Ask the AKC

By Dr. Patty Khuly, via Vetstreet

The entire canine genome has been mapped. How cool is that? Somewhere around 24,000 genes and their respective locations have been identified on a dog's 78 chromosomes. Even cooler: the many ways we've put this rich information to good use.

Breed Identification
This type of genetic testing has been all over the news in recent years. It beats me why people are so keen to know which breeds are responsible for their dogs' inner beauty, but if it helps someone better understand her pet, I'm all for it.

SEE ALSO: 12 World Record Cats & Dogs

Stool Identification
There are those of us who just aren't willing to handle our pets' poop, which is how it ends up befouling our walkways and fancy kicks. As a result, some of these owners are being forced to submit their dogs to a cheek swab, so the DNA can be recorded. When stray poop happens, DNA in the stool is compared to logged samples and –– voila! –– the culprit can be identified, apprehended or fined. In one town in Israel and plenty of multidwelling complexes throughout the United States, this tool has been successful.

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has more than 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

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Q: We have a Lab/Chow mix who we got from the Humane Society when she was 6 years old. She is 9 years old now. We don'’t know anything about her history before we got her. She is very sweet but extremely stubborn when we attempt to walk her on leash, refusing to move by sitting or pulling back. We can sometimes coax her into it, but other times we need to take her in the car to a field nearby where she usually will walk. We don't think a training class would help because she does not take to other dogs readily. What do you suggest we do to help her enjoy going for a walk?

A: For this interesting case, I may have more questions for you than answers, but I hope they'’ll help you solve this puzzle. However, I do agree that a training class is probably not the best solution for your pup.

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has more than 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

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Q: How can I get my recently adopted 1-year-old Maltipoo and my 14-year-old Maltese to be friends?

A: When dogs get much older, sometimes owners bring in a younger dog in order to keep the older dog company. This can work well when a young dog brings some spark and new life to the household. Sometimes, the only reason for adding the younger dog is to anticipate that the older dog may not be around long and this is an attempt to reduce the owner's pain when the loss occurs. (This only works if the owner is fully prepared to meet the needs of the new dog.)

Because there is a wide developmental gap between a 1-year-old dog and a 14-year-old there are different issues that can come up and it can be hard to anticipate which way it will go. The new addition could work out well, or the 14-year-old may be totally annoyed by the new 1-year-old pipsqueak who is jumping around and causing a ruckus.

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has more than 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

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Q: Why does Gus, my 2-year-old German shepherd, bark when the doorbell rings on a television show? We've never even had a doorbell, so it's not like he's expecting someone. Is it just the sound that bugs him?

A: When most dogs bark up a storm upon hearing the doorbell, it's because they're pairing the sound with what happens next. Doorbell rings; stranger appears at door. In behavioral terms, we would say the sound of the doorbell has generalized if the dog also barks when he hears a doorbell on television.

But, in your case, you've told us that you don't have a doorbell and Gus barks when he hears one on television. Has Gus ever been exposed to a doorbell, so that he learned that the sound is a signal strangers might appear?

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has more than 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

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Q. I am a college student and I have a 1-year-old dachshund, Tippy, that I got from a rescue group. I like taking Tippy for a walk, but she pulls on the leash the whole time. Why does Tippy insist on pulling on the leash even when it is choking the life right out of her?

A. It sounds as though both literally and figuratively, taking Tippy for a walk is a drag. Tippy is pulling to get to where she thinks she wants to go, whether it be to a new scent or down the street to see what's coming next. Depending on the dog and type of collar or harness, even though the owner's arm is out of the socket, pulling may not be bothersome at all.

There are several methods that are effective when it comes to teaching a pulling dog to walk beside you on a leash.

Technique A: If the dog pulls, you stop.
1. When the dog starts to pull, stop.
2. Stand still. Don't move forward with the dog.
3. Wait. The dog will pull, but eventually she'll stop.
4. When she stops pulling, you can praise her and move forward. Uh-oh, she is so excited that you're moving forward, she's pulling again. Now what?
5. Repeat the procedure. It won't take long until she figures out you aren't going anywhere as long as she pulls.