Puppy love can go overboard

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Q. I have a new friend; she has a small 9-pound dog. She feeds it chicken, spends thousands on the veterinarian (the dog passes gas and she panics). She kisses it on the mouth constantly. She actually talks to it on terms of thinking there might be an actual conversation to be had. Where’s the balance here?

A. Caring for a dog is too much when caring for humans is excluded. Sounds as if your new lady friend is on the verge of breaking your heart while drowning her dog in attention.

People lose themselves in passions because they don’t want to face up to the real world. Your new lady friend may be babying her dog because she lacks other emotional sustenance. Actually, caring for a critter is a whole lot healthier than other destructive lonely pursuits. Still, as you’ve noticed, she needs more balance.

When she starts kissing the dog or trying to start a conversation with her pet, you can make clear you think such activity is foolish. (So does Dog Lady, if it’s any comfort.) Stick up for yourself with a sense of humor.

Q. I have a female 18-month-old basset hound, and two beagles, a 4-year-old male and a 3-year-old female. I do not have children so the pups are the joys in my life.

Why is it that my basset thinks she owns the whole couch and bed? She also is very protective of her bones, and she has been the hardest to train. Should she be further along with the peeing part of training?

A. By 18 months, a puppy should score an “A” in pee. Yes, it’s a pain, but get back to housetraining basics.

While the older dogs are models of comportment, the youngest dog is allowed to get away with bad behavior. This is unacceptable. You must either stop giving her bones or hand out the treats in controlled conditions when the other dogs are not at risk.

Give her boundaries and you will enjoy a better-behaved pet.