A Wary Dog In Designer Duds

This spaniel sweetheart in a purple velvet bow was on high alert (it's all in the eyes) backstage at the Milan fashion shows. The photo was taken by Christophe Simon for AFP/Getty Images. Dog Lady pilfered the pic from Andrew Sullivan's always-interesting blog.

Until Husband Comes Home From Iraq, Put Puppy On Hold

Dear Dog Lady,

My husband and I just adopted a seven-week-old Weimaraner puppy. He is
adorable of course but I am having anxiety about being a good puppy mom. I have done my research on this breed and know he needs tons of exercise and attention.

My husband just found out he is deploying for seven months to Iraq therefore leaving me a single puppy mom. I work nine hours a day far from home. I am fully prepared to take him to puppy kindergarten on the weekends and hire a dog walker for a midday break from the crate. But will this be enough? I’m terrified I am going to cause him separation anxiety and I feel so rotten leaving him locked up all day in his crate.

Should we return him to the breeder and wait for my husband to come home before purchasing another puppy?

Amanda, Commack, NY

Take This Job And Shove It

Dear Dog Lady,

Right off the bat, I should let you know I’m not a dog person. When I was a child, a dog bit me and I’ve been afraid of them ever since. But I still enjoy reading your column and thought you might help me with a problem I encountered during my recent job search.

I’m a programmer and when I went to interview at a small software company, I was greeted not by the receptionist but by three dogs brought to work by staffers. I wouldn’t walk further into the office until somebody held the dogs so they couldn’t get near me. I am very well-qualified for the job and the company’s president seemed impressed by my experience. He assured me that if I came to work for the company, the dogs would stay away from me. Should I get this promise in writing before I accept the job?

Kwan, Seattle, WA

Toilet Water

Dear Dog Lady,

Is it possible to find perfume that smells like trees to spray around the house to make your dog think he or she is outside?

Adam, Los Angeles, CA

Raw Squirrel for Breakfast

Dear Dog Lady,

My dog, Sam, chased a squirrel this morning. After managing to get a hold of it in his mouth, I asked him to leave it and he did. His dog park friends then appeared and they had a good run. He also decided to show them the now-dead squirrel, which was bad enough until one of them went to take it from him and Sam decided to eat it. I was traumatized. Will he be okay? I called the vet who said he should be fine, but I'm really worried.

Amanda, Bronxville, NY

Should We Feel Sorry for Pinky Michelle Reynolds?

Dear Dog Lady,

I’m addicted to snarky gossip blogs. On one of them, I forget which one, I read about Edie Falco, the star of “The Sopranos,” sharing a snicker with a blog feeder in the waiting room of an animal hospital. They were chuckling over Star Jones’ “stupid fru-fru” dog. Apparently, Jones and her dog are on the cover of a magazine and Jones brags she loves her Pinky Michelle Reynolds so much she put the Maltese on a diet. Gastric bypass for pets? Should we feel sorry for Star Jones dog?

Ethan, Forest Hills, NY

My Dog And Me

Dear Dog Lady,

I recently read the bestseller, “Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog.” I was amused and touched by it. I realized that my problems with my “worst” dog Sylvester are part of the joys of living with animals. Sylvester, a poodle, occasionally chews on the couch leg. He barks at dogs out in the street. He begs for food. He pulls on the leash. When he was a puppy, he ate my favorite sling back stilettos. He threw up his kibble yesterday because he chewed on a stick and the wood chips upset his tummy. Our imperfect life together goes on and on. What can’t people just accept their dogs’ misdeeds and bad behavior? Have you ever heard of a perfect dog?

Sarah, Garden City, NY

Rufus: A Woofer Of A Choice?

Dear Dog Lady,

I was disappointed in the results of the Westminster dog show. I thought the winning bull terrier, Rufus, was kind of creepy looking. Also, a bull terrier is the mascot used by the Target department store chain to advertise all its stuff. Do you think that's why the judges chose it? I wanted the Rottweiler to win or the pug, or any other dog but that bull terrier.

Wendy, Forest Hills, NY

Pin-up Pooches

Dear Dog Lady,

For the third year in a row, I submitted my dog Hummer’s picture for inclusion in a dog-a-day calendar published by Workman Press. For the third year in a row, the dog-a-day snob editors dissed Hummer by not including him in the lineup for 2006.

Dog Lady, I wish you ran pictures with your column because you and your readers could see how adorable my Hummer is. He’s a shaggy terrier mix adopted from a shelter. He’s a perfect photo op. The picture I submitted was taken by my boyfriend and shows Hummer standing in a field of wildflowers in Maine. What could be more perfect?

The dog-a-day people chose a picture of a female Aussie in a field of daffodils as this year’s winner. A digitally enhanced pug scaling the Grand Canyon got second prize. As I flipped through all the pages in the desk calendar, I saw many other dogs but none as cute as my Hummer.

Do you need to be politically connected to get your dog’s picture included?

Marcy, Des Moines, IA

Poop Problems

Dear Dog Lady,

Once again, dog poop is back in the news. I read the front page story (“They say the place is going to the dogs”) in the Boston Globe and got really spooked about the great divide between animal lovers and people angry at the irresponsible dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets.

Can you ever imagine the city of Boston banning dogs because of the poop problem? Why can’t everybody just get along?

Christopher, Boston, MA

Must Not Love "Dogs"

Dear Dog Lady,

Just curious. What did you think of the movie “Must Love Dogs”? I saw it and was disappointed because there were too few dogs. Maybe I expected too much. Will it be remembered as the chick flick of summer ‘05?

Maisie, Santa Barbara, CA

Maisie, you’re not crazy for expecting more dogs, more plot, more action, more story from “Must Love Dogs.” The movie should have been a summer gumdrop, but it turned out to be a stale Milk Dud. Dog Lady, who, admittedly, has a critic’s unforgiving heart, was very disappointed.

Oh sure, leading lady Diane Lane is wonderful and veterans Christopher Plummer and Stockard Channing light up the screen whenever they appear. But they can’t stop the inanity of their characters or the insanity of a movie limping along without pups and passion – to wit, each of the leading characters must borrow a dog to pretend to love a dog. Canines have nothing to do with “Must Love Dogs” – except the movie is a dog. Don’t even bother when it soon comes out on DVD.

As far as Dog Lady is concerned, the chick flick of summer ’05 will always be remembered as “March of the Penguins.” The wobbly birds are so captivating they might as well have fur and wagging tails.

Flopping Flip

Dear Dog Lady,

I'm looking to adopt a blue heeler mix from the local humane society. I've been spending as much time with him as I can to bond and get to know him. Also I cannot have him until the first of July due to living situations. Currently his name is Flip. I do not like this name, and it does not suit the dog. I would like to name him “Dalton”. I've heard that when renaming a dog, one should use a similar sounding name, like “Blip” from Flip. I've had a good amount of time with him, and he doesn't seem to answer to his name all the time. He's been at the shelter for five months. Is it worth my and the dog’s time to try to rename?

Renee, Durango, CO

Illegal in Italy And Paris

Dear Dog Lady,

Somebody told me there’s a town in Italy where they fine you if you don’t walk your dog. What’s next? Kitty litter laws?

Harold, Memphis, TN

Knitting With Newfie

Dear Dog Lady,

I have a Newfoundland and just discovered "fur spinning" yesterday at a Newf event. What beautiful yarn the fur makes and, even more importantly, knitting something from my beloved Newf will surely last longer than she will. It will be a treasured remembrance. The fur was incredibly soft and warm and it is beautiful. Why don’t you try it?

Cheri, Manchester, N.H.

"Winn-Dixie" Cup Half Empty

Dear Dog Lady,

I took my 10-year-old daughter to see the new movie, “Because Of Winn-Dixie.” What a waste. We were both bored. How could a dog flick be so bad? None of it seemed to make sense. Have you seen it? What did you think?

Jon, Los Angeles, CA

Sex Change Operation

Dear Dog Lady,

Why am I so adamantly protective of my sweet Simon’s masculinity? Simon is a small dog, a Scottie, and he seems to be in touch with his feminine side. Still, when we go walking and a passerby asks to greet Simon while referring to “him” as “her,” I find myself making an immediate correction. “He’s a he!” I proclaim. Am I ridiculously rigid about these gender matters? After all, Simon is neutered. He’s not even a total he. Why can’t I let it go?

-Moira, Montclair, N.J.

Ah, Moira, he's your little guy. Simon’s identity is part of your identity. Recently, Dog Lady was aghast when beloved brother -- a cat keeper -- referred to my male dog by the blank pronoun “it.” It! Even “her” would have been anthropomorphically preferable.

Try to chide the gender benders with a smile and gentle sense of humor. You must admit that on the smaller, hairy dogs, it can be difficult to discern private parts at first glance -- especially since we can’t sniff out the situation the way those nosy canines can.

Attack Of The Orange Monsters

Dear Dog Lady,

I packed up my dog Muffin, a wheaten terrier, and we drove to New York to visit my sister and see “The Gates” in Central Park. I thought it would be a great outing for all of us. Imagine my surprise when Muffin and my sister’s dog, Lulu, went nuts when we entered the park and started walking by all the saffron portals. Our dogs barked, strained at the leashes, and lunged at other dogs. It was crazy. We eventually left the Park and got away from “The Gates” because we couldn’t handle our dogs. What do you think stirred up Muffin and Lulu? Could they be orange-phobic?

Lee, Newburyport, MA

The Civics Lesson In Dog Poop

Dear Dog Lady,

We are third and fourth graders at [a private school near Boston]. We are writing to you about the park near our school where we play at recess. We are complaining about the poop that is left on the field. There is a $50 fine for not picking up your dog’s poop. The third and fourth graders spend some of our recess picking up dog poop. There are poop bags up at the park so people can pick up their own dog’s poop, but many people don’t use them. Kids are stepping in the poop all the time. Kyle, our friend, slipped and got his hands covered in poop. On a sunny day, Kyle, Pingwang, Robert, and Eric picked up 20 pieces of poop. Every day we find more. We are sick of picking up just so we can play. Please let us know what we can do.

Eric, Robert and Pingwang, Cambridge, MA

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Paws

Dear Dog Lady,
My friend and I try to out-do each other by sending goofy dog-themed holiday cards. What’s the funniest doggy card you’ve seen so far?

Virginia, Boonton, NJ

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Paws.
Dog Lady received a most amusing canine Christmas card. How funny? So funny that Dog Lady was overcome with guffaws for nearly five minutes after opening this holiday greeting sent by the beloved (and clever) parents of my best friend.

The cartoon on the front shows a man, in winter garb, carrying a Christmas tree into a living room decorated for the holidays. A cute dog, sitting in the living room with a big smile on its face, watches the tree arrive. The happy dog’s thought bubbles up: “At last! Indoor plumbing!” Inside, the card reads: “Hope Christmas brings everything you ever wanted.”

And so I wish to you, Virginia, and to all creatures great and small -- Merry Christmas from Dog Lady and her muse dog (who, yes, once used the Christmas tree as indoor plumbing).

Poop Politics

Dear Dog Lady,

I read an article about a Connecticut state legislator who insists on bringing her dog to work, even though the dog is ill behaved and pooped in the state Capitol. The Democratic legislator, Edith Prague, refused to accept responsibility and blamed a Republican staffer’s seeing-eye dog for causing the mess. However, a security camera caught Prague’s Shih Tzu doo-ing the deed and the state senator was forced to apologize.

This poop-and-tell tale proves what I’ve always thought of Democrats – they throw the blame wherever they think it will stick. How can you stay non-partisan in this matter?

Dick, Washington, DC

Frou-Frou

Dear Dog Lady,

A friend gave me the most frivolous magazine about dogs dressed in clothes and jewelry. The rag -- and I forget the name of the thing because I threw it out immediately -- was badly written and celebrated spending mucho dollars to pamper your dog. Pawing through it, I felt I had stepped in doodoo. I was repulsed, considering all the horrible news in the world today, to see pictures of animals wearing dresses and little bows in their fur.

What do you think of this wretched excess?

Lisa, San Francisco, CA

Is Paris Burning?

Dear Dog Lady,

Paris Hilton recently lost her dog, Tinkerbell, the Chihuahua that Hilton drags around under her arm and dresses in pink Chanel frocks and teeny Gucci sneakers on the Fox show “The Simple Life.” What happened to Tinkerbell? Has the dog been found? I hear there was a big reward. You preach about “responsible” dog ownership. What do you say about Ms. Hilton’s failure to watch out for her pet?

Peter, Fresno, CA

Ready For Your Cleanup, Dog Lady DeMille?

Dear Dog Lady,

I want to be a star. How do I get me and my dogs on TV?

Julie, New York, NY

In the Stars

Dear Dog Lady,

Why are these lazy, hazy crazy days of summer called “dog days”?

Claudia, Portland, ORE

Dog Lady replies: The truth, dear Claudia, lies in the stars, not in your dog. The term is astronomical and refers to Sirius, the brightest star, also called the Dog Star, which is part of the Canis Major constellation. In these days and nights, from July 3 to August 11, Sirius (derived from ancient Greek word for “scorch”) comes into its closest conjunction with the Sun so it glows brilliantly in the sky to the naked eye.

Claudia, please allow Dog Lady to digress and throw out more starry Sirius information. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you might recall that Sirius Black is the name of Potter’s godfather who can turn himself into a dog as events warrant. In the “Prisoner of Azkaban,” Sirius Black (played by Gary Oldman in the movie) also reveals himself as one of Harry’s greatest loving watchdogs.

In the subsequent “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” author J. K. Rowling writes Sirius Black into a star-crossed corner. Beyond that, Dog Lady won’t say another word.

Schwarzenegger's Fido Flip-Flop

Dear Dog Lady,

I recently read that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is cutting back funds for animal shelters, forcing the shelters to kill animals immediately. The guy must be more of a meathead than I thought. How could he do this?

Grace, Seattle, WA

Power Paws

Dear Dog Lady,

Do you think the White House is going to the dog?

Bill, Pleasantville, NY

Baba And Cha-Cha

Dear Dog Lady,

I am wondering if you could tell me what kind of dog Barbara Walters owns? I saw her with her dog on "The View" over a year ago and cannot remember what breed it is. It is the name of someplace in Mexico, I think. The dog was long haired and a smaller breed; very smart and affectionate. Please help!

Dee, Lima, OH

Barkitecture

Dear Dog Lady,

I’m a student at the Boston Architectural Center. While I learn about mullions, muntins and all those precious details of design, I am building a house for my dog Floyd as my first project. Call it “muttitecture” or “bowhaus.” Do you think there’s a fortune to be made in doghouse design? Any idea where I can find some inspiration?

Frank, Watertown, MA

Sex And the City Dog

Dear Dog Lady,

On my favorite show, the late and lamented “Sex and the City,” I was pleased to see Charlotte adopted a dog to help her cope with her need for a “baby.” But I am shocked at how irresponsibly she treated this dog. First, she gave the pet an unwieldy name: Elizabeth Taylor. Then, she acted utterly surprised when bitch Elizabeth went into heat and was humped at the dog park by a pack of mangy hornballs. Shouldn't HBO have sent a better “spay/neuter” message?

Caroline, Chicago, Ill.

Ah, Poo!

Dear Dog Lady,

I have a severe case of Lassie lust. I am dying to get a dog. Whenever I see a cute one sashaying on the street, I follow the dog and its human to try to get all the info about the type of dog, its name, breed, temperament etc. I usually find dog people are very chatty.

The other day, I saw the most adorable dog. The dog was white and gray. It was low to the ground and shaggy. I asked the woman holding the leash what kind of dog and she said something that probably can’t be printed on a family Website. When I looked surprised, she smiled and shrugged: “It’s a mix of shih-tzu and poodle. Don’t blame me. That’s why they’re called.”

Dog Lady, I know you’re one smart cookie. I’m sure you can figure it out. How can the most innocent-looking animal be saddled with this toilet title? Why not shihtzudoodle?”

Felice, Colorado Springs

All the News That Fits In A Baggie

Dear Dog Lady,

What’s the latest on celebrities and their dogs? I read somewhere that Cindy Adams’ dog, Jazzy, died suddenly. What happened to Jazzy? And what will this mean to sales of Adams’ book, “The Gift of Jazzy?” Meanwhile, I hear Shirley MacLaine has been acting nutty with her dog on a book tour. Ellen DeGeneres had a naming contest for her dog on her new TV talk show. And I’m worried about Paris Hilton’s dog, Tinkerbell. Not only has the poor creature been dragged around as an accessory in a Hermes bag, but now that Paris has become the poster girl for bad behavior, I’m worried that the carry-on pooch will be crushed in all the bad publicity.

Bennett, Boulder, CO

Workin' Hard For the Money

Dear Dog Lady,
I saw an unusual job posting on the Internet: “My pit bull needs medicine twice a day for the next two weeks (and possibly longer the vet says). The problem is that I’m a small lady in my 50s and can’t hold him down and make him swallow the pills at the same time. I need a STRONG man to help me – he’s a good dog but can snap. I can pay $50 each time you hold him. Over 2 weeks (or more) twice a day that could really add up.”

What do you think? I’m tempted to apply. I'm a struggling -- and strapping -- college student. I need the cash.

Craig, Providence RI

Artistic Differences

Dear Dog Lady,

I’ve always been an admirer of William Wegman, the photographer. Wegman’s Polaroid portraits of Man Ray and Fay Ray, his Weimaraners and their successors, are some of the most creative, absurdist, compassionate photos of dogs ever taken. Although Wegman dresses up his dogs in human costumes and poses them in unnatural settings, the surreal photos have always struck me as among the most of brilliant expressions from a dog lover.

That’s why I was so disheartened when I read a recent interview with Wegman in the New York Times magazine. The interviewer asks the artist about his least favorite variety of dog and Wegman, who now has four Weimaraners, replies: “I don’t like the little dogs. I have an aversion to anything doggy. The first dog I bought was a Weimaraner, and they aren’t really doggy. Even though they’re dogs, they’re not doggy dogs.”

Dog Lady, small dogs take a lot of bum raps but it’s the first time I’ve heard them dissed as “doggy dogs.” That the insult came from William Wegman is most disheartening. What’s a “doggy dog?” Do I have one? My pet is a Lhasa Apso.

Peter, Brooklyn, NY

Dogs Of Babble

Dear Dog Lady,

I had a haunting dream in which my basset hound, Sadie, spoke to me. She didn’t say much, but Sadie’s words formed a scrap of dog-speak I keep hearing in my head. In the dream, I had taken Sadie to a tot lot for dogs. I stood near the slide and waited for Sadie to come down. As my hound slid by me, our eyes locked and she said simply, “Hello, Mark.’’ Her tone was matter-of-fact, yet warm and familiar.

Dog Lady, I know you don’t claim to be a pet psychic or a Dr. Freud for fuzzy creatures, but how do you interpret this?

Mark, Berkeley, Calif.

. . .And Babel

Dear Dog Lady,

Read any good books lately? I’m looking for something juicy with a canine theme but not a simplistic go-to-the-dogs book.

Ben, Rehoboth, MA

Partisan To Pooches, Not Parties

Dear Dog Lady,

I read around your website and I couldn't believe the hateful things you say about Democrats, of which I am one. Please add a warning to your website that your political views are injected into the dog talk.

Deanna, Millbury, MA

Ben Herd

Dear Dog Lady,

I see dog walkers on the street who look like chariot racers in “Ben Hur’’ as they hold leashes of five or six powerfully pacing Labs and Retrievers. When there are smaller dogs in the group, the small fry cruise low to the ground in a thicket of limbs and tails. How many dogs do you believe a dog walker can walk and still be safe?

Dennis, Albany, N.Y

Animal Affliction

Dear Dog Lady,

I read and watched with shock and disgust all the stories about a woman whom the Boston media dubbed “The Cat Lady.” She crammed cats into a couple of apartments on Boston’s Beacon Hill and in Watertown. Cat Lady seems like a genuine loony tune. I mean, who else but a crazy person could live amongst cat feces, corpses, and kitty-sicles in the freezer? Maybe the media made too much of this story about the Cat Lady. But aren’t you embarrassed to call yourself Dog Lady, considering the nutty connotation?

Frank, Boston, Mass.

Walkers Didn't Walk the Walk

Dear Dog Lady,

My friend has hired many dog walkers over the years. None seem to last. His last dog walker claimed to be walking the dog, but he wasn’t. My friend would set traps to see if the walker was showing up. He would put a piece of tape at the bottom of the door to see if it was opened or place the leash in a specific position on the table to see if it was moved. Even though the guy wasn’t showing up, he would bill my friend for the walks. After my friend fired him, the walker wouldn’t give the keys back. . .What really gets me is that the guy is supposed to be a professional dog walker. I was wondering if there’s any list on which we can place this guy’s name so he won’t be able to rip anyone else off?

Greg, Dorchester, MA

Dear Dog Lady,

I have not yet found an outlet to report my former dog walker who robbed me and possibly abused my dog. Any ideas (about how) to report her aside from the police?

Tina, Cambridge, MA

Minding Our Pees and Q's

Dear Dog Lady,

I read your previous column about dogs and baseball fields (see “Hot Dogs On Ball Fields” in Sniffing Around). I agree that children should have first dibs to the public ball fields, but have you noticed that no toilets are provided for the baseball players? The children are forced to follow the example of the dogs and pee in the park.

John, Portland, Maine

Hot Dogs On Ball Fields

Dear Dog Lady,
Spring has sprung, along with the annual clash between the Little Leagues and the dog owners for the rights to the city’s ball fields. The dog people have had their way for most of the year, but the warm weather means they will be challenged for the fields until the end of the local youth season.

It appears that the number of dog owners has increased over the last few years while the number of children has decreased. Is this an accurate observation and will it transfer into political power for the dog owners? Will there be a dog owners' voting block in some future election? Are dog owners more likely to vote Republican?

Harry, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lazy dog walkers

Dear Dog Lady,

Yeesh. Keeping a dog is the fun part. Keeping a dog walker is the not so fun part.

Because I am an attorney and work during the day, I am most dependent on the walking service that I hire to take out my shaggy Sherman. I trust the walkers with the key to my home and with my dog -- my two most precious possessions.

I pay top dollar so Sherman can have a 60-minute break from his time alone spent snoozing in my closet, but I sense that something is not right. When I get home -- only a couple of hours after the walker has supposedly returned Sherman -- the dog is wild to go outside. Then, Sherman wants to stay out forever -- relieving himself repeatedly, romping, and sniffing.

I wish I could ask my dog what goes on when I'm not there. Alas, Sherman can't talk.

-Patrick, Minneapolis, Minn.

Pet Gossip

Dear Dog Lady,

I heard that a wily coyote made dinner of Kathie Lee Gifford’s dog, Chardonnay. I felt heartbroken because many mornings, I would sit in front of the TV and hear Kathie Lee kvell about “Chardy” on “Live With Regis and Kathie Lee.” Since Kathie Lee doesn’t have her morning soapbox anymore to spew her pathos, I went to her website (www.kathieleegifford.com) and read the tragic details of how Chardy died. Kathie Lee praises the fluffy Bichon Frisee as a “brave little furball” who was guarding the Gifford Connecticut estate when the coyote pounced. In true “Kathie Me” fashion, Kathie Lee seems to believe her dog laid down its life to save the Gifford family.

Dog Lady, I’m fascinated by celebrities’ dogs. Some people read the tabloids for all the gossip about the stars’ stupid tricks, but I’m one of those oddballs who likes to know the dirt about the stars’ stupid pet tricks. I admit that, in our celebrity-obsessed pop culture, mine is a curious fixation, but I am hoping you share my need to know. Got any poop?

Marilyn, East Hampton, N.Y.

Barney-cam

Dear Dog Lady,

I know I should be worrying about bombs over Baghdad, but I can't seem to get my mind off Barney, the terrier-ist. President George W. Bush's rambunctious Scottie is so adorable. How do I get to see more of Barney?

Maeve, Washington, D.C.

Dog Fur, The New Alpaca

Dear Dog Lady,

One morning, I was outside with my dog play group, where you’ll find me most mornings. I sip a Dunkin Donuts regular and chat while my Bernese Mountain dog, Gilda, romps with the pack. On this day, the ladies and I were talking about shedding and how to deal with all that excess hair that comes off our dogs. One woman said she leaves the fur fuzz for the cleaning lady. Another said her husband is allergic so she must scour every day with a strong vacuum that has a HEPA filter. I spoke of the bagfuls of fur that come off Gilda when I brush her. There’s so much Berner fur I feel I could spin it. Someone then suggested I do just that – spin yarn and make sweaters or shawls from Gilda’s coat. What do you think? Could this be a viable home business?

- Joyce, Newton, MA.

How Much Is That Doggy In the Window?

Dear Dog Lady,

Is it my imagination or are dog images being used to sell everything from Starbucks to Citibank? Seems there are more pictures of dogs in glossy magazines than glam shots of Jennifer Lopez.

- Stephen, Cambridge, MA

French dog

Dear Dog Lady,

Over Thanksgiving vacation, I plan to travel Paris with my girlfriend. It means I will leave my dog, Oliver, at home. But I take comfort from the fact I’m going to a beautiful dog-friendly city where I can see familiar hairy canine faces in every café and wagging tails on every street corner. I don’t speak French, nor have I ever been to France before. I understand Parisians can be a mite unforgiving to Americans who mangle the language. What about the dogs? Isn’t the best way to connect to the people is through their dogs?

Josh, San Francisco, CA