Not every Lady loves a uniform, and this one goes gaga whenever mail is delivered
Q: Our dog, Lady, is really sweet and lovable, but she goes wild when the mail is delivered through a slot in the door. She howls and runs uncontrollably through the house until the mailperson leaves or until we give her a treat and put her in the backyard. She barks at other delivery people, but never as angrily as she does at the mailperson. What can we do?
This just goes to show that not every lady loves a uniform. Some dogs may be fearful of people in uniform becausethey look different or because they associate them with the loud noise made by the delivery truck. They may not get a chance to meet the people who deliver mail or packages, so they treat them as intruders. Dogs also come to associate their barking with the disappearance of the delivery person. After all, the dog barks like crazy, and the person always leaves. In the dog’s mind, the barking is working to drive the mailperson away.
Give Lady a better response to mail delivery than barking. Try to set up scenarios with a mock delivery person so she can learn that mail delivery is an opportunity to earn a reward.
Prevent or interrupt the barking by teaching Lady that when the mail slot opens, she should jump onto her bed and do a down and stay for a reward or come find a specific person in the home and sit next to them.
Try introducing your dog to the mailperson and have them give her treats so she comes to view them as a delightful friend. If she remains upset when she hears or sees mail being delivered, hold her attention by rewarding her for remaining in a down and stay, or give her a long-lasting chew on her bed.
— Mikkel Becker
Pet Buzz
Eye appearance clue to disease
A change in your dog’s eye color could signal serious eye disease. Conditions that may cause eyes to look hazy or eye color to change include lenticular sclerosis, an age-related change that doesn’t seriously affect vision; cataracts, which can eventually cause blindness but can be removed or repaired surgically; glaucoma, or high eye pressure, a painful condition that is treatable for a time with medication but may eventually require removal of the eye; and anterior uveitis, inflammation of the front of the eye, which can have several causes. Always take your dog to the veterinarian if you notice changes in eye appearance.
"Noah's Ark" for turtles
A “Noah’s Ark for turtles” exists in Cross, South Carolina. It’s the Turtle Survival Center, which houses critically endangered species to help prevent their extinction. Sponsorships and volunteer opportunities for turtle enthusiasts of all ages are two ways you can help to support them. School or group visits and internships are also available. Find out more here: turtlesurvival.org/ turtle-survival-center.
Juice Kiffin - unofficial mascot
The University of Mississippi has an unofficial mascot you might be unaware of: Juice Kiffin, a yellow Labrador retriever who belongs to Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin.
The dog, who has more than 56,000 followers on social media platform X, is fond of fetching kickoff tees at home games and holds an honorary degree of Juris Dogtor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Will Juice become an official mascot, replacing Rebel the black bear, who himself replaced the controversial Colonel Reb mascot?
In an article in the April 18, 2024, edition of The Daily Mississippian, some students would support the change. But student Hailey Mewborn expresses one concern: If Lane Kiffin were to leave Ole Miss, “he would have to leave the dog,” she says.
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker. Pet Connection is produced by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, journalist Kim Campbell Thornton, and dog trainer/behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. ©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Pet Connection: Helping your dog to stop barking at delivery people
