Hints From Heloise

Pet Travel Bag

Dear Heloise: We travel quite a bit and either take our dog, Bo, with us or have him stay with a family member. He has his own TRAVEL BAG that stays filled with a toy, blanket, small bed, leash, and medical and veterinary-clinic information.

All I have to do is add enough food and treats for the duration of our stay. When he sees his bag, Bo knows he is going somewhere. As we leave the house for a trip, everyone has his own travel bag, including Bo. -- Stella R., Colorado

We have a doggie bag for our Cabbie, too. She knows if she sees it, she's going to the coast or the "spa." -- Heloise

BYE-BYE, DUCKS

Dear Heloise: Here is a hint we just stumbled upon. We had mallard ducks landing every day and spending time in our swimming pool and yard. Just by accident, our granddaughter left her small blow-up ball that she was playing with in the pool. The ball floats around in the pool with the wind currents. This seems to have discouraged the ducks from returning to our pool and yard. -- Rick, Tustin, Calif.

EASY CLEAN

Dear Readers: There is an easy way to remove hard-water deposits on your pet's drinking bowl. Just heat white or apple-cider vinegar, pour it into the bowl and watch the deposits bubble off! Scrub with a brush and rinse well. -- Heloise

FALLING BIRDSEED

Dear Heloise: I read in your column about the person seeking a solution to keep birdseed from falling on the ground and all the weeds springing up underneath the feeder. I dealt with this problem for years, as I love to watch all the pretty birds that come to feed.

We purchased a resin plant plate that goes under potted plants and is larger than the feeder. My husband, being very handy with projects, inserted a screw in the middle of the plant water catcher and attached it to the feeder's post, and then the feeder also was attached to the middle of the plant plate. Problem solved! -- Shirley A. Dudley, Palmdale, Calif.

PET PAL

Dear Readers: Mike and Meg McGrew of Seguin, Texas, sent a photo of their 6-year-old golden retriever, Schuyler, holding two yellow tennis balls in his mouth. The McGrews say: "Schuyler's favorite things in life are his tennis balls and his humans. He sits at the edge of our yard when he sees our neighbor come home from playing tennis Saturday mornings in hopes that he'll receive a tennis ball or two. He's not often disappointed!"

To see the tennis star, visit www.Heloise.com. -- Heloise

NEW COLLAR

Dear Readers: When you select a new collar for your pet, get one that expands as your pet grows. Make it a point to check the fit periodically. Slip two fingers between the neck and the collar. If you can't get two fingers in, you need to enlarge the collar or buy a bigger one. -- Heloise

(c)2009 by King Features Syndicate Inc.