First off, the dogs are the guests, so make sure it's fun and safe for them. Not all dogs like parties, so even if their human is having a good time, make sure everybody takes their dogs' needs into account.

Don't tempt fate by leaving a big dog birthday cake on the ground for everybody to gorge on, unless all you have is tiny puppies or super-friendly dogs.

For the fun...I'm kind of a dog geek, so I think anything involving the dogs is already fun. But maybe some contests, like who can come to their human the fastest or who can fetch the most tennis balls in a certain amount of time. Or have people tell stories about how they got their dog, what they love most about their dog, their funniest story with this dog, the worst thing their dog has done, etc.

If you want an upbeat party, most of it should focus on the best parts of their dogs and their relationship with them.

If you have a big budget, you could hire a trainer to come in and have her guide the people through teaching a trick.

Do you have a lot of doggie visitors? If not, your dog may want to have the party somewhere else besides for his own territory - fenced in or on leashes. Or he could just meet each of them down the block, go for a quick walk, and walk into the house after their new friend.

Have fun!

Thank Dog they don't speak English. I think dogs would just tell us how silly and boring we are. But it would help keep humans from making dumb mistakes, like patting dogs on the top of the head, as if they liked it.

Your dog is probably simultaneously shouting "Intruder!" to the folks in the house and "Go Away!" to the people approaching. You'll probably hear a change in pitch once she recognizes the people, getting higher when she realizes it's a friend, not a foe, out the window.

The bigger question is, why are you training your dog to bark like that? Ditch the perch - close blinds (Roman shades that open from the bottom are great), move the furniture, whatever it takes to keep her from feeling like she has to guard the house all day. She'll relax more and probably live longer. Stress kills.

If she's still young, under 2 or 3, be careful. This can be the start of a bigger problem, like biting people at the door. You might think about getting a trainer or behaviorist in to help - not one that will use pain or intimidation to correct the barking, but one who teaches her what *to* do, using reinforcement.

It could also be just what it already is, annoying. Many, many dogs bark at things they see outside.

Some plastics are toxic, some are not. I don't know which category the plant containers fall into, but you might want to get some other toys instead, made of stuff that you know is non-toxic.

Hi Allie,

I'm not a cat trainer, but I have had a cat like this (before I knew what to do, even with dogs) so I can visualize the problem.

One thing is to figure out her body language when you're petting her, what she does before the bite. Remember that the petting is mostly for your own entertainment, not for hers, and only pet her the minimum amount that would satisfy you, stopping when you see her start to get upset with it. Stiffening, rolling onto her back, etc. would be big signs, but look for smaller things, too.

For the leaping by, you can get in the habit, for a while, of bringing a treat and tossing it behind her (away from you) every time you pass by. This should develop a pattern of looking away as you pass by, and also some happiness if she's upset that you're passing by.

Or you might call her to you each time - to let her know the jig is up, that you know she's there, so the hunt is less fun.

You might also look at the space physically and see if you can add a barrier, so she can access it from the back, say, but not leap out the front. That may make it a not-so-favorite spot, but it's worth a try.

Don't skip the sedatives. Even if she's calm in your regular life, an airplane is a big deal - lots of noise, people, smells, etc.

Ask the airline what proof of vaccinations they need for your cat. Do your best to get her under the seat, even if she's doped up and in a crate that's a little too small, it's better than being away from you.

If you do fly with your cat in the luggage area, remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. You have my permission to bug them about the status of your cat as much as you want to. Some animals do die or go missing during transport, especially when it's extra hot or cold so be extra cautious and check on how they regulate temperature for the area in which your cat will travel.

Good luck!

Feed fewer calories. If your cat still needs more in her belly, there are foods that are low fat, or you might add fillers.

I agree with the other answer that your big cat may be swiping food from the little one.

Another bit to add is that exercise is good for cats, too. Toys are great, but not all cats like them. If that won't work (or even if it does), try some clicker training. Yes, even cats are trainable. Use her regular food for that, like the wet food on a spoon. If you need something tastier, subtract any calories from training out of her food.

They do get over abuse somewhat, especially with good training and rehab. If you do go that route, expect it to take some time and effort. She has had a particularly rough life, so that takes more time to get over.

With the new pain she's feeling, make sure that you do what you can to lessen that by talking to your vet and possibly a massage therapist or TTouch practitioner. At the very least, realize that her pain may limit her activities, like any of us who age. :)