Article: At its root, humping is a display of social dominance. However, neutering or spaying your dog can be a helpful measure. Moreover, you should also get your dog fixed as early in its life as possible for the greatest effect. Getting your dog fixed may decrease mounting problems, especially in males. However, this may not eliminate the problem completely. With older dogs, the habit is often ingrained. That's one reason why getting your dog spayed or neutered as a puppy is so important. Your dog's humping behavior could be linked to an underlying medical condition that causes your dog to act that way. Some medical conditions can be serious if not treated and need proper medical attention. If you believe your dog has underlying issues, take them to the vet immediately. Possible medical conditions that could be contributing to your dog's behavior include urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, persistent erections, and skin allergies. If your dog is aggressive when you try to stop them from mounting or humping, you may need to take them to see a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or certified veterinary behaviorist. You shouldn't try to alter your dog's behavior if they are aggressive. If you cannot find a certified behaviorist in your area, look for a certified professional dog trainer. Just make sure that the dog trainer has experience dealing with aggression and mounting. If your dog sinks their claws into the skin of a human it mounts, or growls when you try to remove it, this is a more serious problem and should be addressed by a certified applied animal behaviorist. When humping is clearly connected to stress, giving your dog an anti-anxiety medication might be enough to stop the humping and improve your dog's overall mental and physical health. Medication should only be used as a last resort, and even then, only in extreme conditions. For instance, if a dog is displaying other signs of anxiety, like obsessive licking or destructive behavior, he or she might have a serious anxiety issue that needs to be addressed.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Neuter or spay your dog. Have your dog checked for medical conditions. Take your dog to an animal behaviorist. Ask your vet about appropriate medications.
Article: Notice if you are continuing to build commitment and loyalty by working together. Relationships take continual work and support, even if you know each other well and have been together for a long time. In a more mature stage of love, you will: Rely on each other. Fulfill or follow through on promises made. Feel comfortable with the roles and responsibilities you've established with each other. Feel comfortable going to your partner when you're struggling. Once you've been committed for a while and some of the romance has faded, it can be difficult to know if you're still in a healthy relationship. Examine if you're feeling bored or frustrated with your routines with your partner. If so, you may be experiencing stagnancy. Schedule time for something fun. Do something active together. Be open to new activities. Try something you each enjoyed as kids. Avoid activities that are too competitive. At the committed stage, partners usually know each other very well, and can anticipate what the other may need during hard times or on a daily basis. Knowing and caring for your partner's needs before she asks is a great way to care for her daily. For instance, if you know your partner has had a stressful day, take it upon yourself to have dinner ready when she gets home from work and do the clean up, too. Or if she's been going through a rough time, encourage her to have a girl's night with her friends let her know she shouldn't feel guilty for not including you, and to go out and enjoy herself. If you aren't sure what your partner's wants and needs are, then you need to have a discussion. Sit down and ask her what she wants and needs from the relationship, and don't interrupt her or get defensive. Then take your turn. If you have children and/or jobs, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy, stable, loving relationship in the face of other tasks and roles. Notice if you're multi-tasking more, making more time for the kids or work, and spending less one-on-one time with your partner. If so, you may be experiencing stagnancy and need to remember to: Express appreciation to your partner. You might say, "Thank you for making me coffee this morning. You make it so much better than I do and it saves me time. I love that you do that for me." Express affection. Know what your partner likes and surprise him with it. It could be a hug, a simple "I love you," a card, or flowers. Listen to your partner. Take 20 minutes every day with each other to listen to what happened in your lives. Don't try to fix anything or judge, just listen and decompress together. If you continue to treat your partner as valuable, even if you disagree with her opinions, you're in the commitment phase. You'll be able to once again accept your partner for who she is, faults and all. You'll learn to manage or let go of your expectations of your partner at this stage. If you can't, or if you notice increased conflict or disrespect in your relationship, seek counseling. Violence is not healthy or acceptable at any relationship stage. Seek help from a counselor or domestic violence shelter if your partner become violent or verbally abusive.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Work as a team. Pay attention to boredom. Anticipate your partner's wants and needs. Notice if you take time for your relationship. Look out for continued respect.
Article: If you're planting your garlic in the fall, cover the area with 6 inches of straw to protect the garlic during the winter. In the spring, the mulch can be removed. If you're planting your garlic in the spring, be sure to mulch it to retain soil moisture. You should see the garlic scapes emerge from the ground in early spring. Cut off any flower shoots you see, since if they're left to grow they'll take energy away from the bulb formation and result in smaller bulbs. Water the garlic every 3 to 5 days throughout the growing season. When you see the soil get dry and dusty, that means it's time to water. Garlic plants don't need to be water during the fall and winter. If the garlic shoots look yellowish or limp in the middle of the growing season, you can dress the plants with fertilizer to help them perk up. Keep the garlic bed weeded so that the garlic doesn't have to compete with other plants for nutrients and water.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Mulch the area heavily. Cut off flower shoots in the spring. Keep the garlic watered. Fertilize and weed as necessary.