Shepherd enjoys a joyride, but she’s not eager to jump in car

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Q. My dog — a German shepherd — loves to ride in my Honda CR-V. My problem is getting her to jump into the back of the vehicle. I may have spoiled her by lifting her in but she is now getting a little too heavy (90 pounds) to handle. I have tried treats without any success.

Once your vet gives the OK, train her to jump. And stick with the program. Don’t try it once or twice and give up. Training takes time. Find irresistible freeze-dried liver chunks (Dog Lady’s addictive drug of choice for willful dogs). The chunks (Gimborn is the largest brand) are pricey but they come in a big bucket so you have a lot. You can even cut one chunk into chinks to make the treats last longer. Give her a sample taste so she knows the lure and smell of this ambrosia and wants more. Place a treat prominently in view in the back of the CR-V and urge her to jump in a high, happy voice. If she’s physically capable, she will.

Q. One year ago, we adopted a black and white rescue English springer spaniel. She’s 7 now. Recently, her color began changing from black and white to liver and white. Her head and the small spots are still black and white, but the large spots on her back and half of her tail are now liver. Have you heard of this?

A. Medical experts suggest copper – too much or too little -- in your dog’s diet can impact the color palette of the coat. Your veterinarian would be the best person to explain this to you. Also, the vet can tell you whether you should be ultra-concerned about the shift from black to liver. The tint shift may be a natural part of your spaniel’s growing older. Try not to fixate and enjoy your dog as she is.

Q. Baby is our two-year- old miniature Dachshund. She was about 7 months old when we brought her home to live with us and Shadow, our elderly shepherd/husky mix. Shadow acted like a mother and would lick Baby a lot. Last year, we had to put Shadow down. Baby will now lick arms or faces whenever we hold her. It is affectionate and I’m not bothered by a little “kissing” from her, but she does it too much. How to tell her to stop?

A. Aw, with dogs, licking is loving and Baby has obviously known a world of kindness. Dog Lady does not allow her darling to “kiss” her at all. Prudish? No. Merely sensible. Dog mouths have been everywhere and their saliva is suspect . It’s smart to keep a hygienic distance. When Baby starts the tongue bath, move her away with a gentle “no.” Substitute a toy or treat to keep her orally occupied.

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