Rock habit’s hard to swallow

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Q. I have two Australian cattle dogs, a male, Rondo, is 5, and a female, Ringo, is 6. Ringo is a little loopy. The dogs have an outdoor fenced-in area that’s about an acre. Ringo will eat large rocks sometimes. She won’t come in and go out through some doors. Other times she is fine and the doors don’t seem to bother her. Does this sound normal?

You can have more control over her rock eating. Although this tendency to eat rocks is more inscrutable doggy behavior, the practice can be stemmed by your strict supervision.

Just opening a door and letting a dog run outside unsupervised is easy for you. It would be harder to take your two large dogs for a long, vigorous walk on the leash. Walking teaches; releasing a dog outside to do whatever it wants does not. Such freedom is tough for an animal in need of boundaries. Ringo should be supervised because eating rocks is not healthy.

Q. We just adopted a 12-week-old boxer/shepherd mix. He has been very loving. But today my husband was scolding him for taking food off the table. He had him by the scruff of his neck and the dog turned and bit him. He had to get stitches and must see a hand surgeon. I have two kids, 10 and 4. What is the best thing to do from here?

Keep food at the table away from the dog. Or cordon the pet in an area away from the table when you all eat. You must control; the dog does not control you.