photo credit: Phil Romans

Since my own black lab, who never leaves my side, he is like glued to me, took off swimming without even a backwards glance, I did some research! See my wayward black lab post here

As in all aspects of dog training and safety.  The Recall Must Be Rock Solid!!!!  Just because your dog has a perfect recall on land, not necessarely so in water…always test your dogs recall on a leash in the water to make sure he responds with the same quickness as he does on land.

So what are the general rules when having your dog swim?  Should you keep your dog on a leash?

It depends on many things:

Is it your dog’s first time to swim?
How old is your dog?
How good is your dog’s recall? **** This is a must
What about boats, people, other dogs, kids?  Are there a lot of distractions?

I read of one person who gets in the water with each of his new dogs the first time.

Some say: If it’s not the first time, and if they don’t have good recall, then do keep a check cord on them just like you would on land until their recall is rock solid.

It is easy for a dog to get tangled in a cord/cotton leash, so make sure that if there is trouble you are always within reach to help out.  I think the cord should be used to teach and train recall in the water.  Be 100% sure!!!  Your dog will listen and obey you even when swimming.

Here are some tips I picked up from my research:

- If your dog is swimming in warm water, HE CAN OVERHEAT, so please be careful and don’t let him work too hard at having fun swimming.

- Many dogs will swim till totally exhausted, and then, if they have too far to swim back, they will drown

- Don’t let your dog ever jump into water unless you KNOW that he knows where he can safely get out!

- If you take your dog swimming in a natural environment, be aware of the surrounding area if you take your dog to the beach, lake or pond. Watch for trouble and make sure your dog will come to you as soon as you call. Recall is one of the most important lessons you can teach your dog. It can literally save his life.

- Also, take care that you are familiar with currents, under currents, and what the bottom of the lake floor is…can it hurt your dogs paws?

There are life jackets for dogs.  Be safe, Always!!!

Technorati Tags: Dog Safety, Lifestyle Pets, Pet Safety

photo credit: Phil Romans

Ever since we adopted Shorty, a black lab,  and I walked her near water she goes totally ballistic and wants to run into the water, obviously to swim.

I never let her go in because I really didn’t know if she would listen when I called her back.  Saturday was such an amazing day that my friend and I went to Lake Ontario.  I had a long leather leash so I could let Shorty in the water and still keep control.

We played sticks with her, and every time she got the stick she came back so my friend said to take the leash off, she comes back all the time.

I did take the leash off, tossed the stick, not far, and away she goes….and goes…and goes.  She just swam.  No matter how much I shouted “Come”, “Cookie”, “Ball”, she just kept swimming.

I was freaking.  Eventually she did turn around.  But man, that was scary!  So, she will need to stay on a long cotton leash in the big lakes, in the small cottage country lakes, it will be ok.

Phew, my heart did thump as I watched her swim further and further away.

Technorati Tags: home dog training & Life's Abundance lifestyle, My Dog House, Pet Safety

photo credit: conskeptical

I usually walk around my backyard every morning and destroy these little horrors.

This fungus is extremely likely to pop-up in your garden, there are many varieties and some can be fatal in Dog Food SECRETS we have a list of about 20 foods we love that are harmful to your dog, a list we should all know I’m talking about mushrooms and toadstools.

These side effect can appear in the middle of an otherwise green lawn and present themselves as a very interesting snack

Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can be:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Slow heart rate
Jaundice
Seizures
Coma

Dog Food Secrets

Technorati Tags: Lifestyle Pets, pet health, Pet Safety

photo credit: TheGiantVermin

Are you prepared to handle a pet emergency? If not, don’t worry you can be! For a nominal fee and minimal time investment, you can learn the basic emergency steps that could save your cat’s or dog’s life in a crisis.

Many chapters of the Red Cross offer Pet First Aid Courses that combine lectures, demonstrations, hands-on practice and videos, and cover what you should do in case of poisoning, choking, heat strokes, electrical shocks, fractures, eye injuries, seizures, burns, strains, animal bites and more. To find out more about these life-saving courses, contact your local branch of the Red Cross.

Technorati Tags: Pet Safety

Happy Groundhog Day!

Well, now that Punxsutawny Phil is predicting six more weeks of winter, it’s important for folks up North to think of ways to keep your pet warm during the last stretch of cold weather. Even if they have a fur coat, dogs and cats can be just as susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia as humans, especially if they are exposed to cold precipitation. The best way to ensure that your pets are safe is to try and keep them indoors as often as possible and to monitor them closely when they are outdoors, but there are other precautionary steps that will help keep your cat or dog healthy and warm for the remainder of the season.

Clothing


If your cat or dog spends even more than a few minutes outside every day then I would highly recommend extra layering, especially if it has short hair. When looking for the right coat or sweater make sure to pay more attention to the material then appearances; nylon and fleece are much more effective in protecting against the elements while natural fibers such as cotton are not recommended as they can easily become damp in wet weather. You may also want to consider foot protection as well, but bear in mind that that some pets, dogs in particular, might find the idea of foot coverings to be uncomfortable, so I would recommend holding off on those booties if you have a picky pet.

Diet

The best diet for your pet depends first and foremost on how active it might be this time of year. If your cat or dog spends a lot of time outside, increase portions to keep energy levels up and also alternative to help ward off any illnesses. But late-winter is also the time of year in which pets are most susceptible to gaining weight so if your pet spends all of its time indoors then you should probably be reducing its caloric intake, either by reducing portions or by low-calorie pet food. Late-winter is also a good time to consider introducing supplements to your pet’s diet, as Vitamin C can help boost their immune system, while compounds high in fatty acid (such as Vitamin E) can help maintain a healthy skin or fur coat. Pet food can sometimes lack these types of vitamins, especially if they are highly processed.

Bedding

Having a comfortable place for your pet to sleep is paramount during the winter. While finding the right type of pet bed is a matter of personal preference there are a couple of important things to consider. First off, you want to make sure that the bed is raised to some degree. If your pet is sleeping only a couple of inches off of the floor it can leave him/her exposed to floor drafts. You might also want to consider a heated bed, especially if you have a pet with arthritic troubles or if you live in an especially cold area. I would steer clear of electrically heated beds however, as the cords can be hazardous for chew-happy pets. Instead look for a hot-water heated bed instead. For a cat or dog that prefers to sleep outdoors in a protective house or box, straw materials or even discarded newspapers can work as effective insulation.

While winter is (hopefully!) close to being over keeping your pet safe and warm is important now more than ever, so the most important thing is to remain vigilant of any present or future health problems and make sure to consult a veterinarian if you notice any issues.

Technorati Tags: home dog training & Life's Abundance lifestyle, pet care, Pet Safety