HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR DOGS

Halloween is one of the most popular and fun holidays in the U.S. The National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade association, estimates that Halloween spending will reach a record 13 billion dollars in 2025 on costumes, candy, and decorations! That's a Howlin' ton of Halloween fun! These days, Halloween isn't just for the kids, it's for dogs, cats, and small pets too!

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Little Devil Phoebe wishes you a Happy Howloween!!

Of those planning to celebrate Halloween this year, many of them will dress their dogs and other pets up in costume.  Some of the most popular costumes expected for pets are a pumpkin, hot dog, bumble bee, lion, pirate, ghost, and witch.  

Dog Safety Tips for Halloween fun

DRESS FOR HALLOWEEN SUCCESS

If you're dressing your pet up in a costume, have your pet spend time wearing the costume before they wear it on Halloween.  Costumes may feel very strange to them.  If it's uncomfortable and your pet just doesn't want to wear a costume, please don't force it.  Not every pet will be happy wearing a costume. Opt for a Halloween bandana or festive collar instead. Up Country makes some gorgeous holiday dog collars, harnesses and leashes every year.

My dog Phoebe in her Piriate costume

There are some really simple costumes available for dogs that literally just sit on top of your dog's back.  They're lightweight and velcro close under their belly.  A "rider" costume like this may be all your pet will agree to.  In the photo below, my dog Icy is wearing a simple Headless Horseman pet Halloween costume that sits comfortably on her back.  This is actually my favorite Halloween photo of her!

Icy is wearing a really simple Pet Halloween Costume that sits on her back comfortably. 

For pets who won't wear a costume, your pet can still look festive with a fun Halloween bandana, collar, bow tie, or stretchy elastic "necklace" or scarf  with Halloween themed colors and designs on it.

My dogs wearing festive Halloween neck scarves

Just like with training, use treats or a favorite toy to help create a positive association for your pet with the costume.  However, if they still hate wearing the costume just scrap it. Never make your pet do something, or wear anything, they're uncomfortable with.

MONSTERS AMONG US!

In addition to getting your dog used to her own costume, help her get used to all the crazy and potentially scary costume's she will see on other pets and on people.  

Many dogs are afraid of hats, umbrellas and other items people carry.  On Halloween, your dog is likely to see tons of weird apparel and accessories on other dogs and people. They'll see unfamiliar Halloween decorations on neighbors' lawns that may be scary too.  They may see them in the street, at a Halloween event, or even at a party in your own home.  

Take some time to help your dog prepare for all the weird costumes and decorations they'll see.  Try on some of your old costumes, invite a friend's dog over in costume, or take your dog to a store that sells dog costumes and try some on - with all the accessories!  Let your dog know there's nothing to fear.  Have some treats or a favorite toy handy when you do this.

WHEN SWEETS ARE ANYTHING BUT SWEET

Candy is toxic to dogs. Do you have a plan to keep candy well out of reach so your dog doesn't ingest something toxic? Candy, especially chocolate and anything containing Xylitol can be very toxic to dogs, many dogs and other pets have died from this!

Keep Halloween candy well out of reach of pets!

I knew a lady who received a giant bar of chocolate as a gift. She left it on the bed and her little dog got into it, scarfing it down while she was in the bathroom. Tragically, her sweet dog did not survive the incident.

Some years ago, a young couple in our dog training class had a beautiful Lab puppy. While they were on vacation her mother baby sat for the pup. Somehow this little dog got into an empty bag of potato chips and suffocated. It was the most heartbreaking thing. Can you even imagine something so tragic happening to your dog?

I don't share these stories to shock or upset anyone, I share them to inform and warn people of potential dangers. Please, make sure everyone in your household understands the danger of candy to dogs! Kids love to spill out their Trick or Treat bags onto the floor or the bed. make sure they know how important it is never to leave any candy, chips or other sweets where the family dog could possibly get into it.

SOMEONE'S AT THE DOOR!

One of the things that can freak your dog out is the constant ringing of the doorbell when Trick or Treaters arrive, weird looking STRANGERS, in your dog's mind!

My dogs used to go nuts in our former house where we had tons of kids Trick or Treating all night long. After the first year, we put leashes on the dogs and let them sit in the front room with us waiting for the bell to ring. They were much more relaxed when they knew what was happening and could see the kids in their adorable costumes from a safe distance. The kids got a kick out of seeing our dogs in their costumes, too!

If you're entertaining on Halloween, make sure you have a plan to keep your dogs away from the door at all times! Many dogs and cats end up in shelters due to the craziness of Halloween. Keep your dog secure during trick or treat hours and during any parties you may be hosting at home.

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MICROCHIP YOUR DOG FOR SAFETY!

Be sure your dog or cat is wearing a collar with updated ID tags. Collars can easily break off, especially when a pet is frightened and running scared. To prevent your dog from getting lost amid the Halloween chaos please microchip him now! Cats should also be microchipped. The heartbreak of lost dogs in shelters with no way to contact an owner is unbearable. As an 8 year animal shelter volunteer I can tell you it happens every single year on Halloween.

Spooky Season is a great time to Microchip your pet if you haven't already! Any animal shelter or Veterinarian's office should be able to scan a microchip in the event your dog or cat goes missing. If it's too expensive at your Veterinarian, many shelters offer microchipping at a very low cost. Halloween is a great time to take advantage of that.

Don't let Halloween fun turn into a nightmare.  Keep pets Safe!

Don't let Halloween turn all Sleepy Hollow on you and become a nightmare.  Keep your dogs safe!

More Halloween Costume safety tips for dogs

Do you have any Halloween Pet Safety Tips to share?  Please leave us a comment!  We love hearing from you!

PET SAFETY BOTH AT HOME AND ON OUTINGS

We want our dogs to have fun and be safe both at home and away, but there are things that can harm our pets and ruin our fun!  Some of them can be found in the home, some are near water, and some we may encounter on travel outings and adventures we take them on.

Previously, I talked about dangerous Insecticides and Pesticides  that could be lurking in your yard or on walks with your dog.  Today I want to talk about things that can potentially harm our dogs inside our homes or while we are out on dog friendly adventures together. 

I'm always on the alert for potential dog hazards inside and outside the home

PET DANGERS INSIDE THE HOME

The most obvious potentially harmful items that can be found in our homes are things we use every day without giving them a second thought.  Cleansers are one of the biggest culprits.  We use them often and sometimes leave them lying around the house open, or in poorly secured areas.  

Other hazardous items include nail polish remover (it's SO toxic to both pets and children!), medications, and rubbing alcohol.  Speaking of alcohol, booze is toxic to pets as well so don't leave wine, beer, or cocktails lying around in glasses on the patio! Pets are often attracted to the scent of these items.  Dogs love to LICK, and they can lick up spills of any of these substances as well as get into containers of them.   

Visit the Humane Society of the United States web page for a list of  Common Household Dangers For Pets, both inside and outside the home.

A TOXIC MESS WITH YOUR MORNING COFFEE?

It drives me nuts when we are at Starbucks and someone has spilled a giant blob of something I know can be toxic to my dogs, but smells delightful to them. They will jump at the chance to lick it up if we don't move to another table or clean it up ourselves! 

Cigarette butts on the ground are another thing that irritates me.  For some reason, every Starbucks we ever go to has like a million cigarette butts on the ground around their outdoor tables. It feels like the Marlboro Man has just had his coffee there!  Cigarette butts are like a magnet for dogs.  My dogs always find them and invariably start chewing on them!  If dogs eat cigarette butts it could cause nicotine poisoning.

OCEAN AND STAGNANT WATERS CAN HARM YOUR DOG

Algae can be very toxic to pets so don't let pets drink stagnant water, especially if it has a blue-green film on it. This algae thrives in hot temperatures and can be found in stagnant ponds, lakes, even puddles. Algae in stagnant water can contain toxins that cause anything from skin rashes to potentially serious health risks for dogs such as organ and nervous system problems.  A variety of harmful parasites and bacteria, such as Giardia and Leptospirosis can also be found in stagnant water.

Don't let your dog drink sea water at the beach either. Salt water can be toxic to pets and could result in salt water poisoning if they drink too much of it.  Toys and other items can absorb large amounts of sea water, and can be absorbed by your dog if he chews on it or sucks on it.

Icy loves the beach!  I always have fresh water available for her to drink

Rinse your dog and his toys off thoroughly after playing in or by the water.  If your dog has diarrhea or vomiting after being by the ocean, the pool, a lake, or pond, consult your Veterinarian right away.

Always keep your dog well hydrated with fresh, clean water at the beach.  Follow these Beach safety tips for dogs as well.

IS THIS DOG FRIENDLY HOTEL ROOM REALLY FRIENDLY?

When you travel with your dog, keep an eye out for potential hazards to dogs.  I've shared this story before but it bears repeating.  During a cross country trip with Icy and Phoebe, we stayed in a hotel that we had stayed in several times before and were familiar with. In fact, it was one of our favorite places to stay along our route between New York and Phoenix  - until my dogs got really sick in one of their pet friendly rooms.

We travel a lot with the dogs , I keep a very close eye on them while traveling 

It was late at night and we were glad to finally reach our hotel and settle in.  For some reason, there were really loud people smoking up a storm on a patio close to our window, so I asked to have the room changed.  

The guy at the front desk was apparently new and seemed a bit confused as to what room to give us and the dogs - that should have been a red flag right there.  He finally gave us a room and we settled in for the night.   Icy was sleeping on the floor between the wall and my side of the bed. Phoebe was sleeping on the floor on the other side of the bed.

Somewhere around 3am Icy started coughing and hacking uncontrollably.  We couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, we panicked!  We put her up on the bed and after a few minutes the coughing lessened a bit.  We thought she might have found an object under the bed and swallowed it, or perhaps she ate a bug.  

Shortly after, Phoebe began coughing and hacking as well!  Then she vomited, right on the bed.  We were freaking out and began searching for an emergency Veterinarian in the area.  As the dogs got up off the floor and lay on the bed their coughing eased up.  We were slightly relieved but still perplexed and frightened.

Around 5am we got the heck out of there and onto the highway, windows open to get fresh air into the car.  I couldn't find an all night emergency Vet but we located a Veterinarian in the next city, not far away.  As we drove in the car the dogs began to improve - a lot.  Clearly, getting them out of that hotel was key, there had to be something in the room that made them both so ill.

We found the Vet's office, no small feat in the somewhat rural area of Ohio we were in.  It was a quaint little office and the staff was really nice.  We loved the Veterinarian, he was wonderful to us and the dogs!  He examined Icy and Phoebe and asked us lots of questions.  In the end, the Vet determined that whatever the hotel used to clean the carpeting made our dogs sick.  He gave us a prescription, but we never needed to use it because hours later both dogs were perfectly fine!

Icy and Phoebe love to sleep in bed with us in hotel rooms!

My guess is that the guy at the desk put us in a dog friendly room that was very recently cleaned.  It probably shouldn't have been rented out so soon, I'm thinking the cleansers they used needed more time to dissipate.  Because the dogs were on the floor, so close to the recently cleaned carpet, it effected their breathing.

You'd think a hotel that has rooms designated for pets would be totally safe for pets, but you never know.  Now my dogs sleep in the bed with us in hotels!

Has your pet ever gotten into something that made them sick?  Please leave us a comment & tell us about it, we really Love hearing from you!

BOATING SAFETY FOR DOGS

Summer is upon us, and with warm weather and sunny skies, many owners are choosing to take their dogs out to sea on their boats.  Many four-legged companions enjoy sailing as much (heck, maybe even more than) their human counterparts. The feeling of the wind in your fur and the smell of salt air is enough to make dogs giddy with a sense of adventure!

However, there are safety considerations to keep in mind before bringing your dog on board.  The folks at K9 of Mine  created a Dog Safety Tips Infographic that they've shared with Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them to help keep canine companions safe while out on the water. 

Be sure to read these tips before you take your pet out on the water!

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One of the biggest goals we have had for our dogs has been to get them out on the water in a boat!  We love being out on the water but my dogs have rarely been on boats. 

Phoebe came along on a sunset cruise aboard a large boat, but Icy still hasn't foung her sea legs! Neither of them has been on a  canoe, kayak, or raft, but this season will be different! 

Icy's maiden voyage aboard a boat is planned for later this year!  I'm both excited and a bit anxious about it. I will let you know how it goes in a future post.  I'll be sure to follow all the safety tips on K9 of Mine's Info-Graphic before we go!

Icy and Phoebe have been mostly Land Lubbers, but hopefully we can change that soon!

A big THANK YOU to K9 of Mine for sharing this Pet Safety Ingo-Graphic and tips to keep pets safe on the water!

Icy's new life jacket from Outward Hound will keep her safe on the boat

🐶 I'll be careful to use a Life Vest for dogs before I bring my dogs on any boat, you should too! As the Infographic shows, it's an important safety tool. I just got Icy a beautiful new life jacket from Outward Hound - Isn't it pretty! They offer a great discount for first time orders on their site, which was a big help. 

Have you taken your pet out on the water?  Please leave us a comment and tell us about it, you know we love hearing from you!

SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR DOGS

Summer Time, Summer Time, Sum... Sum... Summer Time!!

It's Summer, the time of year both pets and their people look forward to all year.  It's the time of year dogs don't have to beg their people to take them outside, their people are begging them to go outdoors!

Along with all that fun outdoor activity comes a variety of dog safety tips we've packed away in the closet of our minds for Winter storage.  I haven't thought much about all the Canine safety tips for  Summer, those important pet safety measures I follow in Summer, until now.  

Icy and Phoebe love going to the beach!

I've unpacked those important safety tips for dog owners from my mind's closet and jotted them down so they're top of  mind as my dogs and I enjoy the great outdoors from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Here are my top Summer safety tips for dogs, most of which apply to dogs, cats and other pets you may bring along on outdoor adventures.

SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR DOGS

THE BEACH

I can't write about safety tips for dogs in the Summer without starting with the beach!  Dogs love the beach and so do their people, but it's important to keep dogs safe. There are some potential dangers for dogs at the beach.

➤ Dehydration is the first thing to worry about.  Bring lots of water along and make sure your pet stays well hydrated!

Take dogs to the beach before 10am or after sunset when the sand is cool.  Sand can easily scorch your pet's paws!  Be careful as you walk across asphalt or concrete parking lots, it can burn your pup's sensitive paws too.  You may want to carry your dog or put some pet booties on him.

The beach can be a great outing for you and your dog.  Here are some additional Beach safety tips for dogs.

TRAFFIC, NOT JUST CARS BUT PEOPLE TOO!

➤ Not only do you always need to be careful of your dog and car traffic, but in Summer watch out for Bicycles, Skate boards, and other things that keep people, especially kids, on the move along sidewalks or in parks.  Many dogs are afraid of skate boards and bicycles and will bark at or chase them as they whiz by.  This can be a danger to your pet as well as the person riding by them.  Try to get your dog used to bikes and skate boards, or any other contraption that might zoom by.  Create a positive association with these items and the people riding them for your dog, perhaps using some training exercises and treats.

➤ Speaking of kids, not every child knows how to properly approach or interact with a dog.  Don't be afraid to tell the child to wait until you know a parent is nearby or that the kid knows how to approach and interact with dogs.  As a Therapy Dog handler, I am always aware of this.  It's amazing but some kids have never been taught how to properly pet or treat a dog. I've had kids' hands get really close to Icy's eyes or mouth and I have to instruct them how to pet her, gently and along her side.

Icy is always running through the bushes & rolling in the grass in our yard.

FLEAS BITE, TICKS SUCK!

➤ Another danger pets face even more so in Summer (as well as Fall) are fleas and ticks!  Dogs love to run through bushes and tall grasses, swim in lakes and ponds, and lay in the dirt and wet sand.  Although they're a threat all year long, with Summer comes an increased risk of fleas and ticks.  Protection against fleas and ticks is an important aspect of pet health.  Tickborne diseases like Tick Fever (Anaplasmosis) can really make your dog sick!  There are many ways to keep your dog protected against fleas and ticks. I use Bravecto, an oral flea/tick medication, all year long to protect Icy and Phoebe.  

OTHER DOGS 

➤ Unfortunately, people often don't adhere to rules about keeping their dogs on leash.  Despite the fact that a park, campground, or hiking trail may have warning signs that all dogs must be leashed, there are always people who violate the rules.  This is one of my personal pet peeves.  I don't bring my dogs to off leash areas, other than one local dog park where I know many of the people and their dogs.  I'm always wary of loose dogs in public areas, and the all too familiar "Don't worry, he's friendly!" line that people who insist on letting their dogs run loose spew out.  You never know how any dog may react to your dog and vice versa.  Just like people, every dog is an individual and every situation is different.  

Make sure your dog has solid Leave It! and Emergency Recall training skills.  Be aware.  Please don't bring a reactive or skittish dog into an off leash area, it's so stressful for them.  Please keep your dog on leash if you're in an area where that is the rule.

THE GREEN GREEN GRASS & PESTICIDES

➤ Around here, it seems like gardeners are out nearly every day mowing, pruning, fertilizing and applying those nasty Pesticides!  Those dreaded tiny yellow signs on lawns that warn you dangerous pesticides have been applied make me cringe.  In fact, we got a letter last week from a company that sprays for mosquitoes.  Apparently, our neighbors are sick of the blood sucking mosquitoes we have in our area and have hired reinforcements.  The letter "recommends" that we keep our pets indoors for one hour after they have sprayed at our neighbor's house!  They also advise keeping our doors & windows shut during and after they've sprayed.  They plan to spray twice a month through September!  We do not look forward to that.

Phoebe loves to smell all the flowers in our yard and in other peoples' yards

WILDLIFE AND OTHER CRITTERS

➤ Wildlife is also out in droves all Summer long.  Critters from raccoons to squirrels, moles, deer, rabbits, frogs, birds, coyotes, opossums (yes, an opossum is the same thing as a possum!), and who knows what else may end  up in your yard, at parks, or on hiking trails!  

We had a possum that hung out behind our garage at night and Icy was so curious about him.  I worried because if cornered it could try to scratch your dog's face.  I didn't let her spend more than a couple of moments out there at night.  

Some wildlife may be aggressive and can potentially carry diseases. If your dog bites a wild animal, she could get infected with Leptospirosis or other diseases.  If your dog or cat gets bitten by any wild animal, you should call your Veterinarian right away.  

Keep these safety tips for dogs and other pets in mind as you enjoy the Summer!!

Do you know of any other pet safety tips for Summer ?  Please leave us a comment & share, we always LOVE hearing from you!

HOW THE LEAVE IT COMMAND CAN RESTORE HARMONY IN YOUR HOME

Sometimes I listen to people describe life with pets in their household and it sounds like pure chaos!  They go to great lengths to keep the dog away from the cat, the toddler, the hamster, the guests, and who knows what else.   They live life skillfully orchestrating mealtime, walks, and family time like it's a stealth mission.

Does this sounds like your household, or the home of someone you know?  Want to get back some sanity?  Well, let me introduce you to the all powerful LEAVE IT command. 

The Leave It! command restored harmony in our home and enabled Icy and Maggie to co-exist peacefully

CATS ARE IRRESISTIBLE

When we first got Icy she was about 14 weeks old.  She was your typical rambunctious puppy, getting into everything and curious about everything and everyone.  The everyone included Maggie, our senior Calico cat.  Maggie was 14 years old at the time and the only pet in our home, when this bull-in-a-china-shop puppy came barreling into her peaceful life.  Needless to say, Maggie was NOT amused.

Icy was enthralled with Maggie from the moment she laid eyes on her.  All she wanted was to play with the little furry toy that  moved all by itself!  She wouldn't leave poor Maggie alone.  Icy was getting bigger by the day and things quickly spiraled out of control.  They couldn't be in the same room without Icy desperately trying to chase after Maggie and Maggie skittering away from her like a bat out of hell. 

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

All we wanted was for Icy and Maggie to co-exist peacefully.  We wanted to watch TV in the family room together without Icy bothering Maggie.  Was that too much to ask?  

Our PetSmart trainer, Ricky, introduced us to the Leave It command and it changed our lives!  It took time and effort, but we finally got to the point where Icy would leave Maggie alone.  The first time we all sat in the living room together watching TV, with Maggie on the couch and Icy laying peacefully on the floor beneath her was a joyous moment indeed.  From then on we all lived happily & peacefully together.  What a relief!

My sweet girl Maggie, relaxing on the couch

The Leave It command can be useful in getting your dog to leave another pet alone, such as a cat or hamster, leave your children alone, and not lunge at guests when they enter your home.   It's useful when food drops on the floor, if your dog spies something unsavory in the street, or if they spot an animal in the yard or another dog on a walk.

When Icy was a puppy, she spotted an apple core in the street on a walk and quickly grabbed it.  She began to choke and my husband, quick thinker that he is, reached in and pried it out of her mouth.  Now we use the Leave It command whenever she sticks her nose where it shouldn't be during our walks.  We use it when walking by other dogs as well to ensure she ignores the other dog.

HOW TO TEACH A DOG THE LEAVE IT COMMAND:

>  Start with treats.  Keep your dog, preferably on leash, about 4 feet away and drop a treat on the floor.

> As the treat falls to the floor, firmly say "LEAVE IT" !

> When your dog lunges for the treat say "AH, AH!!" and cover the treat with your hand. Your dog will likely try to get it out of your hand but firmly say AH, AH! (or NO! if you prefer) and don't let him get the treat.

> When he finally stops trying to get the treat, mark that behavior with a YES! or Click if you use a clicker for training.   
  
> Reward the behavior of not trying to get the treat by giving him a treat.  Ideally, you should treat with another treat from your hand rather than give up the one you dropped on the floor.

> Keep repeating this, dropping the treat closer to the dog as he progresses by leaving the treat alone.

> Keep practicing until your dog gets it and doesn't lunge for the treat you drop on the floor closer and closer to him.  

> Practice by dropping treats on the floor in a line and walking your dog past them, while he's on leash so you can keep control.

Give the Leave It command as you start the walk, say it again if needed.  Reward him for not trying to grab the treats on the floor with a treat from your hand at the end of the line of treats.  

If you need to pull him away to keep him from lunging for the treats on the floor that is NOT success.  Don't reward him for that, just keep trying until he learns to leave the treats alone and not try to grab them.

> Ultimately, you should be able to place a treat on his paw while he's sitting or lying down and he won't try to grab it when you give the Leave It command.  Be sure to give the command really early, right before you place the treat on his paw or as you place it on his paw.  

Be prepared to grab the treat away the first couple of times until he learns not to try to get the treat until you let him know he can take the treat.  Give him the OK or Take It command to let him know that now he can reach for the treat on his paw and savor his success!

> Once he gets it reliably, progress to training Leave It with other objects like toys you walk him passed on leash, and a toy you toss in front of him.

There are many reasons to teach your dog to Leave It  We use this command constantly.  This is what makes Leave It one of my favorite and most important obedience commands. It could actually save your dog's life when your dog tries to get at something that's dangerous to him.

Have you used the Leave It command?  Tell us how it's helped your dog.  If you haven't taught it to your dog yet, could the Leave It! command help you restore some peace in your home?  Leave us a comment, we always want to know what you think!

DOG TRAINING TIP: An Emergency Recall Can Save Your Dog's Life

How many times a day do you call your dog?  "Here, Phoebe!"  "Phoebe, come!"  You call them when it's mealtime, you call them to go for a walk or get in the car, you call them back to you when they're off leash, you call them to stop tip toeing through your flowers or to come sit with you on the couch.  "Phoebe come back here, get away from those flowers!"

After awhile your everyday dog training Recall command may lose it's sense of urgency.  In an urgent scenario, your typical "Come" training command for dogs may not be strong enough.  Let's say an irresistible squirrel is perched on your front lawn, taunting your poor dog.  As you open the door to retrieve the mail, your dog door dashes and lays chase!  The offending squirrel then dashes across the street with your precious pooch in hot pursuit, just as a car is careening down your street!  You call him to you frantically, but your dog has tuned you and your boring "Come!" command out.  It's a disaster in the making.

For situations like that, it's critical to have an Emergency Recall Command in addition to your everyday Come! recall command.  The difference is that teaching your dog an Emergency Recall Command in addition to your regular Come When Called command makes the emergency recall command one that is reserved for more extreme situations like a speeding car or a vicious dog approaching.  My Emergency Recall Command for Icy and Phoebe is  "DANGER, DANGER!!".  Whatever my dogs are doing, wherever they happen to be, they stop and immediately come running.  Why?  Because they know that along with those two magical words comes delicious.... BACON!  It is the only time my dogs ever get bacon or bacon flavored anything.   That makes bacon their most highly valued treat.   They come running because they never know when they might ever get that delicious bacon again.

Icy is enthralled with whatever lurks behind the garage.  Don't ask me why, personally I think it's kind of gross back there.  She is always reluctant to come out, and sometimes I need to call her a couple of times before she'll emerge.  It's a great opportunity to practice our Emergency Recall training.  In the video above, you can see how she responds to my Emergency Recall.

I never use the Emergency Recall unless I'm reinforcing that particular dog training command, and of course if there's an urgent situation.  Thankfully, I only had one urgent situation, when Icy got loose as I dropped her off for boarding.  In a nano-second, she ran and was barreling towards the door to the parking lot!  I quickly yelled our Emergency Recall Command, "DANGER, DANGER!!", stopping Icy in her tracks, sending her running back toward me. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and nearly bit off the head of the poor employee for letting her slip out of his grasp.

Training your dog to respond to an Emergency Recall Command is just like teaching any other command.  Find one thing you can use as a super high value reward that you will only use for Emergency Recall. A treat, a toy, whatever will seriously float your dog's boat. 

An emergency recall is one of my dogs most valuable obedience commands.

Your command can be anything at all.  Just make it a unique word or phrase you won't use for anything else, and one your dog isn't likely to hear from other people.  It should be short, one or two words.  Say your Emergency Recall Command and immediately reward your dog with the high value reward you've chosen.  Do this a number of times until your dog gets it.  Continue practicing in various places where there are distractions.  Once it's solid, continue to reinforce the training with your dog every now and then to ensure he remembers it.  Don't practice too often, keep it special and unique.

Does your dog have an Emergency Recall Command? What do you think about having an Emergency Recall Command, separate from your daily Come command?  Leave us a comment, we always want to hear your thoughts!