Prime Cuts from "Ask Dog Lady," the Radio Show

Dog Lady enjoys mixing it up on the radio. Each Wednesday from 1 to 3 pm, we discuss all things dogs, life and love. Click here for the streaming audio. And listen below to selected segments from previous editions of "Ask Dog Lady," the radio show:

Dog Lady and co-host Jack "Russell" Baldwin mull over the love lessons taught by a dog:

Lisa Robinson, the founder and editor of Urban Dog magazine in New Orleans, speaks of how her Basil turned her into a publisher:

Caroline Nudelman, Reiki expert, discusses how healing touch might help tame a wild and crazy dog -- and the animal's wilder, crazier human:

Rob Van Sickle, owner of the Polka Dog Bakery in Boston -- one of the finest dog shops in the country (Polka Dog-baked biscuits are sold in Whole Foods Markets) -- talks about what and how to feed your dog:

Yap in the dog park with Kim Pearson, who's written a book about the social rounds of her Goody Beagle:

Callers share about a darling Dachshund brat and a Husky pulling dog named, duh, Puller:

Obama Mutt Hello; Barney Bye Bye

Barack Obama interviews dogs on the cover of The New Yorker. Brian Williams, NBC anchor, can't resist giving a shout-out to his "girly" dog, Lucy.

Dog Lady will miss Barney Bush. She has written much over the years about him and clung to the theory that Barney embodied George Bush's better self. That the dog chomped down on a reporter two days after the election seems kind of cosmic. Below is a tribute to Barney from Slatewhere Michael Schaffer writes about Barack Obama's bowser.

Dating Doghouse

Dear Dog Lady,

I know this sounds crazy but I judge my dates by how well they treat my dog.

Let’s see, there was Tom. He got miffed when I cooed endearing nicknames to my darling pooch Cleo. And, lo, the shaky alliance lasted 13 dates. Then there was Bob. He pretended to like my dog by stiffly petting her behind the ears for a few seconds each time he came to pick me up. But he banned Cleo from the bed, the sofa, or any reclining surface where Bob was inclined to recline -- even though it was my house. The relationship lasted 8 months.

Am I too unyielding and unromantic in these matters? Does Cleo’s opinion count?

- Sarah, Boston, MA.

Sarah, lighten up. Sure, it matters if Cleo likes a man you bring into her house, but you’re the one who must be pleased – and pleasing. You’re trying to be Alpha in your dating world. Actually, you’re allowing Cleo to be Alpha. You should understand that no guy wants to play second fiddle to his girlfriend’s girl dog -- or boy dog, for that matter. Your dates are merely trying to mark their territory. They want you to pay attention to them. So let them lift their legs freely. You seem to be using Cleo as an intimacy excuse. Eventually, you’re going to have to give a man the unconditional chance to court you. If you fall in love, then Cleo will too.