Dear Fisher,

My pet-mate and I have a human who is not being fair. Cosmo, an allegedly “soft coated” Wheaten Terrier, is allowed on the couch, while I, a rat terrier, am not allowed on the couch. When my human is not home, you bet the first thing I do is jump right on that bad boy.

To be fair, my human has provided me with exclusive use of my own rocker recliner. Cosmo is not allowed to even sniff it, let alone sit on. Still, it seems unfair that just because I generously share my fur with everyone and everything, that this keeps me from being allowed on the couch. How can my human be so, um, inhumane?

Cookie – the davenport deprived dog

Dear Cookie,

Perhaps you are approaching this issue from the “glass is half empty” school of thought. It is probably not that your human likes Cosmo better than you, but more likely Cosmo’s occupancy of the sofa and your homesteading of the rocker recliner is simply because your human likes the sofa better than the recliner. Your “alleged” soft coated Wheaten Terrier pet-mate likely does very little shedding, unlike you, of the rat terrier breed. Rat terriers have a tendency toward profuse shedding. Your human seems to have come up with a no mess, no fuss solution and should be applauded.

Your first order of business is to accept you rocker recliner with dignity. Shedding is nothing to be ashamed of and if you are deemed healthy and fit, it is just a natural occurrence for your breed. However, I can disclose some helpful grooming tools others have used:

1. recommended brushes such as a bristle brush and soft horse hair brush
2. a glove with little nubs on it is helpful for removing hair and is soothing for you
3. a nice bath with a natural ingredient shampoo and conditioner
4. a vacuum cleaner (OK, do not panic! Must be done with care.)

You can read about other dog lovers and their solutions at
http:Wonder Puppy. Search for Helpful Hints for Shedding Problems. They even tell you how to introduce a dog to the vacuum cleaning method of hair removal. I am not necessarily recommending this, it is just an idea.

On another note, you might want to consider putting all that discarded fur to good use. Your human could gather it all up and create a pillow – or in your case, a doggy bed. Better yet, VIP Fibers can spin it into yarn. Perhaps your human would like to knit up some warm socks for friends and family living in the northern parts of the country. Maybe a doggy sweater for you made from your own fur would convince you that you really are quite special.

In the meantime, think of your rocker recliner as a throne. You might try to use that lever on the side and learn to pull it up, thus giving you more room to stretch out. Enjoy!

Your friend,
Fisher

Dear Fisher,

Really warm weather is here now and I am wondering if you have an idea about what to do about all my shedding. Hair is everywhere in the house. I play in a big back yard with trees and flowers and lots of great shaded areas. I never see my shedding out there so how come it’s all over the house? My human guy is always brushing his clothes and furniture. And then that awful vacuum cleaner comes out to get the hair out of the carpet. He doesn’t really complain but I know it’s annoying.

Ralphie

Dear Ralphie.

Some pets think that the more the humans obsess about hair on the furniture, the more the hair just appears. Then there are theories that if a human shares his house with a cat or dog, or any other furry critter – and he wears black – the fur will instantly gather and cling to his clothing. This phenomenon is even more extreme if the person in the house is a guest. I find nothing to prove or disprove such a theory, but pet lovers everywhere seem to agree it is true.

Shedding hair is a normal process in dogs, cats, and even people. It is just simply out with the old and in with the new. There is a season for everything, as they say, and you are in your hair-shedding season. Now, just as a caution, if you are shedding excessively and developing bald spots, get to the Vet ASAP. You could be reacting to your dog food, or you might be over-stressed, or something physiological could be going on and you need to get it checked.

Normal shedding is just that – normal. Grooming is very important in order to help the process along. Daily combing routines cut down on the evidence. Your human can do this himself, take you to a groomer (get a good recommendation), or do both. It is going to be much easier for him to do it himself first to see how effective he can be in eliminating his own frustration. Daily brushing is also a great one-on-one bonding between man and dog.

Visit The Amazing Dog Training Man for an excellent article called “How To Reduce Your Dog’s Shedding in 3 To 5 Days”. His recommendations include:

1. Brushing Start at the head and work towards the tail
2. Groom Frequently Establish a regular schedule and include lukewarm bath
3. Carding An extra step to remove excess undercoat

Oftentimes dog lovers will take their dogs to a groomer for nice summer fur cut. You may not approve of you new look, but the extra breezes blowing through your short hair can make you more comfortable and help you enjoy those lazy days of summer.

Your friend,
Fisher

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