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Keeping Your Pets Safe During 4th of July Fireworks Celebrations
Keeping Your Pets Safe During 4th of July Fireworks Celebrations The 4th of July is a time of celebration, marked by barbecues, parades, and fireworks. While these festivities are enjoyable for us, they can be a source of stress and danger for our pets. More pets go missing around and on the Fourth of July than any other holiday, says Arizona Humane Society. The loud noises, flashing lights, and general commotion can cause anxiety and fear in animals, leading to potential escape attempts or injury. Here are some essential tips to keep your furry friends safe and calm during Independence Day celebrations. 1. Create a Safe Space Before the fireworks begin, set up a quiet, comfortable area in your home where your pet can retreat. This could be a cozy corner of a room or a crate covered with a blanket to muffle the sounds. Make sure this space is stocked with their favorite toys, bedding, and some treats. 2. Keep Them Indoors Even if your pet is used to being outside, it's best to keep them indoors during fireworks. The unfamiliar noises and bright flashes can startle them, increasing the risk of them running away or getting injured. Ensure all doors, windows, and gates are securely closed to prevent any accidental escapes. 3. Use Calming Techniques There are various ways to help calm your pet during fireworks. Some pets respond well to background noise, such as playing soft music or turning on the television. You might also consider using pheromone diffusers or calming collars, which release natural scents that can help reduce anxiety. 4. Stay With Them If possible, stay home with your pets during the fireworks. Your presence can provide reassurance and comfort. Try to remain calm and composed, as pets can pick up on your emotions. Engage them with toys or activities to distract them from the noise outside. 5. Consult Your Veterinarian If your pet has a severe fear of fireworks, consult your veterinarian. They can provide advice on anxiety-reducing techniques and may prescribe medication if necessary. Never give your pet any medication without consulting a professional. 6. Ensure Proper Identification In case your pet does escape, it's crucial to have proper identification. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an up-to-date ID tag. Consider having them microchipped as an added precaution. This can significantly increase the chances of your pet being returned to you if they get lost. 7. Keep Hazardous Items Out of Reach Fireworks, sparklers, and other celebratory items can be dangerous if ingested by pets. Ensure that these items are stored out of reach and properly disposed of after use. 8. Plan Ahead Preparation is key. Start acclimating your pet to the sounds of fireworks well in advance by playing recordings at a low volume and gradually increasing it. This can help them become desensitized to the noise over time. Additionally, plan your day so that your pet has had plenty of exercise and mental stimulation before the evening’s festivities begin, which can help them feel more relaxed. Conclusion By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your pet stays safe and calm during the 4th of July celebrations. Remember, a little preparation and attention can go a long way in preventing stress and keeping your furry friend happy. Have a happy and safe Independence Day!
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No More Barking at the Mailman! Tips to Stop Unwanted Dog Behaviors
No More Barking at the Mailman! Tips to Stop Unwanted Dog Behaviors By Pauline Patterson Picture your morning disrupted by the familiar sound of your dog barking furiously at the mailman. It's a daily ritual that has the neighborhood birds scattering and leaves you scrambling to calm the chaos. It's not just the noise; it's the worry of what could happen if your dog's excitement ever tipped over the edge. Now, imagine a quiet morning when the mail arrives, and your dog simply wags their tail, acknowledging the mailman with a calm curiosity. That serene scenario is more plausible than you might think. With the right approach, transforming your dog from a fierce guardian of the mailbox into a composed companion is entirely achievable. So, buckle up! We're about to embark on a journey from mayhem to harmony. Ready to see how? Let’s dive in! Understanding Dog Behavior Dogs don't just bark at the mailman to disrupt your tranquil morning coffee; their reactions are complex, stemming from a mixture of instinct, emotion, and learned behavior. Recognizing and empathizing with the motives behind their actions is not just insightful; it's transformative in our approach to guidance and correction. Why Dogs Bark at the Mailman Territorial Instincts: Dogs are guardians of their territory by nature. The mailman's daily appearance at your doorstep is perceived as a potential threat, activating their instinct to protect and alert. Fear: It's not uncommon for dogs to bark out of fear. A stranger invading their perceived safe space can be daunting and trigger a defensive reaction to keep the intruder at bay. Excitement: For some dogs, the mailman's visit is the most exciting part of their day. This excitement can manifest in vocalizations as they express their eagerness and interest in this recurring visitor. Lack of Socialization: Dogs that have yet to be adequately exposed to various people and environments may have a heightened sensitivity to new or unfamiliar individuals, like the mail carrier. This lack of socialization can lead to more pronounced reactions to perceived intruders. Curiosity: Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and the mailman's regular visits present a mystery and novelty that sparks their interest. This curiosity can drive them to bark as they try to engage with or learn more about this frequent visitor. Communication: Barking at the mailman can also be a dog's way of communicating with its owner or an outsider. It's a method of signaling that something is happening or they have noticed someone approaching their home. Beyond Barking: Other Unwanted Behaviors More than the echo of incessant barking, dogs can exhibit many unwanted behaviors that challenge even the most patient pet owners. From destructive chewing and digging to aggression and jumping on guests, each action speaks volumes about their underlying needs and emotions. Understanding these behaviors is the first step toward addressing them effectively. Strategies for Preventing Unwanted Behaviors Prevention extends beyond halting negative actions; it encompasses cultivating an environment where your dog can flourish. This is paramount because the stress induced by such behaviors can cascade, affecting the welfare of other pets, particularly in a multi-pet household. This principle isn't confined to just furry companions; even other types of pets can be adversely affected. For example, the reasons your Betta fish passed away may occasionally be linked to the stressful environment fostered by the behaviors of other pets. Gradual Desensitization Start by exposing your dog to the trigger (in this case, the mailman) from a distance that doesn't cause them to react aggressively. Gradually decrease this distance, rewarding calm behavior with treats and praise. This method helps your dog associate the mailman's visits with positive outcomes rather than something to fear or get overly excited about. Create Positive Associations Whenever the mailman arrives, and your dog notices but doesn't bark, immediately reward them. This could be with their favorite treat, a toy, or verbal praise. Over time, your dog will learn that remaining calm and quiet rewards them, shifting their perspective on the mailman's visits. Engage in Mindful Interaction Be mindful of how your reactions to your dog's behavior can reinforce its actions. Calm, controlled responses can help model the behavior you wish to see in your dog. Avoid inadvertently encouraging excitement or stress by keeping greetings low-key and consistently rewarding calm behavior. Foster Social Skills in Controlled Settings Safely socializing your dog with other dogs and people in controlled environments can improve their reactions to strangers and new experiences. Consider small group classes or playdates with known, well-behaved dogs to enhance their social skills. Offer Structured Play and Interaction Structured playtime helps burn off excess energy and teaches your dog self-control and patience. Games that require waiting for a command to fetch or find not only entertain but also educate, instilling discipline and focus. Implement Routine Training Sessions Consistent training is crucial in managing any unwanted behavior. Use positive reinforcement techniques to teach commands like "quiet" or "sit." Dog training provides mental stimulation and strengthens the bond between you and your pet, making them more likely to listen to your commands. Block Visual Triggers If seeing the mailman triggers your dog's barking, try blocking their view. Use curtains, move furniture, or apply window film that makes it difficult for your dog to see outside when the mailman usually arrives. Without the visual trigger, your dog is less likely to react. Seek Professional Help Sometimes, even if you put in your best efforts, you may require additional assistance. If your dog's behavior is challenging, consider hiring a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can offer personalized strategies and training plans suited to your dog's specific needs. Wrapping Up Getting your dog to dial down the drama is about more than quick fixes. It's about patience, understanding, and sometimes a bit of professional wisdom. This journey is more than just stopping the barkfest; it’s about ensuring everyone in the house can live their best life. So, keep at it with love and patience, and don't be shy about asking for help. Here's to a happier, more peaceful home for all your furry and finned friends! About The Author Pauline Patterson is a passionate writer who loves delving into the deep connection between people and their pets. Focusing on pet-centered stories, she aims to educate and motivate readers to care for their furry companions with her engaging and informative writing.
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Going Back to Work? 8 Ways to Help Prepare Your Dogs
Going Back to Work? 8 Ways to Help Prepare Your Dogs By Dorothy Wills-Raftery Are you looking at returning to the workforce? Maybe you were out on maternity/paternity leave, or you were working from home for the past few years, or maybe you are just entering the work world outside of your home for the first time. Whatever your reason, if you have dogs, you are probably having some trepidations about leaving them and concerned about how they will get along in your absence. Will they miss you? Will they be sad? Will they be destructive? Can you get someone to walk them? Should you crate or gate them? While part of you may be looking forward to “getting back out there,” there is also a huge concern of how it may affect your dogs who once had all of your attention on a daily basis. As with most things, dogs are smart and catch on quick. And contrary to the old adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” we actually can. But it is all in how it is done. To help dogs adjust, it takes—in a word—preparation. Here’s a few tips to help prepare you and your dog adjust to a new schedule that includes you not being home full-time: 1. All Aboard—Getting Everyone on the New Schedule If you know what your new hours will be, do some test runs. If you need to change up their potty breaks, breakfast and dinner times, start doing so. If you work near your residence, maybe you can zip home during your lunch break, and what a terrific way to check on your dog and still take him/her out. If you work too far to visit at noon, see if you can have a family member/friend/neighbor/dog walker come by for the mid-afternoon break and potty run. By initiating the new schedule earlier than needed, it will give you and your dog time to adjust so when you start work, they will be used to the new format. 2. What About Medications? Having a Siberian Husky diagnosed with epilepsy, medication schedules were very important for me to set up and adhere to. If your dog requires specifically timed medications, and they are different than what your new work schedule will be, begin over a period of time adjusting their administration times so it works for their dosage instructions and your new schedule. Sudden medication changes can possibly adversely affect a dog, so be sure to back up/extend the time gradually over a few days to a week so it is not a sudden change for your dog. 3. To Crate or Not to Crate That is always a big question. Naturally, if your dogs are crate trained, then everything will be status quo. If this is something new…try it out. Get them a nice crate pad or dog blanket, too. If your dog has anxiety when crated, then close off an area for them (baby gates are great for this) and make it their safe area that includes a nice bed, a few of their favorite toys, and always fresh water. If your dog is fine with the run of the house, then that’s cool, too. You can treat them to a nice new comfy blanket for their favorite spot, whether it be on the sofa, bed, or floor! 4. Peek-a-Boo, I See You! A great peace of mind for a dog parent who is looking at now working outside of the home is to install a video camera, whether separate or through your home’s alarm system. There are also some that are two-way, meaning you can not only see your dog in your home, but also talk to them through the video/alarm system app. (There’s one where you can even dispense treats!) Some dogs, however, may get overexcited at hearing their person’s voice, and that could be confusing or upsetting. We all know our own dogs, so use your best judgement. If your dog does get overexcited, it may be best to just silently peep in on them. 5. Visit the Vet A good idea is to have your veterinarian check out your dog before such a big change is initiated. It’s good to be sure there are no underlying health issues that could be exacerbated by them being left home. Also, if your dog has anxiety issues, they may suggest natural calming supplements, pheromone spray or diffuser, and/or prescription medications to help keep your dog stress-free and calm. 6. Busy Toys Make Happy Dogs Whether you crate or have your dog free roam, having busy toys available can chase away boredom and stimulate their mind. Puzzle toys with hidden treats and chew toys (a great tip is to fill a rubber one that you can pack with treats or fill it with natural no-salt added creamy peanut butter and freeze it before giving it to them. This will happily keep them occupied for a while). *Caution: Never leave your dog alone with toys or chew bones that could pose a choking hazard. 7. Safety Stickers If you do not have these already, now is a great time to get some Pet Safety Stickers to put on the windows and doors to your residence where your pets stay. These stickers can alert emergency personnel arriving at your home that there are dogs and/or cats inside your home, along with a place for a contact phone number. The ASPCA offers a FREE Pet Safety Pack that includes the decals, as well as an Animal Poison Control Center magnet. To obtain the free kit, simply visit the site and complete their request form. 8. Who’s a Good Doggy?! When you do return home, no matter how tired you may feel, remember your dog has been waiting all day for you. And as much as you missed them, they missed you even more! Please take a few minutes to give your dog praise and hugs—positive reinforcement for being such a good dog! Grab their leashes, and take them out on a nice walk, or let them out in the yard and engage them in some fun play. Something as simple as tossing a ball and playing Fetch can make them look forward to your return even more each day! Dorothy Wills-Raftery is an award-winning photojournalist and author. Her canine books include EPIC Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy; the FiveSibes™ Tales children’s books: What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy and Getting Healthy With Harley; and Buddy, the Christmas Husky~Based On A True Holiday Miracle (ArcticHouse Publishing). Her internationally top blogsite is FiveSibes™ , based on her five Siberian Huskies, and includes an online encyclopedia for the Siberian Husky breed. Her work has also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul & Rosie the Riveter book series, Woman’s World Magazine, AmericanPet Magazine, American Dog Media, Ruff Drafts, The Sled Dogger, and Hudson Valley Paw Print Magazine. Dorothy has been awarded the prestigious Maxwell Medallion by the Dog Writers of America Association for “Excellence” for her writing, photography, and fiction. Her book EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy received the Independent Press Award for “Excellence” in the Reference Book category and the NYC Big Book Award for “Excellence” in the Animal/Pet book category. She was named “Best Author” by Hudson Valley Magazine and all four of her books were named “Best in Print” by AmericanPet Magazine. An official International Purple Day® for (K9) Epilepsy Ambassador since 2012 and a volunteer case manager for The Wally Foundation-Canine Epilepsy, Dorothy partnered with the nonprofit Purple Day® Every Day presented by The Anita Kaufmann Foundation for her #Paws4Purple initiative, and she created the #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library—all inspired by her epileptic Siberian Husky, Gibson, in order to help other Epi-dog families find accurate information to help their Epi-dogs. You can follow Dorothy and her FiveSibes stories on the FiveSibes™ blog and on Facebook at FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews, and on Twitter and Instagram (@FiveSibesMom).
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Can Pet Parents Be Helicopter Parents?
If you are a parent to human children, you are probably familiar with the term “helicopter parent”. If you do not have human children, you may not be familiar with the term. “Helicopter parents” are parents that constantly oversee their children. They often are hesitant to leave their children at school, they are involved in everything the children are doing (even when they are at home playing) and they rarely allow their children to do anything without them. Most children with these overly involved parents will either become extremely dependent on their parents to do anything or they rebel … Continue reading →
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How to Choose the Right Puppy For Your Lifestyle
Many people pick fluffy, cute puppies; when in fact they should be choosing a puppy that fits their lifestyle the best. This is the most common mistake when looking to make a puppy a part of your family. Some families are looking for a dog that will lie around the house with them and their children, while others are looking for a puppy that will be able to go hiking with them on their weekend camping trips. Although this task of choosing a puppy may seem easy, it is something that be done with a lot of thought and research … Continue reading →
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Why Guard Dogs Should Not Be Aggressive
I own a Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff) named Zeus. If you are unfamiliar with the breed, think 100-pounds of muscle in the form of what many think looks like a giant Pitbull. People constantly cross the street, pick up their small children, and shoo their dogs away when we are walking by. I know this is because people are afraid of Zeus, they assume he is aggressive and would harm them. If only they knew how well behaved he is and that he will not attack at any given moment. When most people think of a typical guard dog … Continue reading →
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Dog Training Philosophies: Medical Model, Behavioral Model and Knee-Jerk Reactions
Most of our dog pet owners are not aware that there are different philosophies/approaches to “training” a dog and more so how to approach solving behavior problems. There are two main veins of approach even though I titled with three; two of them go together. Medical Model see “problem behavior” as if it’s a disease. The “trainer”, “counselor” or “veterinary behaviorist” may take a history of your dog and come up with a diagnosis for the behavior and label it something like “dominance aggression”. This approach focuses too heavily on the “symptoms” presented and do little to address … Continue reading →
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Resource Guarding or Space Invasion? Reasons for Aggressive Outburts in Dogs
Labels like Resource Guarding can blind us to other possible explanations to aggressive outbursts by our companion dog. The common understanding of resource guarding is that your dog may show the following behaviors: tense, stiff, give you a non-wavering gaze, lip retraction to show teeth, growling, snapping, and/or biting when a person or other animal approaches. This behavior usually occurs only when a person or other animal approaches your dog while: meal preparation, eating, sleeping, has a toy, by a “favorite” place or there might be a “new” item brought into the house, food/treats/vomit, anything related to meals – … Continue reading →
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Important Trail Etiquette You Should Know When Walking Your Dog
I love walking with my dogs on the local rail trail in New Hampshire or on the beach in the off-season on Cape Cod. I feel rejuvenated after getting some fresh air and some vigorous exercise and I know the dogs are better for it. They are more content, less destructive and there is an overall calmness. My partner likes to say that dogs need more energy-withdrawals than deposits. Dogs that sit around the house, day after day are making energy deposits. Dogs that are walked regularly or go on hikes are having energy withdrawals. I believe there is dog … Continue reading →
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Wire Crate vs. Plastic Kennel: Which One Is Best For Your Pup?
When choosing the right crate for your dog, the style is just as important as the size. Taking a look at the wire crate vs. plastic kennel, hopefully, you will be able to determine the right crate for your dog. Most importantly, whichever crate you choose must be size appropriate for your dog. The dog must be able to not only stand up inside of the crate, but be able to turn around in it as well as to lay down stretched out. Never choose a crate that is too large for your specific dog, as he will rest in … Continue reading →
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Breathwalking? How to Meditate With Your Dog & Positively Condition Your Mornings
It’s no secret that the modern world as we know it today is a pretty hectic place. It seems that from the moment we awake in the morning, until the time we lay our heads down at night, we have somewhere we need to go, or some thing we need to do. Say goodbye to loosening your tie, or letting your hair down after a hard day at the office–in the age of the smartphone, work, and your many responsibilities have no official hours—we’re always connected, day and night. You remember charge your phone daily, but did you remember to … Continue reading →
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