outside my window.  Or, worst of all, a cat! Oh do I use nasty language then!

So it would make me a pretty big Continue reading

0 What’s the best kind of dog?

DanaTeresa asks: What’s the best kind of dog?

Me, of course!  Duh!  Tall, thin, Husky-Saluki mix, orange and white, with a long nose and a gigantic heart.  What could be better than that?!

Well, of course there is one kind of dog that can be better than Continue reading