Place the sleeve on a flat surface with the seam on the bottom. Measure 1 inch in from the cuff and 1 inch up from the seam, and mark a circle about 1 inch across. Cut through both layers. These will be the front leg holes. Now put the sweater on your dog. The cuff becomes the collar. If the sweater is too long for your dog, mark just above the tail and cut the extra off in a rounded arc with a shortened area on the belly side.

I hope to see many warm doggies this winter. — Rebecca from Latrobe, Pa.

Thanks for the "hot dog" hint! Many chilly pups and tiny little dogs will appreciate these directions. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: We recently added a pug puppy to our family, which included an older, diabetic Dalmatian. As the diets varied, containment for the puppy was a problem. Gates designed for children have bars spaced too far apart for small pets, have tricky mechanisms to hold them into place or need to be bolted or screwed to door frames.

My husband purchased a sheet of white vinyl lattice for $20, and it was large enough to cut into several pieces. We bought adhesive hooks for the lattice to hang on. The hooks can be placed at any height and do not leave any marks on walls or doors when they need to be removed. Lattice comes in several designs, is thin, durable and sturdy — which means it will contain a pet as small as a guinea pig, or a large pet — and can be stored easily. It takes two seconds to retrieve the lattice and hang on the hooks, and it works! — Cathy DeWitt, Wyoming, Mich.

If kitty won't stay off a forbidden sofa or chair, place sheets of aluminum foil across the seats. When kitty jumps up, the feel and sound of foil will "foil" kitty's nap plans, and eventually kitty will avoid the furniture. You can use the same foil sheets over and over again. — Heloise

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