pet connection

Call them the Finger Crossers, if you will — those folks who know if their dogs get loose they’ll get them back only when conditions are absolutely right: if there isn’t another dog to play with, a squirrel to chase or a scent to follow. Or if they’re fast or lucky enough to corner them.

If you’re one of these dog owners, you may well be in the majority. While “come” is one of the most basic of dog commands, it’s probably the one dogs obey the least. While it’s true some dogs are naturally more inclined to come when called than others, obedience is not an impossibility for any dog.

Figuring out why your pet won’t mind is the first step toward fixing the problem.

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• Circumstances are a more likely indicator of a dog’s potential to bite someone than the animal’s breed or mix, according to an analysis of bite statistics by the Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs and the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association. Loose dogs, territory-protecting dogs, frightened dogs and dogs involved in fights with another animal were most likely to be involved in biting a person. Most bites in the home were triggered by a dog guarding food or a toy, or biting a visiting friend or relative in a display of territory- or object-guarding.

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