Halloween is a fun human holiday, but it can be scary and dangerous for pets. Here are some things to be aware of as All Hallow's Eve draws near.
Costumes are not for most pets. Some pets are real hams and enjoy being dressed up, but most animals are much happier "naked". If your pet is happy to wear a costume, make sure that it doesn't restrict normal movements, breathing or vision. Your pet should be able to do all the things he or she normally can do, such as barking, panting, meowing and drinking. Also make sure that there are no dangling bits that can be chewed off, because the last thing you want is to have to take your pet in for surgery to remove an intestinal blockage!
Another note on costumes ... some pets are nervous of people who are in costume, so remember that if your dog seems afraid or concerned, let them have the space they need.
I am a huge fan of using treats to train pets, but Halloween treats are at best unhealthy and at worst fatal. Chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs. Some treats may contain xylitol, which is also toxic to dogs -- it is often found in sugar-free candies.
Halloween decorations can also be problematic ... the cobwebby stuff that many people use can cause life-threatening digestive conditions if swallowed. As can corn cobs! A friend of mine lost one of her dogs after she ate a corn cob during barbeque season, so take care with them, too.
Electrical cords and candles can also pose a danger.
Your pet will likely be happier to be put away for the night -- the chaos of the doorbell ringing, costumed invaders appearing, and fireworks can all be very stressful for pets. Find a quiet contained place where your pet can enjoy a meaty bone or stuffed Kong, and perhaps consider playing the radio or the television to mask the noise of the night.
Many shelters are overwhelmed with missing pets around Halloween -- panic can cause even the most well-trained and bonded animals to flee. Make sure your pets all have identification that will make it easier for them to be reunited with you. And try to make sure that your pet is securely confined; leaving pets outside on Halloween is not a good idea! If your pet is not secured in another room, be super cautious that he or she doesn't dart outside when you're opening the door to give out treats. Having a baby gate to block the front door is a good idea, as is putting your dog on a leash and attaching it to something solid.
Remember that Halloween is a human holiday, not an animal one, and keep your pets safe this weekend! Have fun, and stay safe!
Other resources:
Here is the ASPCA's Halloween tip sheet.
Tips from the veterinary medicine section of about.com.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
10 Life-Threatening Behaviour Myths in Dogs
This is a fantastic article by Valerie V. Tynes (that can be handed out to clients) about behaviour myths in dogs. Some of these myths literally cost dogs their lives; they certainly impact the quality of life of many, many others. How many of these myths do you believe? Check out the article, and learn what the truth is!
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Gift of the Growl
Here is a wonderful article by Pat Miller that explains why we should never punish a dog for growling. The growl is a gift; it is information for us on what the dog is feeling. She also talks about what to do if your dog growls at something. This information is so important! If a dog is punished for growling, you will eventually have a dog that bites without any warning whatsoever, and that is much more dangerous than a growling dog.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Free house training guide from Dr. Sophia Yin
As you have noticed, I think Dr. Sophia Yin is fabulous. She has just released one of the chapters of her upcoming book, Perfect Puppy in 7 Days; it deals with how to house train a puppy. This guide to potty training is free, and excellent! You have to download it, and you can't print it, but it's still a fantastic resource.
Bite prevention
So, it's been forever since I posted, and I apologize.
It's the end of Bite Prevention Week, so I thought I'd share some related resources.
This is the first part of a series on meeting a new dog, and how to judge the body language that you see. This article talks about the "green light", or go ahead, signals that tell you that a dog wants to be greeted by you. Here is the second part, which talks about "red light", or signals that should tell you to stop and be careful; this dog probably doesn't want you to greet him/her. Here is the third part, which talks about some more red light signals. I really like that the author (Casey Lomonaco) talks about how we need to ask permission twice before we meet a new dog: first from the owner/guardian, and second from the dog. If we see red light signals, that is the dog's way of telling us to back off. The final part of this series talks about how to greet a new dog, assuming you get the green light!
Dr. Sophia Yin also has some great bite prevention resources at her website. These resources are all free, and include a PSA (public service announcement), a poster called The Body Language of Fear in Dogs, an article about how dogs bite when people greet them inappropriately, a poster of how to greet dogs appropriately, and some other articles about bite prevention.
There is also the classic site, doggonesafe.com, which is dedicated to bite prevention and teaching children how to be safe around dogs.
There are a ton of other resources out there on preventing dog bites, how to greet dogs appropriately and safely, and how to read dog body language. I would really encourage everyone to learn everything you can; dogs don't really bite "out of the blue", there are almost always signs that the dog is uncomfortable and wanting you to leave him/her alone.
It's the end of Bite Prevention Week, so I thought I'd share some related resources.
This is the first part of a series on meeting a new dog, and how to judge the body language that you see. This article talks about the "green light", or go ahead, signals that tell you that a dog wants to be greeted by you. Here is the second part, which talks about "red light", or signals that should tell you to stop and be careful; this dog probably doesn't want you to greet him/her. Here is the third part, which talks about some more red light signals. I really like that the author (Casey Lomonaco) talks about how we need to ask permission twice before we meet a new dog: first from the owner/guardian, and second from the dog. If we see red light signals, that is the dog's way of telling us to back off. The final part of this series talks about how to greet a new dog, assuming you get the green light!
Dr. Sophia Yin also has some great bite prevention resources at her website. These resources are all free, and include a PSA (public service announcement), a poster called The Body Language of Fear in Dogs, an article about how dogs bite when people greet them inappropriately, a poster of how to greet dogs appropriately, and some other articles about bite prevention.
There is also the classic site, doggonesafe.com, which is dedicated to bite prevention and teaching children how to be safe around dogs.
There are a ton of other resources out there on preventing dog bites, how to greet dogs appropriately and safely, and how to read dog body language. I would really encourage everyone to learn everything you can; dogs don't really bite "out of the blue", there are almost always signs that the dog is uncomfortable and wanting you to leave him/her alone.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A Fearful Dog Speaks
A great post by Kevin Myers about some things to consider when dealing with a fearful dog. I suspect most people wind up with fearful dogs without knowing in advance what they are getting themselves into, or even that the dog in question is fearful. Kevin Myers really touches on some of the really important things to remember when working with a fearful dog.
We've seen quite a few fearful dogs lately at the training centre. Patience, as Kevin points out, is an absolute requirement. Fearful dogs, even more so than dogs generally, really benefit from routine. And a dog's fears are real for them, just like my fears are real for me. Anybody have a phobia of spiders, for instance? :)
Fear isn't necessarily rooted in a bad experience, either. I have an intense fear of mice, but nothing bad has ever happened to me involving a mouse. No attacks by crazed mice, no traumatic incident of any sort. I'm just terrified of them. So if a dog is afraid of men, or people in hats, or of the sound of thunder, for instance, it doesn't mean that dog has had a bad experience with men, or people in hats, or thunder. It might just be that the dog is afraid.
Of course, it might also be the case that the dog in question HAS had a bad experience with the object of it's fear. But quite often, we'll never know whether this is the case or not. And the way to deal with the fear is the same whether you know where it came from or not.
Kevin refers readers to Debbie Jacobs' fabulous website, www.fearfuldogs.com. I second that advice; Debbie's website is the place to start if you know a fearful dog.
We've seen quite a few fearful dogs lately at the training centre. Patience, as Kevin points out, is an absolute requirement. Fearful dogs, even more so than dogs generally, really benefit from routine. And a dog's fears are real for them, just like my fears are real for me. Anybody have a phobia of spiders, for instance? :)
Fear isn't necessarily rooted in a bad experience, either. I have an intense fear of mice, but nothing bad has ever happened to me involving a mouse. No attacks by crazed mice, no traumatic incident of any sort. I'm just terrified of them. So if a dog is afraid of men, or people in hats, or of the sound of thunder, for instance, it doesn't mean that dog has had a bad experience with men, or people in hats, or thunder. It might just be that the dog is afraid.
Of course, it might also be the case that the dog in question HAS had a bad experience with the object of it's fear. But quite often, we'll never know whether this is the case or not. And the way to deal with the fear is the same whether you know where it came from or not.
Kevin refers readers to Debbie Jacobs' fabulous website, www.fearfuldogs.com. I second that advice; Debbie's website is the place to start if you know a fearful dog.
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