How To Greet A Dog For The First Time

August 25, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Politely Greeting a Dog

Greet a Dog — innervisionpro/Adobe Stock

As a dog lover, it’s hard to resist a furry face. The moment I see a dog or puppy, I suddenly stop in my tracks and grin from ear to ear. As I adore the dog from afar, I fight the urge to run up and pet the darling. Yes, my dog trainer self steps in and immediately reminds my dog lover side that not all dogs like to greet people and other dogs. So, I smile and walk away. It’s the best thing for the dog.

Within the dog world, polite greetings have recently changed. Instead of approaching a dog, and holding out your closed fist for a sniff, there’s a safer way to greet a dog for the first time. Not only is this greeting safer for people, but it’s also much safer for and more respectful to dogs.

What’s the Big Deal About Petting Dogs?

Many dogs strongly dislike greeting strangers; it’s just their personality. When people greet dogs, they walk straight over and start petting them. While some dogs love greetings, many dogs find greetings uncomfortable due to unwanted physical contact.

Many fearful dogs try backing away, but their leash prevents them from moving, so dogs learn to bite to stop greetings. Think about it this way: Would you be comfortable having complete strangers walk over and pat your head? That’s exactly how some dogs feel, so respect their personal space.

When Greeting a Dog for the First Time

When you see a darling dog, stand still and don’t make eye contact with the dog. Look over at the pet owner and ask if you can pet her dog. Pet owners who listen to their dog’s choices will promptly let admirers know their dog is not comfortable with greetings.

The pet owner may say “My dog is not friendly” or “He will jump on you.” If that’s the case, respect the pet owner’s decision to not allow greetings. Trying to convince a pet owner that you’re a dog wizard will only make the situation awkward. Just say, “Your dog is gorgeous, and I admire you for standing by your dog’s choices.”

Let the Dog Choose to Greet

If a pet owner agrees to let her dog meet you, it’s important to ask the dog first. Let the dog make the first move while you stand still. If a dog moves toward you, let the dog walk toward you and sniff your legs and shoes. Don’t bend over and pet the dog; instead bend down and let the dog greet you first.

When petting a dog, rub his chest slowly and ask the pet owner if you can give her dog a treat. Slowly stand back up, while chatting with the pet owner, and let the dog continue to sniff you.

If the dog chooses to ignore or walk away from you, respect the dog’s decision. Just say, “It’s okay, I can adore you from over here.” Forcing close physical contact will only frighten the dog even more, and he will learn humans are unpredictable. Just stand still and make light of the situation, and know you taught a fearful dog that people can be trusted. 🙂

As dog lovers, it’s so important to make good impressions, especially to all dogs.

7 Tips for Bringing Your Dog to the Beach

July 7, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Beach Tips for Dogs

Bringing Your Dog to the Beach — tpetersson3/Adobe Stock

Summertime means fun in the sun, so why not bring your dog too? Beach vacations provide plenty of opportunities to relax in the sand, splash in the ocean, work on your suntan and spend precious time with your dog. To ensure your beach vacation is enjoyable for both you and your dog, check out these tips for bringing your dog to the beach.

1. Check If Your Dog Likes the Beach

Before planning an amazing beach getaway with your dog, make sure she likes walking in sand and water. While it may seem like all dogs love the beach, some dogs really don’t like sand and water at all.

If you’re not sure, take a half-day trip to a local dog beach or lake, and try it out first. Over the last two decades, only two of my dogs enjoyed swimming while the other six refused to step one foot in the water. If your dog loves to swim and frolic on a sandy beach, then start planning your dog-friendly beach getaway now!

2. Beware of Loose Dogs

Most dog-friendly beaches allow dogs to play off-leash, which can become an issue quickly. Dog park-type beaches are not the safest place for dogs, as many are allowed to bully dogs.

More than 90% of my dog aggressive clients have been bullied at dog parks, and now we need to address the issue. If your dog is not dog-friendly, or you would rather skip a dog beach, then find a secluded dog beach vacation spot where dogs walk on-leash.

3. Use a Long Leash

Speaking of leashes, it’s best to use a long leash (10-foot) and harness to keep your dog safe during beach walks. Your dog can still swim with the safety equipment on, but you’ll be able to pull her back to shore if she swims out too far or waves become rough. While it’s cute to imagine your dog chasing seagulls, many dogs run away and get hurt chasing animals and birds. Leashes are safety lines, so keep your dog safe.

4. Beware of Hot Sand

Hot sand is painful—very painful. If a surface is too hot for you to stand on, then it’s too hot for your dog too. Carry your dog to wet sandy areas to prevent paw burns. Or place rubber bottom booties on large dog paws until you reach your shaded beach lounging spot. Check your dog’s paw pads frequently for burns or irritations from sea creatures or salt water.

5. Provide Shade & Water

It’s hot sitting on a beach, so provide plenty of shade for your dog. Bring a large umbrella, a cooling pad (keep it in an ice-packed cooler), and frozen food stuffed Kongs. Bring a gallon or more of cold water and keep it in your cooler.

Offer your dog cold water often, and keep his water bowl in the shade. Limit your dog’s sun exposure. If your dog starts panting excessively, cool him down with cold water, leave the beach ASAP and find the closest veterinary clinic.

6. Don’t Forget Sunscreen

Short-coated breeds, or freshly shaven dogs, will need sunscreen. Purchase a chemical-free sunscreen with at least 30 SPF and apply often per directions. If your dog swims, choose a waterproof chemical-free sunscreen for maximum protection. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen liberally on your dog’s ear tips, nose and paws!

7. Rinse With Clean Fresh Water

Once back home or in your hotel, wash your dog with a gentle dog shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Sand embedded in hair scratches and irritates skin, which can cause rashes and hot spots. In addition, salt water can damage your dog’s coat. As a best practice, wash and rinse your dog twice, then rinse again.

Enjoy your dog-friendly beach vacay!

Natural Ways To Dispose Of Dog Poop

June 23, 2017 by Fanna Easter

What to Do With Dog Poop

Dog poop. It’s part of sharing our homes with dogs. No one likes to talk about it unless his dog poops in the house, but it’s important to discuss given that there are 60 million homes in the US that have dogs.

So, what should you do with a backyard full of dog poop? Most pet owners throw it away in the trash, or mow over it hoping it disappears into the dirt. If you’re trying to figure out what to do with dog poop, try these easy and natural ideas for disposing it.

Dog Septic Tank

The idea of using a dog septic tank is a highly controversial solution for discarding dog poop. Many experts feel dog poop septic tanks can contaminate waterways and that landfills are the only way to dispose of dog poop. Other experts believe dog septic systems are a natural and “green” way of disposing fecal matter that also minimizes landfill space. With little data to support either side, setting up a dog septic system becomes a personal preference.

If you share your home with one or two dogs, or have several small dogs, then installing a dog poop septic system just might work for you. Dog poop septic tanks are available online. To install a dog septic tank, dig a hole and fit the plastic container inside it.

There’s also a DIY version for handy pet owners who don’t want to spend a couple hundred dollars (the good ones cost about $200). Once installed, continue to add a steady supply of enzymes (available at home improvement stores) to help break down your dog’s fecal matter. Dog poop will break down faster in warmer climates, so adjust the amount of enzymes as needed for your area.

Poop Scooping Business

One thing is for sure and that’s ignoring dog poop doesn’t work. Dog poop attracts unwanted insects, it stinks and no one wants a poopy shoe. If you’re busy and you don’t want to worry about safely disposing of your dog’s poop, then hire a dog poop scooping business to pick up dog poop for you.

These businesses offer weekly, bi-weekly and monthly yard cleanup. Plus, they can address urine lawn burns. These folks are professional and disinfect between homes to minimize any cross-contamination. Many pet owners are thrilled with this service and highly recommend it, so this is certainly an option for disposing of dog poop.

Landfills

One thing is for sure, it’s best to pick up and remove dog fecal matter daily. Pick up your dog’s poop during walks, and mostly importantly, pick up fecal matter from your backyard, regardless of your dog’s size. Dog feces attracts bugs, it stinks and it can resemble appetizers for some dogs, especially if undigested particles are present. Pick up and dump fecal matter into a bag, and dispose during weekly garage pickup.

How do you dispose of your dog’s poop?

Keeping Your Dog Safe During Fireworks Season

June 14, 2017 by Fanna Easter

8 Survival Tips for Dogs Afraid of Fireworks

Dog Afraid of Fireworks — alex9500/Adobe Stock

As July approaches, it’s time to start planning for fireworks season. Unfortunately, these loud and scary sounds will usually erupt before 4^th of July and can randomly last until after Memorial Day. Then, of course, fireworks return for New Year’s. If you have a dog afraid of fireworks, then follow these tips to ensure he’s comfortable and safe!

1. Choose a Safe Room

If your dog is scared of fireworks, plan to stay home during loud firework displays. However, if your neighbor randomly decides to pop fireworks in front of your home, or you plan to attend firework festivities, you’ll need to rethink a few things.

If you’re staying at home during firework displays

Keep your dog in a safe room that has limited views of the fireworks outside. Join your dog and have a camp out in a back room, and watch Netflix movies.

If you’re leaving your dog home alone

Choose a secure room with a door that can be closed. Bathrooms are usually a bit too small, so choose a back room with a bed and couch and preferably with a TV to drown out sounds.

Start practicing this now, and reward your dog for relaxing in this room while you’re away. Feed food stuffed toys only when your dog is alone in this room, so he learns that good things happen in his safe room.

Every day, feed your dog’s meals (stuffed in a puzzle toy) in the room until your dog is comfortable relaxing in there for a couple of hours. Your dog should eventually learn to enjoy walking into his safe room because he knows good things will happen.

2. Drown Out Sounds

Dogs will usually react to loud popping sounds of fireworks, so it’s important to drown out these sounds. Calming music is nice, but it’s just not loud enough. Instead, use a noise machine to block out the sounds of fireworks.

For maximum sound blockage, pair a box fan with the sound machine. Put the sound machine on low-medium volume and turn the box fan all the way up. Bring your dog into his safe room and condition your dog to these sounds.

3. Block Out Flashes of Light

Sudden flashes of firework lights can freak some dogs out, so close blinds and drapes. If a window does not have drapes, cover it with a thick blanket to block out any firework flashes. Again, introduce your dog to this new item while conditioning your dog to his safe room.

4. Use Anxiety Medication

Sometimes, dog anxiety medication is needed. If you have a dog afraid of fireworks, your dog is most likely having a panic attack. Many dogs get so stressed around fireworks they will have seizures—it’s that serious. If your dog panics, then ask your veterinarian for a sedative for your dog. Remember, steer clear of acepromazine, as this sedative can make the problem worse.

5. Use Thundershirts & Pressure Wraps

Thundershirts and pressure wraps both work well, but pressure wraps alone won’t work. You need to take a multi-prong approach when keeping your anxious dog comfortable during fireworks. To be effective, pressure wraps should fit snugly on your dog, but not too tight. Practice wrapping your dog before fireworks season starts.

Only use a Thundershirt if you’re leaving your dog home alone; that way your dog can break away if the Thundershirt gets caught onto something.

6. Consider Pheromones

Yes, calming pheromones do work, but it’s not a cure-all. Again, it’s important to take a combination approach. Spray your dog’s bedding with Adaptil or plug in a diffuser about a week before fireworks begin. Calming pheromones will calm your dog because it mimics the pheromones of a nursing mother dog.

7. Bring Your Dog Potty on Leash

Before it gets dark, bring your dog outside and potty on leash. Even if you have a securely fenced-in yard, fireworks can freak out a dog, which can cause him to bolt out of the backyard.

Believe me, scared dogs can scale a 6-foot fence and scurry under holes, so walk your dog with a 3- to 6-foot leash (no retractable leashes). Still don’t think your dog can escape your backyard during fireworks season? Animal shelters are flooded with dogs on July 5^th—it’s their busiest time of the year. Be safe and leash your dog.

8. Update ID and Microchip

Make sure your dog is wearing ID tags during potty breaks. If you’re leaving your dog home alone, always remove his collar or attach a break-away collar with ID tags. Please, if your dog is not already microchipped, do so before fireworks season starts. Then, register the microchip, so your dog can easily be found if something scary should happen.

By combining each tip, you and your dog can enjoy a stress-free fireworks season ahead.

What You’ll Need To Fly With A Small Dog In-Cabin

June 9, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Flying With a Small Dog In-Cabin

When traveling, it’s nice to bring your small dog along for the adventure. But before flying with a small dog in-cabin, there’s a bit of planning that should be done at least two months prior to your flight. If you plan to fly with a small dog, such as a puppy, follow these tips before boarding the plane.

Airline-Approved Pet Carrier

Two to three months before purchasing flight tickets, you should check each airline’s pet policies. Ensure your dog meets size and weight restrictions to fly, then purchase an airline-approved small dog carrier that you can bring with you on the plane.

A dog should be able to lie down, stand up and rest comfortably inside a small dog carrier. If the pet carrier is too small, you will be turned away during check-in, so double-check beforehand.

In the past, I’ve had excellent results with Sherpa and SleepyPod pet carriers, and both are airline-approved. Just to be safe, contact the airline directly and ask if these brands or the carrier brand of your choice meets the airline’s pet carrier restrictions.

Dog Training Skills

For a safe and stress-free flight, it’s important to teach your dog a few valuable skills. Even small dogs flying inside the cabin should learn a few dog training skills before a flight. It’s not very pleasant traveling with a barking dog on a plane filled with strangers. Check out these tips on teaching a dog to enjoy flying.

Health Certificate

Depending on where you’re traveling, your dog may need a health certificate from a veterinarian. You should get your dog’s health certificate either 30 days or 5 days before a flight, depending on an individual airline’s restrictions. A health certificate verifies your dog is in good health and is up-to-date on vaccinations before traveling. Bring the original health certificate that is signed by your veterinarian to the airport.

Items to Bring

You should always have the following on hand and in easy access when traveling with your dog, especially inside the cabin:

Veterinary health certificate
Six-foot leash (no retractable leashes)
Plastic water bowl
Bottle of water
Snacks
Paper towels

Your dog should wear a collar with up-to-date ID tags, and have an updated microchip. Several canine pheromone brands sell pheromone-scented towelettes, which are lightweight and super easy to transport. Grab a few and tuck into your purse or bag. Pheromones will keep your dog calm during a bumpy flight, so lightly wipe inside your dog’s carrier.

What You Should Not Do

Flying with a small dogs in-cabin is becoming increasingly popular. So much so airlines are complaining about inappropriate pet owner and dog behavior. Here are a few reminders, so please plan ahead.

No Fake Service Dogs: Please don’t register your dog as a service dog unless he or she has been specifically trained. Airplanes are packed with fake service dogs lately, and it’s causing quite a commotion due to passenger complaints. If you fly with your dog (non-service dog), follow polices and procedures for all pets and not service dogs.

Never Walk Your Dog Through the Airport: Keep your dog inside his or her carrier. Walking your leashed dog through an airport is asking for trouble. Airports are packed with people moving really fast, and small dogs can easily become injured by suitcase wheels and shoes. I recently witnessed a small dog bite a child while walking past her in a super busy airport.

Keep Your Dog Inside the Carrier During the Flight: Per airline restrictions require dogs to be inside their carriers at all times. If your dog becomes sick, pick up the pet carrier and bring it inside the bathroom. From there, you can remove your dog to clean up any mess.

Plan ahead, teach your dog valuable skills and safe travels!