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!

PIN THIS!

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!

JULY 4th STRIKES TERROR IN MANY DOGS, HERE'S WHAT TO DO

4th of July weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for animal shelters. Many dogs and cats act unpredictably out of fear. That's one reason why an enormous number of pets get lost over July 4th weekend and shelters fill up! 

Nooooo Fireworks, please!

4th of July Fireworks can be Terrifying for Dogs and Cats

Virtually nothing bothered my little dog Phoebe.  My dog Icy on the other hand, is terrified of thunder and fireworks!  July 4th is around the corner.  If your dog is anything like Icy, you're already creating a plan of action to avoid your dog going Bonkers over the fireworks.

Here's a wonderful Info-Graphic the folks at K9 Of Mine sent me to share with all of you. Download it, Print it out & tape it to the fridge, Pin it, Tweet it, and Share it with other parents of dogs in the I HATE FIREWORKS club!

THANKS TO K9 OF MINE FOR THIS WONDERFUL PET SAFETY INFO GRAPHIC!



Poor Icy, she's a total train wreck during fireworks. But Phoebe? She was fearless!

If your pet, or the pet of someone you know gets lost over 4th of July weekend, follow these tips to Act Now and Get Them Back Home!

Are your pets afraid of Fireworks?  How will you keep them safe over 4th of July weekend?  Leave us a comment and share!

DOG SAFETY AT THE BEACH

On a warm and sunny Summer day, what's more fun than a day at the beach with your dog? 



A beautiful day at the Montauk Lighthouse beach, but Watch Out! there could be dangerous breakers ahead!

Dogs love to frolic along the seashore with their faithful humans at their side.  Along with all the exciting stuff to discover along the shore are dangers to watch out for so keep dog safety at the beach in mind.

During a beautiful romp along the dog friendly beach at the Montauk Lighthouse, we discovered one such shoreline danger. 



My husband and my dog found a dangerous stray length of fishing line with a two pronged hook and weight attached

Knick Knack Paddy Whack, Why I Won't Give My Dog A Bone

KNICK KNACK PADDY WHACK DON'T GIVE THE DOG A BONE!!

We often hear how dangerous rawhide can be for dogs.  If the dog swallows a sizable piece of rawhide it can get stuck in their esophagus, intestines, or elsewhere along their digestive tract.  There is also the potential for bacterial contamination due to the processing of many rawhide products.



Icy and Phoebe are eagerly anticipating the leftovers from our steak dinner

Likewise, we're told not to give our dogs cooked steak bones or chicken bones.  Cooked bones are more brittle, increasing the risk of the bones splintering or getting stuck in their esophagus, windpipe, intestines, or stomach.  Dogs can choke on these bones if they swallow a large piece.  Pieces of the bone can potentially splinter inside the dogs body and puncture holes along their intestine or in their stomach.  

I've often given my dogs leftover bones on the rare occasions we have steak for dinner.  I monitor them closely and take the bones away after they've picked them clean of meat.  I thought that was okay.  I thought I was being cautious enough.  That is, until a very scary incident occurred one night after one of our steak dinners.



Cooked bones can pose a danger to dogs.  They can splinter or get stuck in their throat or along the intestinal tract.

We had given Icy and Phoebe our leftover prime rib dinner bones.  They were in doggie heaven as they chewed & chomped away on their bones, picking them clean of all traces of meat.  I kept a close eye on them and took the bones away after the meat was picked clean. 

Later that night I heard Icy gagging and she threw up.  Upon close inspection, I found that she had regurgitated the small piece of bone pictured here.  My heart stopped for a second.  What if she had choked on that piece of bone?  What if that piece of bone got stuck in her intestine and caused a puncture?? 

I was shocked, I thought I was monitoring them so closely.  Apparently not.  I'm grateful Icy threw that jagged piece of bone up, rather than have it get stuck in somewhere in her body.  That could have been tragic.

So that's why,  Knick Knack Paddy Whack, I'll never give my dogs a cooked bone again!  And neither should you - learn from my mistake. 

Winter Safety Tip For Pets

If you live in a warm climate, you may think you don't need to be concerned about Winter Safety for your dog or cat.  Not true, especially if you travel to colder climes with your pet!  Ever head up to the mountains for the weekend?

Beautiful view from the car traveling through New Mexico

We live in Phoenix Arizona but we travel quite extensively with our 2 dogs.  I recently had a Pet Winter Safety scare I wasn't prepared for during our trip back to Phoenix from the East coast. 

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!