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Dear Cathy,

I have a nine-year-old Shih Tzu who has never barked. I think I’ve heard him bark once. I am wondering if maybe he has nothing to say. What’s your opinion?

— Barkless, Kings Park, New York

Dear Barkless,

It’s normal to be concerned when a dog doesn’t bark since most dogs love to bark quite enthusiastically. But the concern should be if a dog once barked a lot and then suddenly stopped barking, as that can be a sign of injury or illness to the larynx. Of course, that’s not what’s happening in your case since your dog has only barked once in nine years.

When it comes to dogs, some breeds don’t bark, like Basenji and Borzoi. They may whine though or make other noises. While some small breed dogs have a reputation for being yappy, that is not the case for Shih Tzus, who are known for being on the quiet side. (There are always exceptions.) So, if your Shih Tzu has always been quiet and your veterinarian hasn’t found any associated diseases through the years, there is no need for concern. It just means you have a “soft-spoken” dog.

Dear Cathy,

I read your recent column on puppy mill dogs and the difficulties in raising one that’s been there for a long time. I got a “Frenchie” from a northwest puppy mill that had used her as a breeding female. We got her at about two years old due to some post-birthing problems she experienced. Your ideas and insights in the column were spot on.

We tried everything to socialize her and stop her from running away every time she got loose. It’s taken five years, but Maggie is finally adapting to a regular pet life. She’s still afraid of other people, but allows strangers to touch her little by little. The only real problem left to conquer is about once a week, she walks over to her bowl at feeding time and then walks away. She won’t eat until maybe the next day or so. Any advice?

— Mike, Mesquite, Nevada

Dear Mike,

If she has always eaten enthusiastically and suddenly shows less interest in her food, that is a sign that she needs a vet exam to rule out health problems. Dogs can occasionally lose their appetites when they have upset stomachs, which they may associate with their current diet.

Dogs make a connection between their food and how they feel. When they do that, they are less interested in eating that particular food – sometimes even refusing it altogether. If “Frenchie” has a clean bill of health, maybe talk to your vet about changing her diet and prescribing something to increase her appetite.

Dear Cathy,

You have recently received several letters about dog barking problems, with animal control and the police offering little help. There is another solution: municipal noise ordinances. Zoning officers enforce these ordinances. Typically, the noise ordinances are both general (broken air conditioner making noise all day) and hour-specific (neighbor mowing lawn at 5:00 a.m.).

The zoning ordinance enforcer will go to your house with a sound pressure meter and measure the noise at your property line. If a neighbor's dog violates the zoning noise ordinance, the owner is issued a notice of zoning violation with an order to cease.

Noncompliance may result in criminal charges against the dog owner/neighbor for violating the order, with fines and possible (unlikely) jail time. There is one caveat, though. Not all municipalities have noise ordinances. Typically, cities do; rural communities often don't. Call your local zoning department to determine if your municipality has noise ordinances.

— Robert, West Hartford, Connecticut

Dear Robert,

It's true that many communities have noise ordinances that barking dogs can fall under if they are excessively noisy. I thought I mentioned this in a previous column. If I didn't, it's good advice. I would hope animal control officers and police officers let residents calling about barking dogs know that noise ordinances are also an option in some communities.

Dear Cathy,

Katherine, my dog, has a malignant tumor. She tries hard to pee and finally gets a few drops out. Now, it seems she has no control over when she has to go. Are there diapers for her, and is that a good idea?

— Tony, Lynbrook, New York

Dear Tony,

I don't know where her malignant tumor is located or how it might impact her urinary health. If you have taken her to your veterinarian and have a plan for treating or making her comfortable, however, doggie diapers can be an easy solution for incontinence.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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