PINOY PET FINDER - ARTICLE / BLOG

Keeping The Holidays Safe For The Family Dog

The fireworks of the Fourth of July, the tinsel on a Christmas tree, the beauty of holly berries on a plant. The holidays can be wonderful times for humans, but for dogs, they can be downright dangerous. Hazards tend to lurk around every corner as some of the bigger holidays rolls around. Keeping a pet safe, secure and happy amid the festivities will require some planning, but the whole family will enjoy the time more if the legwork is done.

While it’s certainly true there are hazards to dogs’ health and safety at home 365 days a year, a few days are a little more hair-raising than others. Some of the biggest trouble days out of the year for the family dog include:

July 4, New Year’s

It is highly unlikely fireworks will directly hurt a dog, but they can scare them greatly. If this happens, a dog might become distressed, anxious and a bit of a problem. The best thing to do is to keep the family pet in on nights when there is a lot of noise and action expected in the sky. Take care to ensure they are safely enclosed to avoid a dog getting loose and into trouble on a road or with a neighbor. If a party is being held to coincide with the holidays, watch out for stray drinks as alcohol can cause problems for pets, too. Do take the time to reassure them if they become anxious because of the hubbub.

Easter, Halloween, others

Any holiday that might include a lot of sweets or chocolates can present problems for the family dog. While not all dogs have reactions to chocolate, to some the substance is toxic. Take care to keep sweets and other foods they shouldn’t eat out of reach of the family dog. If chocolate is ingested, check with the family vet just to be safe.

Christmas

This might be the single biggest threat to a family dog as far as holidays are concerned. From the plants of the season to the decorations and beyond, there are all kinds of potential problems that arise. In regard to wrappings and trimmings, try to keep them away from the family pet if at all possible. Plants associated with the holidays, such as poinsettias and holly, can be very toxic, so do keep them up and away from dogs and small children. The lights and tree itself can also cause some problems. If a dog has a tendency to jump at them, consider securing the tree or securing the dog away form it. Also, watch out for tinsel and other unusual things a dog might try to ingest. Not everything associated with the holidays is toxic to a dog, but it’s best to take extreme care to ensure the family dog is probably cared for during the season. Keep things such as candy, chocolate and other food items a dog shouldn’t eat far away from them, too.

Caring for the family dog shouldn’t stop during the holidays. While it is very smart to take precautions to protect them, this doesn’t mean that holiday fun has to stop. When a dog is well training and its owner is, too, the holidays can be a great time for the entire family, the dog included.

By Kelly Perry of Oh My Dog Supplies - http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/

Posted in Dog, Dog Training, Lifestyle, Tips | 1 Comment »

Tips To Get The Family Dog Ready For A New Arrival

There’s so much to do to get ready for a new baby, making sure the family dog is well prepared might seem like an item to go on the bottom of the list. Between getting the nursery well stocked and picking out the right clothes to bring the little one home in, a dog can get lost in the shuffle. That can be a very big mistake.

While you see the new arrival as a bundle of joy, your dog might view the baby as competition for affection, a distraction and perhaps even an annoyance. There are things expectant parents can do, however, to help ease the transition and ensure the first baby, the furry one, is ready for some company at home. They include:

Before the baby is even born, try to get your dog used to the sounds of crying, the loud screams that might result and so on. Tapes can be made or even purchased to achieve this. The more used to the sounds a dog is, the less likely it is they will become annoyed, agitated or even scared.
Bring your dog around kids. If your dog has never been around children before, remedy that. It doesn’t hurt to invite friends with children over to see how the animal will react.
Consider obedience training if the first baby happens to be a little exuberant with jumping, pawing or other behaviors that will be undesirable once the baby arrives. Jumping behavior might be cute now, but it won’t be with a newborn in your arms.
Try to set a schedule for you dog that can be kept once the baby arrives. Even though your attention will be pulled in a new, and very important direction, it’s important to make sure there’s still a little time left for the dog. Take a walk every day with him or her, sit out on the back porch and throw a ball or just enjoy a little scratching behind the ear each time every night. Continue this routine once the baby arrives.

After the baby arrives, things will be even more hectic. It is now even more important that you take steps to make sure baby and the family dog get along well. When you bring the newborn home:

Don’t force the dog “meet” the baby unless he or she is ready. When it’s time, your dog will let you know by wanting to sniff the little one and see what she’s all about. Most dogs are very gentle about this. If yours isn’t, consider more training.
Keep that routine going. This is one of the best ways to make sure a dog still feels secure and at home. Try to keep feedings, play time and other normal activities on schedule when at all possible.
Keep the baby’s door closed. Even if you have the best dog in the world, it’s never a good idea to leave a newborn and dog in the same room alone. To avoid this, don’t forget to close the nursery door at naptime and bedtime.

Most family dogs respond very well to the introduction of a new baby into a home. With time, patience and perhaps a little training, a smooth transition can take place.

By Kelly Perry of Oh My Dog Supplies - The top source for orthopedic dog beds and treat jars

Posted in Dog, Dog Training, Lifestyle, Tips | 4 Comments »