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Show I Dogs gel depressed too predatory instincts, trying to reach his prey. A SIMPLE game of fetch, which is quite possible even in the limited open spaces of a big city, could have helped prevent the sheepdogs erratic behavior. Fetch' gives the dog exercise, which is good, but it also simulates chasing his prey, Tortora said "Tins is enough to maintain his psychological equilibrium. Some dogs develop problems that require more elaborate treatment. A German shepherd had a habit of breaking out a window in his masters fifth-floo- r apartment and dangling himself halfway out of the building. Tortora HE WAS It was a said. situation for him and for the people walking below. His problem was that he was confined to his apartment too much and he was looking for some kind of stimulation. He just wanted to look out and see the world. The psychologist taught the owners how to calm the dog when they left him alone and electrified the window - a drastic step, according to Tortora. I i semi-suicida- l, "No one should use shock therapy he without consulting an expert, said. I THE SHEPHERDS owners were about to electrify the window themselves, Tortora added. The way they would have done it would have sent the dog all the way out the window. You have to know exactly how much voltage to use, and it has to be very precise." Some breeds adapt to the cooped-uways of the city better than others Although one might think that large dogs would have more problems than small ones, Tortora and other dog experts say this isn't necessarily true. p Great Danes, St. Bernards, Dober- Pinschers man and German Shepherds, all large dogs, can adjust quite well to limited space and exercise time. Tortora has a English Mastiff that already weighs 140 pounds and will reach 250 pounds when d Mans best friend, the dog, has mental problems, too. When disturbed a dog may depression and even suicidal tendencies. display Magazi d by David Jones Columbia News Service NEW YORK Mans best friend, the dog, has mental problems, too. especially in the city. Indeed, urban nke I Sail he I He lives with me in the suburbs, but hed make a good city dog because mostly he just wants to sleep, the Mastiffs master said He needs about a half-hou- r of exercise a day. Many of the big dogs are like that. Size isnt as important as the temperament. SPORTING breeds, such as the Labrador Retriever, are less suitable because they require more exercise. And, said Tortora, The German Short-haire- d Pointer would be a very bad city dog. Theyre big, exuberant and theyre always on the move. Still, he noted, virtually all dogs can adjust to the city if their owners are willing to give them the time to work off their energy. Some breeds behavioral problems have less to do with their environment than their lineage. COCKER Spaniels have been mass-brefor so long that they have aggressiveness problems almost anywhere, he said. Mass breeding often results in incest, which tends to bring out the genetic defects in the family. To reduce the chances of buying a dog with inherent mental problems, Tortora suggests dealing with breeders instead of pet stores and department store pet shops. With the breeders, you can check out the temperament of the dogs parents and even the grandpar eats, he said "Many of the other places are just interested in moving their slock, most of which is mass-breIf you dont go to a breeder, youre safer going to the animal shelter. canines are often just as disturbed as their masters, displaying over aggressiveness, depression and even suicidal tendencies. Animal behavior specialists sa most of these problems are the result of a conflict between a dog's natural instincts and the confines imposed on him in an urban environ ment. DOGS WERE bred for a rural life, said Dr. Danial Tortora, an animal psychologist and of the Animal Behavior Therapy Clinic at New York Citys Animal Medical Center. Theyre accus- tomed to living in packs and as predators. They begin to have problems when theyre unable to run off these patterns." Dr. Tortora is also a member of the psychology department at Jersey ity State College and the author of a book, Help! This Animal ! Driving Me Crazy!, in which he discusses pets' behavioral problems and how to deal with them He says owners should find channels for their dogs to release the energy that builds up while sitting alone all day in a small apartment. Otherwise, the dog figures out his own way of coping with his frustrations This could amount to his chewing up his master's furniture, chasing butter (lies and leaves, fighting with other dogs or biting someone had someone bring me an old English sheepdog that would try to leap through the w indow every time somebody went by outside, Tortora recalled. He was responding to lus 1 well-know- n l 4 |