DR. WALLACE: I have a big dog that I love very much! He's a big boy as he weighs about 90 pounds. I live on my own these days as I recently turned 20 years old.

I live about 10 miles away from my parents' home, and every time I stop by to see them, my father scolds me for allowing my dog to roam around in my sport utility vehicle.

I just fold the back seat down, as this gives him room to roam around while I'm driving in town. My dad thinks I should get a "doggie seat belt" device that serves as sort of a harness for a dog in a moving vehicle.

I don't take him on the freeway, so it's no big deal in my book. Don't you think my father is a bit over the top on this issue? Dogs need the freedom to roam, in my opinion. — Dog Lover, via email

DOG LOVER: Your father has a valid point, especially since your dog weighs so much. He's actually heavier than many small children who are regularly harnessed into car seats or seat belts for their safety.

However, in your case, with a large SUV and a bigger dog, why not get him a dog carrier that he could ride in? There are several available that are made of hardened plastic that serve as a cocoon of sorts to keep a dog calm and safe while in the back of a moving vehicle. In your case, you could leave the rear seat in its normal position as there should be room in your hatch area to house your dog comfortably.

This would keep him safer and no doubt meet your father's approval were you to drive up one day and take your four-footed best friend out of his traveler after you open the rear hatch.

WE HAVE A GENERATIONAL CRISIS BREWING

DR. WALLACE: My grandparents moved into the small living quarters that is a freestanding building in our backyard in the area we live. It's great that we see them more regularly, especially during our evening meals, but most of the rest of the time they actually find our current "teen lives" to be quite eye-rolling from their point of view.

We all know they came from a different generation and they were raised in a very different way than my siblings and I are currently living our lives.

From time to time, I will hear them chirp about something they don't like or don't understand about us. It's kind of annoying, and I don't want to let this turn into an adverse relationship overall with them.

What can I do to let them know we are just good, normal kids who are living in a different era than they are used to? — Experiencing a Generational Crisis, via email

EXPERIENCING A GENERATIONAL CRISIS: I suggest that you carve out a few segments of your time to sit with your grandparents and show them your social media pages, your homework, the activities you enjoy and so forth.

Don't be condescending about it, but rather just educate them on how teenage life has evolved and do your best to bring them into the picture as if they were walking in your shoes.

Of course, they won't absorb everything right away, but taking some time and having conversations with your grandparents will go a long way to easing any generational tensions that may currently be rising up. Oftentimes, older people fear things they don't understand and that are beyond the experiential comfort level. Yet we also see examples of some seniors who really enjoy learning about this present modern world and all the useful gadgets and programs we use to navigate it.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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