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Your dog may be your best friend, but your neighbors may view it differently. If someone complains about your dog, the worst thing you can do is get defensive. Thatll make your neighbor feel like you dont care, and an issue that you mightve been able to resolve amicably could escalate into an ongoing feud that could involve the authorities.

Listen and Gather Information
Even if you think your neighbor is exaggerating, take the complaint seriously. You may not fully understand your dogs behavior, especially if problems occur when youre away from home. Express empathy and ask questions. Talk to other neighbors and ask if theyve experienced problems with your dog so everyone will know that you sincerely want to understand and address the problem. Setting up a video camera outside your house can help you observe your dog while youre at work.

How to Address Problems
If your dog spends most of its time outdoors, it may be hungry, thirsty, hot, cold or lonely. The dog may bark when people walk by your house because its agitated or wants to play. You might be able to solve these problems by keeping your dog inside while youre at work and having someone stop by to take it for a walk, by confining your pet to the backyard, or by providing more food and water or better shelter. If your dog barks right after you leave for work, it could be experiencing separation anxiety. Making time for a morning walk could help your dog relax.

If your dog plays or relieves itself on a neighbors property, keep your pet on a leash whenever you take it out of your yard. If your dog jumps on the fence separating your property and your next-door neighbors, you may need to reinforce the fence or put up a second fence to keep your neighbors family safe.

If your dog is accused of attacking a neighbors family member or pet, find out the extent of the victims injuries and try to locate witnesses or surveillance video. If the police and/or animal control are called, cooperate fully. You may have to pay for medical or veterinary bills and take measures to keep others safe, or even get rid of your dog if its deemed too dangerous.

Follow the Law
Comply with all local laws related to dog ownership. If your dog isnt licensed and up to date on vaccinations, if you let it roam around unleashed, or if you dont clean up after it relieves itself, a neighbor could use those facts against you if he or she decided to file a complaint with local authorities.

Look for Solutions
Assume that a neighbors complaints about your dog are at least partially justified. Listen, take the matter seriously, gather more information, and search for a way to resolve the issue thatll keep everyone safe and help you maintain a positive relationship with your neighbor.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are four ideas to keep in mind when designing a home that embodies understated luxury.

Keep It Casual

Above all else, your living area should feel comfortable and functional rather than overly decorative.

Muted Tones

Shades of white and gray or natural earth tones are ideal for a low-key ambience.

Quality Materials

Casual luxury is often conveyed through the careful use of high-end materials that are always in style, like marble countertops or hand-planed wood floors.

Old Meets New

Old world craftsmanship will always be fashionable. But dont be afraid to juxtapose it with contemporary or modern furnishings.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you’re in need of a few more storage spaces, or you’re simply tired of drab walls, these tricks will help you organize and beautify your home.

Fake Built-in Shelving

If you have cubby shelves, give them a flip and watch your space feel roomier than ever. Not only will you be maximizing your storage space, but your eye will also be drawn toward the ceiling, giving your room a taller and larger appearance.

Embrace the Loft

With their space-saving design, loft beds provide a great way to get multiple furniture pieces into a room for your child or teenager. With more sleek designs created for smaller spaces, the loft bed is a trend that even adults can get behind.

Picture or Photo Ledges

A photo ledge may provide extra visual interest and functional storage. Used creatively, photo ledges can be placed in the kitchen to store cutting boards, spices and recipe books. In the bathroom, they can hold a nail polish or makeup collection for easy access and a playful display of color.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Natural stone is prized for its appealing look and impressive durability. For some homeowners, it makes an obvious choice for floors, most commonly seen in kitchens, bathrooms and foyers. The hard part, however, can be picking out the right one. If youre considering installing natural stone floors in your home, heres what you should know beforehand.

Luxurious Options
Chances are theres an option thats right for your home no matter what your preferred style is. Slate floors can work well in a rustic setting but are equally suited to modern interiors with a black or gray color scheme. Marble is, of course, a timeless favorite for a decidedly upscale aesthetic, whereas travertine floors are perfect for creating a look thats formal, yet warm. Limestone and sandstone are two other popular choices that can contribute to an earthy aesthetic with beige- and cream-colored tones. If youre struggling to find the right shade or texture, granite is always an excellent material that comes in a wide range of colors and patterns.

Grading Factors
Aside from appearance, there are a variety of grades and ratings assigned to natural stone that will help you to determine the most practical option. For floors, important factors to consider are strength, abrasion resistance, stain resistance and absorption rating (for your countertops, youll also want to check if the stone is sensitive to acids). Depending on the quality of the stone, these grades can vary, though the most common weakness for different types of natural stone is absorption rating. While granite and slate tend to fair the best in this category, sealants can help to protect other natural stones from absorption and staining.

Outdoor Applications
If youre planning to use natural stone for your new terrace or patio, there are other factors to take into account, such as freeze-thaw cycling. When water is absorbed and temperatures drop below freezing point, the water will turn to ice and expand, which then cracks the stone. Coefficient of friction is another one to keep in mind, as this corresponds to the traction that youll feel, which is especially important when walking on this surface in the rain.

Published with permission from RISMedia.