Keeping Your Dog Safe When on Walks

When we walk our dog, no matter the destination – on the city streets, in parks or in open spaces – it is necessary that he respects the disciplinary rules settled before and learned, to avoid getting into problems with other animals or people we meet.

So let’s see how our little friend will have to act in some situations:

• Usually, in crowded places we will keep him in a leash, to always have him under control. So he will have to know how to walk in a leash, near your foot, without pulling.


• The dog is not allowed to jump on people or animals met or to attack any of those, as long as he isn’t aggressed.


• The dog shouldn’t run after bicycles, motorcycles, cars or people that are running. It is know that some dogs do that because of their hunting instincts.


• When we let the dog free, to relax, it is crucial that when he is called he return on the shortest way and as fast as possible.


• At a picnic, the dog is not allowed to pass thought other people’s carpets or to eat their food.


• Wherever our dog might be, he is not to be allowed to eat food given by someone else or food found thrown around.


• Generally, small dogs are more spoiled than big dogs and they are more aggressive, anti-social and afraid of other people or dogs. The ones to blame are the owners that often amuse themselves when they see their dogs acting this way. This way the dogs get to barking and even biting their own owner.


• The dog must have the initial training learned and practiced, so we would have no problems when walking him.


• All through the walk, the dog is not to chew on his leash or to pull it with his teeth, because it might happen that he is tied somewhere alone and he will chew on it until he becomes free and gets lost.


• The dog is not allowed to jump up and out his front paws on us or others even if he is just playing.


• Pay attention to drunken people! Many times the smell, the walk and the yelling of drunken people annoy the dog. The dog is to loose his reality sense and his instincts and therefore they won’t pay attention to any of our advices. Some drunken people are even aggressive to dogs. Stay away from them as much as possible.

Keeping Your Pet Safe This Halloween

• All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers in unusual garb can be scary and stressful for pets.
  
  
• When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that Max or Mittens doesn't dart outside. Make sure all your pets are wearing current identification, just in case.
  
  
• No sweets for the sweet: Keep all Halloween candy out of your pet's reach. Chocolate can be poisonous to animals, and tinfoil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.
  
  
  
• It's not a bright idea to keep lit pumpkins around companion animals. Pets can knock them over, and curious kittens in particular run the risk of being burned.
  
  
• Don't leave your pet in the yard on Halloween. There have been reports of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen and even killed pets on this night.
  
  
• Although the ASPCA recommends that cats remain indoors at all times, it is especially important to keep your feline inside for several days before and after Halloween. Black cats in particular may be at risk from children's pranks or other cruelty-related incidents. As a safety precaution, many shelters will not adopt out black cats around Halloween.
  
  
• Don't dress up your dog or cat unless you know she loves it. If
  you decide to do so, make sure the costume isn't annoying or
  unsafe, and doesn't restrict her movement, vision, hearing or
  ability to breathe or bark. Avoid costumes with small or
  dangling accessories that she could chew off and possibly choke
  on. And please supervise pets in costume at ALL times.

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