Q: We're at our wit's end and thinking of putting our dog down. You may be our last resort. Our 120-pound rottweiler is protective of me and my home. If he's introduced to people properly, he has no issues, but he does warn with a nip if he's not comfortable. He's bitten five people over the years. A few years ago, while walking in a forest preserve, he jumped up and bit a woman on the arm. Finally, today at the vet's office, a woman bent down to pet him and he bit her in the abdominal area. None of these bites have been more than superficial wounds, but that doesn't diminish the severity of the issue.

This dog has never been abused. He has a great life. I want to keep people safe and I suppose having him muzzled in public is a good idea. He's on quarantine now and I'm in a fix because I've been ticketed and have to pay to get my dog back. I just got over paying $5,000 for his knee to be repaired and over $600 for flea and heartworm prevention and his vaccines. I'm exhausted. Any advice? -- C.K., Cyberspace

A: As always, whenever a question refers to aggression, my advice is to get hands-on help, so a professional can assess what's really going on. Ideally, the time to bring in a professional behaviorist is when the problem first appears, so you don't reach your wit's end, so no one gets hurt and so your dog's life isn't at risk. If you don't figure out all of this, your dog will die. A dog with a history of biting is generally not considered adoptable.

I believe you really do love your dog and want to help. However, you can't do this yourself. And professional help does cost money; there's no way around that.

Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tuft's University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Mass., says, "It could be this dog is being territorial and also he may be fearful, particularly when his personal space is invaded. Definitely, this dog doesn't know how to deal with strangers."

Dodman, author of "The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman's 7 Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your Best Friend" (Houghton Mifflin Co., New York/Boston, 2008; $24), says that for now you should use a Gentle Leader (a head halter brand). It's not a muzzle but allows you to control the dog. Also, tell any visitors to not stare at your dog and to toss food treats on the floor if he acts calmly. If he doesn't act appropriately, remember to be safe first. When a dog bites, you're ethically and legally responsible.

Veterinary behaviorists can be found at www.dacvb.org. Dog behavior consultants can be found at www.iaabc.org. Veterinarians with a special interest in behavior are found at www.acvsabonline.org.

Q: Our busy, happy kitty carries various pieces of our clothing around the house. This usually occurs at night. The next morning, we find our clothes all around the house. Why is she doing this? -- J.C., Napoleon, Mich.

A: "Dirty clothes smell like family members, which may give comfort to your kitty, particularly if she doesn't have access to family members overnight," says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Katherine Houpt at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, N.Y. "If she's also picking up clean clothes, and she's vocalizing as she's carrying them around, this could be predatory behavior. It certainly can't hurt to focus the predatory behavior on an interactive toy (fishing pole-type toy with feathers) before bedtime. This may also serve to tire your kitten so she's not up very late at night. If you periodically give your cat attention for the behavior, this could be an attention-seeking behavior. Of course, if you pick up all the clothes before bedtime, you solve the problem. A kitten may motivate good housekeeping."

Q: We have three dogs, a 20-pound Lhasa apso, a 40-pound akita/chow-mix and a 50-pound rottweiler/pit bull-mix. When we leave the house for eight to 10 hours a day, we leave all three dogs in a 3-foot-by-7-foot laundry room. We don't leave food or water. Do you feel this is fair? -- L.F., Cyberspace

A: Chicago dog trainer Wendy DeCarlo says, "This space isn't any bigger than a kennel for one large dog. I don't know how old the dogs are, or if they're interested in play, but there's no real space for any exercise. I suspect there's air conditioning, but since the door is closed, the heat of all three dogs may be surprisingly warm. At the very least, I hope they're kept in the kitchen or a larger room. If they're adult dogs, I don't know why they don't have the run of the house. Perhaps one or more of the dogs is destructive."

DeCarlo says that as long as the dogs are fed in the morning, she understands why you're not leaving a meal. However, unless the dogs would fight over them, stuffing some treats into Kong or Dogzilla toys might be a good idea. Certainly, leave the dogs at least some water.

"Ideally, a dog walker should come to break up the day," adds DeCarlo, "If all three dogs can't be walked, then (walk) one at a time. Or at least ask someone to let the dogs out in the yard to relieve themselves and enjoy at least a few minutes of fresh air. The reality is that people work, which I understand. I know dogs are crated for long periods, but there's something about squeezing all three of these guys together for 10 hours that just doesn't seem right."

Q: Are Bombay cats really from India? -- S.C., Las Vegas

A: No. In fact, Bombay cats were made in America. In the early 1950s, a breeder from Louisville, Ky., bred black American shorthairs with Burmese. The result was this rare jet-black breed with bright eyes, said to resemble a black panther in miniature.

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