Being a very mixed bag of reader questions and comments

By Strider the Dog

Dear Strider,

I was very interested in your recent column, where you talked about how you got along with the cats in your life. Specifically, I was taken by your advice to approach a cat, or other animal, calmly. You said something like how that usually brings them down to your vibe.

Could you elaborate a little more on this strategy? And tell your readers if this always works for you? I ask, because I suspect it sometimes fails. In my own life, I find that angry people frequently stay angry no matter how calmly I deal with them. Sometimes I can’t just walk away from a situation where someone behaves like a bully. Do you think the calming strategy works then, or do you advise something different?

— Dislikes Being Bullied

Dear Dislikes,

This is a very good question. Yes, indeed, it has happened to me that I get in a tense situation where nothing works to get the other side to take a calmer view of things.

It doesn’t happen often, since that crushed ear of mine makes me look like I’m a bad dude, even if the source of it was an untreated ear infection when I was a stray. I’m not a bad dude, however. On the contrary, I’m a very easygoing, happy-go-lucky, live-and-let-live kind of a dog. I pretty much expect everyone I meet to be the same, wishing to join me in tail wagging and other interactions of a similarly happy ilk.

Every so often, though, I meet up with someone who seems to think the tail wagging and smiling stuff means I’m a weak sister who can be bullied. This is a mistake. I might be good-natured, but I am not a pushover.

So essentially, if I can’t walk away to start with, this is how it goes:

Strider’s tail wags. Other creature snarls aggressively. Strider advises calm. Other creature attacks. Strider goes for the throat. Other creature retreats, howling. Strider walks away.

I hope that answers your question.

Hey Strider,

I want to thank you so very much for taking the time to answer my question (Ask Strider: The ‘why not get along?’ column 3/4/25). I think it’s very good advice you gave and I will follow it. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer it. I think you are very wise. I hope you continue to help people. And I hope your human gives you a bone for helping me. Please tell them to do so. You certainly deserve it.

With gratitude,

— Raymond

Hey Raymond!

Thank you, dude! You made my doggy day here. Sometimes I wonder if I actually give sensible advice to anyone. I mean, I feel my inadequacy, and there are times when I feel bad about it. This made me feel good!

So I think you are wise! Especially for urging Tod to give me a bone. It turns out there were marrowbones in the freezer for just such an occasion, and she pulled one out for me in honor of your letter. Yum.

Is that wisdom, or what?

Gratitude back at you!

Dear Strider,

Favorite pizza? Also, pizza with pineapple or without?

— Needs Answers

Dear Needs,

Pineapple? I mean, I know chacun à son goût, but pineapple is a goût too far for a dog. We can’t handle acid tasting foods of any kind: lemons, oranges, pineapple, even tomatoes. If I can snag a bit of salami, or an anchovy, off a pizza without it being covered in tomato sauce, I can go with that. Or a bit of pizza crust. Love that pizza crust. That olive oil taste! Yum. It’s not a marrowbone, mind you. But it’ll do till one comes along.

Of course, I know everyone is different. So this is not to stop anyone else from eating pizza with pineapple. As long as they enjoy it. And especially if they save me their crusts.

Just saying.

Need advice, about pizza or any other nutrient? Why not just email the Ashland.news advice columnist, Strider the Dog, [email protected]?