Only a bunch of knuckleheads from the North Shore would actually take a class to try to probe their pets’ innermost thoughts (“Fluffy, what are you trying to say? Frustrated owners seek guidance in probing their pets’ innermost thoughts,” Tempo, May 28). I have a tip for Carol Purington, owner of the whining Smoky: Smoky wants food. That is why he parks himself right next to you when you are eating and begins to whine. I’m going to guess that at some point, you flipped him a crust of that morning bagel when he whined in the past and he put two and two together: Whining equals food.
When my dogs–whom I have fed from the table and, as a result, beg at every meal–start to whine, I do one of three things: I ignore them and eat my meal; I tell them to knock it off and go lie down, which they eventually do; or I gate them in the other room.
As dog owners, we have to remember that we are the alphas of the house, not our dogs.
