THE DEN INSTINCT
Here's a little known fact for new dog owners: Most dogs like crates. To them, it is their haven, their den, their "home away" from, well, home. Although many owners are reluctant to train their puppies to use a crate, doing so can ease the housebreaking period, help puppies to travel safely, and give then a comfortable place to retreat for peace and quiet. Here are some creative tips. - Most puppies quickly come to consider their crate-- especially when it's padded with a towel or pillowy liner--a den. And since, by nature, dogs do not like to soil their dens, using a crate during housebreaking can help teach young puppies when and where it is appropriate to "go." - It is important to purchase or build a well-ventalated crate that gives your dog plenty of room to comfortably stand up, lie down, and turn around, If the crate is too big for the puppy, install a divider so that the puppy uses only half of the crate, (If the crate is too large, the puppy may eliminate in one end and sleep in the other. - Timing is everything. Although many puppies can make it through the night, they should only stay in the crate for a few hours at a time during the day. -Although most puppies learn quickly, they cannot always control their urges. Should your puppy soil his crate, do not harshly reprimand him, but quickly take him outside and praise him for going where he is supposed to. -Finally, a crate should never be used as a punishment, but should be encouraged as a place for your puppy to relax, sleep and get away from the world. RON FARRELL

A COLD NOSE ALLERGY ALTERNATIVE
LONGSTANDING BELIEFS THAT CHILDREN LIVING WITH DOGS AND CATS MAY HAVE INCREASED RISK OF ALLERGIES MAY TURN OUT TO BE BUNK, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS. IN FACT, INFANTS GROWING UP IN A HOUSE WITH TWO OR MORE CATS AND DOGS APPEAR TO HAVE A REDUCED RISK OF DEVELOPING ALLERGIES LATER ON IN LIFE, ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. THE STUDY, PUBLISHED LAST SUMMER, FOUND THAT OF MORE THAN 400 DETROIT-AREA CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN 1987 AND 1989, THOSE WHO HAD TWO OR MORE DOGS OR CATS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF LIFE WERE 50 PERCENT LESS LIKELY TO HAVE ALLERGIES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 7 THAN CHILDREN WITH NO PETS. WHEN THE CHILDREN WERE BETWEEN 6 AND 7, RESEARCHERS GAVE THEM SKIN PRICK TESTS FOR DOG, CAT, DUST MITE, RAGWEED AND GRASS ALLERGIES. ABOUT 34 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN WHO HAD NO PETS OR ONE PET DURING THIER FIRST YEAR OF LIFE TESTED ALLERGIC-SENSITIVE TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE SKIN-PRICK TESTS. BUT ONLY 15 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO TWO OR MORE DOGS OR CATS SHOWED ANY ALLERGIC RESPONSES. THE CHILDREN WERE ALSO GIVEN BLOOD TESTS LOOKING FOR IMMUNOGLOBULIN E ANTIBOTIES THAT INDICATE ALLERGIC RESPONCES. POSITIVE BLOOD TESTS FOR AT LEAST ONE ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN ANTIBODY WERE SEEN IN NEARLY 39 PERCINT OF CHILDREN WITH NO PETS, AND IN 18 PERCENT OF CHILDREN WITH EXPOSURE TO AT LEAST TWO DOGS OR CATS.-----TANYA BIELSKI-BRAHAM A.K.C.

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