Pet Peeve: The dander from your friend’s cat or dog is driving you — ah-choo! — crazy.

What to Do: Pet allergies are generally reactions to a cat’s or dog’s dander (tiny flakes of skin that can get into carpeting and upholstered furniture) or saliva (which dries on the fur after the animal grooms itself). So coping with a pet allergy requires controlling either the allergens or your reaction to them — or both.

If the pet’s owner is someone you live with, you might try taking antihistamines or getting desensitization shots. And if the animal is a dog, suggest that he be bathed weekly. “Try keeping the animal out of the bedroom at all times so there is less dander or hair where you sleep,” says veterinarian Betsy Brevitz. You can also purchase an air cleaner or try a rinse such as Allerpet ($8, www.allerpet.com for online stores), which is applied to the pet weekly to reduce dander. “If you’re engaged to someone who insists on keeping the dog in bed with you,” Brevitz notes with a laugh, “then I think maybe you have relationship problems.”

If it’s simply an acquaintance’s pet that’s giving you the sniffles, let her know you’re allergic and arrange to meet her at a restaurant or at your own dander-free house.

As for those lists of supposedly hypoallergenic animals, most experts agree this is erroneous terminology. “There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog,” says Gina Lash, assistant executive secretary of the American Kennel Club (AKC). “But some breeds can be better for people with allergies, including poodles and Portuguese water dogs.” (For the AKC’s full list of breeds that usually produce less dander, go to www.akc.org and search for “allergies.”)

Pet Peeve: Your neighbor’s dog barks loudly during the day — when she’s not around.

What to Do: Your neighbor doesn’t know her dog is barking if she’s not there to hear it. So your first course of action should be to gently alert her. “Communicate. Leave a polite note if you’re not comfortable talking about it face-to-face,” says Quasha. She suggests writing something like: “Dear Sally, I’ve noticed recently that Angel has taken to barking when you leave your house/put her outside to play by herself. The noise is distracting, and I was wondering if you could do something about it. Let me know if I can help with this effort.” In case your neighbor does ask you for help, keep the number of a local dog trainer handy.

Pet Peeve: It’s your own pooch that’s having the barking fits.

What to Do: Take steps to make sure your dog is comfortable when you’re away so she doesn’t bark and howl constantly, says Stephen Zawistowski, an animal behaviorist: “Make sure you give her a good bit of exercise at the start of the day. Most dogs just need a walk in the morning, breakfast, a chew toy, and blankets, and they’ll probably spend most of the day sleeping.” And definitely don’t ignore a comment that your dog was barking, he says. Find out when, then consult with a trainer or an animal behaviorist, who may suggest such strategies as giving the dog a treat whenever you leave the house to help ease his separation anxiety. You can also take the simple step of leaving a radio or a television set on, which can be soothing to the animal, says Angeli. “Sometimes background noise can alleviate the stress of complete silence,” she explains. If all else fails, Brevitz says, consider taking the dog to an animal day-care facility or having a friend keep him company during the day.