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Dear Tabby: My dog barks every time somebody walks by. He is especially aggressive with people in uniforms. I try to get him to stop but it seems to be getting worse. What can I do? Signed, My Dog Won't Shut Up! Dear Shut Up, As you know, Four Seasons is a very walking friendly place, so you can't expect people to bypass your home just because your dog voices his displeasure at them using "his" sidewalk. First, let's take a look at why a dog barks, especially at uniformed "intruders." It is a natural reaction for a dog to protect his property. A delivery person confidently comes up to your door and rings the bell. Your dog barks. The intruder goes away. This is the biggest ego trip any dog can have! They did their job. They successfully chased away that UPS delivery guy or the FedEx person. This is actually very common canine behavior. But now let's take a look at how we inadvertently encourage this response. Is there a chance you are yelling at your dog when he barks? If you are yelling for him to stop, you dog doesn't hear "Stop that!" or "Shut up!" He hears "Go, team, go!" You become a cheerleader for his reaction and he is following your lead. You are yelling and he is yelling. Sometimes it's difficult to stop this conduct if it has been allowed to progress into a habit, but you can try. Next time your dog barks at a passerby, calmly tell him "Good boy. That's enough. You chased them away," and really praise him when he stops barking. If it continues, try distracting him with a treat, but avoid yelling. Sometimes throwing something soft at him, such as a rolled up pair of socks, can be a good distraction. When he stops, pile on the praise. Be consistent with your training and perhaps you can form a new habit. Good luck and I hope this tip works. Send your pet questions to DearTabby1@aol.com. COMMUNITY NEWS | FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2014 7 Thanksgiving is on the horizon. Everybody gets excited, even our four- legged friends with all of the wonderful food and lots of home visitors. Let's look at a few things we can keep in mind to make to make Turkey Day a bit more comfortable for us and our furry friends. This time of year usually comes with a parade of visitors. Some of our family pets may not handle company well, especially some of the small, active children that come to visit. Give your pets an opportunity to leave the activity area by keeping a bedroom door open so they can escape to a quiet spot. It's a good idea to declare these quiet areas off limits for little children. Children innocently forcing themselves on a pet that doesn't want to be bothered can produce an unpleasant situation for everyone. On the other hand, you may have a real social butterfly who insists on being the center of attention. These pets are fun, but watch out for too much of a good thing. Guests love feeding dogs, and if your pets have any dietary restrictions like food allergies, or have sensitive tummies, keep a small bit of their own dry food or treats out in an attractive dish with a sign "snacks for the dog." When the treats are gone avoid refilling it, as too much of a good thing can be distressing. And speaking of too much of a good thing: be careful of leftovers for your pet. While many of our dogs can handle a little bit of table treats, Thanksgiving comes with an innate desire to overeat and overfeed. Please be careful and do not overdo it with the greasy gravy and rich dishes. Another tip: when it's not good enough to eat yourself, it's not good for the dog! So if you're cleaning out the refrigerator, bypass the dog bowl and toss the leftovers. ~ Teri DiMarino Thanksgiving & Your Pets Dear Tabby

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