Q: It's easiest to cut a dog's fur when it's dry. If your dog's fur is wet, give it time to dry or use a hair dryer to dry the fur. If you use a hair dryer, set it on warm and don't aim it at one spot for more than a few seconds. Otherwise, you might burn the dog. Your dog may flinch while you're trying to cut out the gum. Gently hold the dog in your lap or in front of you with your hand under the dog to keep it from wiggling away. Speak to the dog in a calm, soothing voice to help it relax. If you have someone who can help you, ask them to hold the dog while you trim the fur. They can hold the dog on either side so it's harder for the dog to run away. Place the clippers above the gum stuck in your dog's fur. Move the clippers in a downward motion in the direction of your dog's fur growth. If you don't get all of the gum on the first pass, return your clippers to the spot above the gum, then make another pass. Keep trimming until all of the gum is gone. Always cut in the direction of the fur growth, which will grow in a downward direction. Don't try to go up under the gum, as this will make your job harder and leave your dog's coat looking very uneven. Don't use scissors to cut your dog's fur. It's very easy to slip and accidentally cut your dog. If you're inexperienced in trimming your dog's fur or the dog is moving a lot, it may be best to ask a professional to remove the gum. Don't risk hurting or scaring your dog if you aren't confident you can safely trim it. A groomer or vet can quickly trim the fur for you. If you're concerned your dog will chew on the gum before you can get it into the groomer, put a pet cone around its head.
A: Trim the fur when it's dry. Hold your dog in place so you can safely trim its fur. Use pet clippers to safely trim the gum from your dog's fur. Bring your dog to a groomer or vet if you're afraid to clip its fur.

Q: Almost everybody enjoys receiving compliments. Giving your girlfriend a compliment lets her know what you admire and love about her. When giving her a compliment, try to make it as specific as possible. Think about what is unique about her. A specific compliment will be remembered longer and appreciated more than a general compliment that could be given to anyone. Say things like "I really like the outfit you have put together today," or "I'm really impressed by your taste in books." Think about something you haven't complimented her on before. Maybe she does a great job of handling all of her responsibilities. If she has gotten her hair done recently, notice it and compliment it. You don't have to constantly compliment her. Too many compliments can seem insincere after a while. If your girlfriend is insecure about certain things, like her body or looks, compliment her to raise her confidence about them. Talking about your emotions can be difficult to do, but it will almost always be appreciated. Expressing your emotions about the relationship will vary depending on the type of relationship and how long you have been together. Tell her that you love her, appreciate what she does, and value her in your life. Let her know how she has made you better as a person. If is a fairly new relationship, you can say "I'm so happy I've been able to get to know you. I hope I can get to know you even more as our relationship progresses." It never hurts to let your girlfriend know how much you appreciate having her in her life, even if it is an established relationship. Making the effort to include your girlfriend in your plans and daily life means a lot. You don't have to fully include her into every part of your life if it is a new relationship. Choose what you include her in based on what you are comfortable with and how serious the relationship is. If it is a new relationship, ask her to hang out with your friends during the weekend. If you are more serious, bring her to family functions or on a trip. What you include her in doesn't have to be that important or serious. It is just as nice to invite her to run errands with her. Letting her know you think of her and want her around is what counts. Remembering the small things sometimes means just as much as remembering the big things. This is because it is surprising and shows how much you pay attention to her, her life, and your relationship. Pay attention to the small events and remarks, like something she says she likes or doesn't like, a childhood memory that means a lot to her, or remember the details about how you met her. You can also remember her favorite movies, songs, books, and/or plays and watch or read them with her later. Remember the details about the relationship. For example, remember where you first held hands, first kissed, or a favor she did for you that meant a lot to you. Remembering the small things means a lot, but it is also very important to not forget the big dates. Forgetting a big date can result in hurt feelings and possible an argument because those dates are expected to be remembered. A few important dates to remember are your anniversary, her birthday, and holidays, especially her favorite holidays. Show her dates like her birthday and Valentine's Day are important to you by planning a celebration or date. Make sure you don't forget dates by writing them in a planner or calendar or putting them into the calendar on your mobile phone. Your girlfriend doesn't have to determine what you do and don't do in your life, but it is thoughtful to ask for her opinion. It shows that you value what she thinks, and you want to apply your advice in your decisions. You can ask for her opinion for something as simple as choosing what shirt to wear, or as big as moving to another location. Ask her something like "I'm thinking of getting a new shirt. Would you like to help me pick it out? I would like your opinion." You don't have to only ask for her opinion on something personal. You can also ask for her advice on entertainment, the news, or whatever comes to mind. You can ask her opinion, but you don't have to take it if you don't think it is beneficial to you. Only do what makes you feel happy and comfortable.
A: Give her sincere compliments. Tell her how you feel about her. Include her in your life. Pay attention to the details. Remember important dates. Ask for her opinion.

Q: Boundaries are important in any type of relationship. Enforcing boundaries with a friend can be challenging, but it will ultimately benefit you and help you build stronger friendships. If your friend can't respect your boundaries, it may be time to distance yourself from them. A few ways you can set boundaries include: Letting your friend know that you will not tolerate gossip or belittling speech about you to others. Saying "no" if your friend insists on talking about something personal or gossiping about others in front of you. Setting consequences for when your friend violates your boundaries (e.g., "If you keep talking about me behind my back, I will not spend time with you anymore."). If you've talked to your friend and they're making an effort to change their ways, give them a few weeks or months before making any big decisions about the friendship. Your friend may be trying to change a lifelong habit of blurting things out when they don't mean to, for example. If your friend does slip up, remind them that they agreed not to gossip to or about you. If they apologize and immediately correct their behavior, that's a good sign that they are trying to improve. Make sure your friend knows that what you are telling them is private and for no one else to know, if you are intent on sharing personal information with them. You may find out that you can't trust them, but at least they won't be able to claim that they "didn't know it was a secret." If your friend can't stop gossiping and it's causing you significant stress, then it might be best to go your separate ways. Try keeping them as an acquaintance at first, to see if spending less time around them alleviates the problem. If things don't improve, tell them that you cannot be friends with someone that you cannot trust.
A:
Create and maintain healthy friendship boundaries. Give them time to improve. Be explicit when you want your friend to keep something a secret. Consider ending the friendship.