The WM Pet Connection

Miss Manners aka Judith Martin is the pioneer mother of today’s civility movement. Now if she could only persuade people to practice civility as much as they talk about it. She advises people on etiquette, manners and more in syndicated columns and online. Pet owners, especially dog owners, could use advice on pet etiquette and manners. For example, it's not polite to let your dog go to the bathroom on your neighbor's driveway. There's nothing like cleaning up after someone else's dog on a Sunday morning. It's obvious that one pet owner in Northeastern Ohio does not have proper pet etiquette and manners.

1. Clean up after your dog. Your dog is your responsibility. Carry extra 'pooper scooper' bags with you and clean up after your dog.

2. Keep your cats inside. Outdoor cats do their business on tree lawns, front and back yards and in flower beds. There's nothing worse than weeding a flower bed, only to find unwanted fertilizer.

3. Walk your dog on a leash. If you walk your dog in the park or around your neighbor without a leash and your dog bites someone, you could say, "So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodnight" to Fido because a judge could order your dog to be euthanized. This is unfortunate since it's not the dog's fault -- it's the pet owner's fault. If you want to let your dog run loose, drive out to the country, find a field or dog run and let the dog run and run for hours. Or, purchase a house that sits on 10 or more acres.

4. Allowing a dog to jump all over guests is impolite. Train and teach your dog basic commands such as sit and stay. You can enroll your dog in obedience classes at PetSmart or hire a dog trainer.

5. Allowing a dog to continuously bark is impolite. Let's face it; dogs bark. However, if you keep your dog chained up outside and it continuously barks, you could face misdemeanor charges. Your neighbors may not have the same work schedule as you -- some of them may work nights and sleep during the day. Be respectful and bring your dog inside when it begins to bark.

6. Bringing your dog to work may be fun for you but not for co-workers. This is a tricky one if your company has implemented a Bring Your Pet to Work program. Some people have allergies; some are worse than others. If your co-worker is allergic to dogs, don't allow yours to 'jump' all over her. Be respectful.

7. Don't assume that ALL public places allow dogs. The French bistro you visited in Paris, France six months ago may have allowed dogs but the café around the corner from you may not. Don't assume you can bring your dog with you everywhere you go. Restaurant owners must abide by health codes. Remember, policies and procedures differ from country-to-country.

8. Pay for damages caused by your pet. If Mr. Puddles does his business in your friend's house, clean up the doo-doo and urine as best as you can and offer to pay for the carpet cleaning.

9. Don't drop by unannounced with Sasha. Your family member or friend may not like Sasha and doesn't have the heart to break yours by telling you, "I don't care for your yappy Pomeranian. Sorry." Your friend obviously needs to work on setting stronger boundaries but that's another blog post. Be respectful of family and friends, especially those with allergies.

Note: If you have an extreme emergency and need to stop by a family member or friend, make sure you explain this to them.

10. Travel carefully with pets. Not everyone is a cat or dog lover. If you have a dog, make sure it's on a leash when you visit rest stops and hotels. Keep your cat or dog in their carrier until you get into your pet friendly hotel room. Don't allow your cat or dog to wander around the hallways of the hotel/motel. If you do, you may not be able welcomed again.

Rebecca