Not all dog behavior problems are rooted deeply within the psyche of the dog or owner.

A case in point: Max, a good-natured, easy-going poodle who was brought to me because of a sudden personality change. He was becoming progressively short-tempered and irritable, baffling his owner. When the little dog came jingling through the doorway, his two metal dog tags clinking together, I suspected the cause of his disgruntlement, and suggested the tags be taped together or riveted to his collar. The tags were silenced and the problem disappeared. Max returned to his "old sweet self" once again.