Pets

People are always asking me to recommend a good pet for a child – an affectionate animal that can be cared for with a minimum of adult assistance.

Is it safe to run a dog with a bike? My dog loves it, but we got a lecture about it from a neighbor who thinks it's dangerous. What do you think?

If there's anything more versatile than a tennis ball, I can't imagine it. One afternoon, I just sat down with a pad and started jotting down all the things you can do with a dog and a tennis ball. Here's what I came up with:

My dog keeps getting hot spots. Do dogs get MRSA?

Time passes at such a crazy pace – and if age creeps up swiftly on us humans, then it practically gallops when our pets are concerned.

I disagree with your opinion on dog parks, and so does the dog trainer whose class we took. She says she would never set foot in one. I know people whose pets have been attacked. Please spread the word.

Some dogs, like some people, are high maintenance – they need lots and lots of attention. For many dogs, the attention they need comes in a category that most Americans say they don't have time for already: exercise.

Last summer, my lawn was covered in brown spots from my dog urinating on it. Are there supplements or a special diet I can give her so that doesn't happen?

Do you know what you spend on your dog? Some of us prefer to remain blissfully unaware, while others track every penny. Most of us are probably somewhere in the middle, with a general idea of annual costs that we don't think of much unless we're hit with something out of the ordinary.