It's OUTSIDE SEASON!

The temperature is up to a balmy 45, which means only one thing in New England- it's OUTSIDE SEASON! Activities can include hiking, running, or going to the dog park. Here are 5 easy things that you can do right now to make sure your dog is happy, healthy, and behaviorally set for the season to come!

5. Don't Keep Fido on a Leash in the Dog Park.

If you or someone you know is taking your dog to the dog park only to keep him leashed to "socialize" him, you might be doing more harm than good. Barrier Reactivity is a real thing that is quite common in the city. If you have a dog in a fenced in dog park who is leashed, chances are with every interaction that dog is having, there is tension on the leash, adding to the frustration in the leashed dog. In a matter of time (minutes, or weeks) that dog is likely going to develop frustration linked to being held back. If you are going to the dog park, and your dog is friendly, take him off leash. If you are not sure if your dog is a candidate for the dog park, read this article from the ASPCA to help you figure out how to introduce your dog to the dog park, or IF you should.

4. If Your Dog Is Off Leash, Have A Reliable Recall On Your Dog. 

I've written several times about the importance of having a reliable recall on your dog. When you say "COME!", your dog should come to you and be able to get leashed if need be without blowing you off, or introducing a game of "come chase me!" to the command. For starters, your dog might be super friendly, but the dog who he's running up to might have an issue with a charging dog bounding up to say hi. I don't like strangers tearing off across a field to embrace me in a hug, and I know for certain that my dog doesn't like it, either. If your dog can't handle off leash time (legality aside of being off leash in most parks!), you need to work on recall. Off leash time is earned, not a right for your dog. It's a matter of safety. 

3. Check These Etiquette Rules From Dr. Sophia Yin

Does your dog jump on people at the park? Do you let it slide? Read this quick blog post article and see what you can do to avoid being "that guy" at the dog park. There are great illustrations to show what to do, and what not to do, from the one and only, Dr. Sophia Yin. 

2. Watch the Temperature

In New England, the temperatures can go from 45 to 85 in a period of a few weeks, and then back down to 60. It's important to know what your dog can, and should, handle as it pertains to heat. Brachycephalic breeds (dogs with pushed-in-faces, like pug, bulldogs, and Boston terriers) have a harder time regulating their temperatures. Puppies don't know when to quit no matter what the weather. Older dogs might not be able to handle warm weather, either. It's also important to note the temperature of the sidewalks: if it's 85 degrees in the blistering sun at noon, it's best to not have dogs walking on the hot concrete. They can burn the delicate pads as they are the only body part that is not protected by fur. Time your walks appropriately, and be mindful of your pup. They might be stubborn, but if it's hot outside your bulldog is better for you not pushing it. 

1. If Your Dog Doesn't Like The Park Anymore, It's Totally OK!

When I was a kid, I loved the little kid park. Now that I'm older, I like a cocktail party. My needs and desires have changed greatly with my adult personality, and our dogs have changing preferences, too. Dogs who used to like playing with puppies, might not appreciate those "young whippersnappers" rudely lapping under their chins now that they are adult dogs. They might not like sharing their ball, or your affections with other dogs. Besides, at the dog park, there are a lot of dogs there, and not all are behaviorally sound, or give off good social cues. If your dog has been going to the park long enough, statistically it's bound to happen that time will toll on your dog and all the years of bad body language from a few dogs will make your dog think twice about bounding with other playmates. As your dog ages, they might really enjoy the company of 1-2 other dogs, or a play group with the same cast of characters instead of the who-knows-who-will-be-there at the local park.

If your dog is reactive in the presence of toys near other dogs, it's not fair for your dog to feel stressed out. It's best to find another outlet for your pup, where they can play without worrying that some young dog is going to take their prized ball (or worse - your attention!) Take your dog at a time when no one is at the park, or find another area to platy fetch with your dog, and make sure you have a reliable recall on your pup so you can call Fido over to you in the event another dog arrives at your secret spot. (See #4 for videos pertaining to this). It's worse to force your dog to go to the park to play around other dogs if they aren't enjoying the game anymore. Find another outlet. It's totally OK. I promise!

There is no shame in not going to the park anymore. Just think of it as the highest honor your dog can give you: they prefer you to the other dogs, which might be harder for you, but in the end, is pretty cool. 

In the interim, it's also important to work with your dog to safely instill confidence (not every dog will take your toy!) so if you would like to work with a certified professional on this, use positive techniques as aversive training can add more stress to your already stressed out pup. If your dog thinks that another dog means a collar pop or an alpha roll, they are likely to become more stressed out over time, which is the opposite of confidence training. You want your dog to look forward to other dogs, but also trust that you will provide adequate space. It's a dance and an important one, so find someone suited for this work by searching the APDT, CCPDT or KPA websites for more information. 

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

I can't in good conscience let you all go without a few tips for safe Thanksgiving practices. For those who are traveling, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a pet first aid kit in the car (this is a good idea year round, but especially for traveling). The AVMA has a great list to get you started , but here are a few other things to put in your first aid kit:

Little Kid Socks - we use toddler socks as a wrap over gauze for our border collie. She often scrapes the bottom of her feet, and if she's bleeding, it can sometimes be a challenge to keep her still while we wrap her up. In a pinch, the sock can be folded and used as a small square to sop up blood, but we cover her scratches with Neosporin, gauze, the sock, and some athletic tape.

Neosporin (or some other ointment for scrapes/minor cuts, etc): As mentioned above, when we travel, we're often zooming through woods, or at least bombing through some back yards. This time of year, sticks, rocks, and acorns are EVERYWHERE, and sometimes dogs paws can get a little cut up.

Vet Wrap:  Vet wrap is a staple in our kit. Vet Wrap is a self-sticking bandage that goes over gauze and other padding to protect the gauze/injury site. In our case, Zep ripped out his dew claw (again) and is sporting non-stick gauze (for the injury site), thick padding gauze (for protection against bumping it into things, because lets face it - greyhounds are not graceful in a home environment), and some vet wrap over the padded gauze.

I've also used some of the vet wrap for my own hands - when working with puppies, and really mouthy adolescent dogs,sometimes there is bleeding on the joints of fingers or the tips of fingers/thumbs, where it's really hard to get a band-aid to stick. Vet wrap is really handy - put the band-aid on, then cover with vet wrap. Viola - band-aid stays put, and you can rock whatever color you like.

Phone Numbers & Important Paperwork: We don't like to think of our dogs as getting injured or sick when we travel, but it happens. My poor husband had to clean out his brand new Mini Cooper on its inaugural drive to Maine a few years ago after Sadie had .... an explosion of sorts. We were close enough to drive home and see our vet, but sometimes, that just isn't the case.

 Get the number of the nearest veterinarian AND the nearest 24 hour emergency clinic BEFORE YOU LEAVE ON YOUR TRIP. The time to look for those numbers isn't when you're in panic mode when your dog is bleeding, vomiting, or otherwise in bad shape.


 Keep a copy of your dogs rabies certificate with you: If your dog gets bit by a skunk, bat, another dog, or if your dog bites another dog/human on your trip, you will need to provide proof of vaccination. It's best to have the certificate - the rabies tag doesn't give the information required for medical professionals. They need the administering vet's information, the batch of the rabies vaccine, and the date given/date expires of the vaccine.  Trying to call your vet on a holiday weekend might be difficult, and if it happens on a Sunday, you won't be able to get the info you need. Take a  photo of the certificate with your iPhone, or keep a copy of it in your dogs travel bag.

 ....AND a current photo of your pet with you.  If your dog ends up running off, having a current photo with you will make it much easier to make signs to post around the neighborhood.


A Few More Sites: If you're interested in learning more about safety precautions while traveling, what human foods are dangerous for your dog (grapes, raisins, and onions to name a few), or killing time before you take off for a long holiday weekend - well, here you go:

 Human Foods NOT For Puppy Consumption This is perhaps the link I can recommend the most. It has a list of foods that might be toxic to your dog, and the number for Poison Control (a fee is incurred if you call Poison Control, but if your dog just ate a whole box of Russel Stauffers and washed it down with a glass of wine, you need to call them IMMEDIATELY: 888-426-4435).  There is another list that I like, and it includes some items not on the toxic list that I often get questions about. That list can be found right here.  They answer the question about what part of the Tomato is toxic to your dog, and the low-down on Garlic.

 Cartalk on F.I.D.O  I love the Car Talk Guys, Tom and Ray. They offer a full site on how to safely travel with your dogs, why they shouldn't be allowed to stick their heads out the window while driving, and what to do if your dog gets car sick.

For full list and lighthearted humor, check out I Has A Hotdog

For all of you out there that read - thank you :) If you travel, have a safe trip. If you're staying at home & cooking, I hope it's as stress-free as it can possibly be. And remember what this day is all about - giving thanks and reflection as we head into the doldrums of winter. Let those things that keep you going continue to keep your heart warm as we head into another New England Winter.

 And just for fun, a list of things I'm thankful for:

What? They're winning :)

Friends, Family, and Boston

A questionable sense of humor

NPR

The Dogs and their undying loyalty, even in the pouring rain.

....and pie. 

May you and yours have a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday....or, Evacuation Day if you prefer.

Spring has Sprung!

With the excitement of spring, many people are looking to their garden. We live in the city, and even our teeny deck is an urban garden complete with tomatoes, peas, herbs and flowers. It's important to know what plants are toxic to dogs, and what plants are safe. If you have indoor plants and indoor cats, it's doubly important to know what plants are safe for your pet.

Easter Lily

Easter Lily: Easter lilies are non-toxic to dogs but are very toxic to cats. With the Easter season, keep in mind if you have indoor cats, to maybe hang your lily from the ceiling or put in a place where your cat can not get to this tempting plant.

Calla Lily

Calla Lily: The Calla Lily is a popular plant to spruce up a garden or as part of a floral arrangement. This is a toxic plant to both dogs, and cats. 

Daffodil

Daffodil: This one surprised me - Everyone has daffodils, and this is one plant I just didn't know was toxic to both dogs and cats.

Geranium

Geranium: 1st, I'd like to say my geraniums never look this nice.

2nd: This hardy plant that is common in the Northeast (probably because they are pretty hard to kill) is toxic to dogs and cats.

Tulip

Tulip This popular flower for arrangements and for gardens is toxic to dogs and cats.

Hops, pre- beer.

Hops: We just started brewing our own beer a few weeks ago (haven't tasted the results yet), but there was an alarming warning on the brew kit. Apparently, a dog had helped himself to the cooked hops, and had a seizure, so now they put this warning on the brew kits. Turns out, hops is toxic to dogs, and it's not clear what the toxic component is. There is no data (that I have found, including the ASPCA site) on toxicity of hops in cats.


If you suspect your dog has ingested any plant and your not sure on the toxicity, or if your pet has ingested anything poisonous, contact your vet first if they are open, a 24 hour animal hospital, or if the Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Check the ASPCA website on Plant Toxicity if you want to make your  garden safe for your pet, or just to check if a particular plant, vegetable or nut is safe for your 4 legged friend.