DR. WALLACE: I'm a guy who's a college student and my girlfriend of the past seven months is attending the same college as I am. Her dream is to become an elementary school teacher, which is fine with me. I'm taking business classes and have different interests than she does, which has been fine for each of us, but there is one thing I'd like to mention.

Whenever the two of us go out together, particularly at shopping malls, my girlfriend will make it a point to talk to small children who come across our path or their parents. It's as if she can't help herself but to say hello or make a comment about how much she likes the child's shoes, shirt, dress or what have you.

This drives me a little bit crazy, and I often roll my eyes to myself, but I don't say much out loud to my girlfriend. These mini conversations usually only last 20 to 60 seconds at most, but I feel they interrupt the momentum of the time we are spending together. Do you think I should say anything to her about this, or just let her particular quirk go unfettered? — She Every Child She Sees, via email

SHE TALKS TO EVERY CHILD SHE SEES: My opinion is to let this matter go entirely, as it's truly a small thing in the big picture. She's likely channeling her "inner teacher" already, and this puts her in a talkative mode around children and their parents.

Although you do get interrupted as you walk through malls or perhaps on your way to a restaurant or out to a movie, once you're sitting down, enjoying a meal or watching a movie, you certainly do have blocks of alone time together with her. There are likely a few of your personal traits or habits that she wishes were different, because it's quite normal for each partner to notice small details about the other.

If this is the biggest complaint you have within your relationship with your girlfriend, I offer you hearty congratulations for having such a smooth and positive union thus far.

MY NEIGHBOR CONSTANTLY "DOG FLIRTS" WITH ME

DR. WALLACE: I'm a female college student who lives off campus with another female roommate. We have a great apartment that's not too far from the campus, in a nice, safe area and within walking distance of grocery stores and restaurants, so it's just about perfect.

The only thing that makes this location a little less perfect for me is the fact that one of our new neighbors, who lives about 30 yards away from us, has a beautiful, friendly dog. I love pets, especially dogs, but can't have one at this point in my life due to the time constraints on my schedule.

I think I made the mistake of saying hello to this fellow and asking him the name of his dog the first time we passed each other several weeks ago. We stopped and talked for a minute or two, and I was able to pet the dog and talk to this beautiful animal for a moment.

I thought that would be the end of it, but this neighbor now goes out of his way to "dog flirt" with me every chance he gets! He could be returning home from a different direction and just barely see me walking out of my doorway and he'll immediately reverse course and make sure that he walks in a beeline to intersect with me. He always uses the same excuse, which is that his dog wanted to say hello to me.

I've indulged him so far, but it's really starting to get under my skin. What would be a good way to put an end to his incessant dog flirting? I think he's far more interested in me than him being sure that his dog and I have social time together. — He Treats His Dog as a Prop, via email

HE TREATS HIS DOG AS A PROP: There's nothing wrong with putting your foot down tactfully in situations like this. The next time you notice him reversing course to intersect with you, don't wait for him to arrive right at your location. Simply turn and wave to him and say, "That's ok, not today. I'm late for an appointment," and keep on walking so that he won't have time to intersect with you.

Doing this a few times consistently will provide him with the first layer of understanding that you don't wish to be drawn into conversations at his convenience upon demand. Hopefully, he'll catch your drift and return to normal behavior. If that does occur, feel free to occasionally say hello to him and the dog, but do it very intermittently and sporadically, not regularly.

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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