Tag Archives: safety

Tuesday’s Top Ten: Prepare Your Dog for Winter

As cold weather overtakes much of the country, it’s time to make sure your dog is properly prepared for the winter.  Just as you winterize your home and your garden, you need to make special accomodations for your pets, as well.  Below are the top ten tips from the American Kennel Club on ways to winterize your dog.

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October is National Animal Safety & Protection Month

Are you celebrating National Animal Safety & Protection Month?  Our animals take good care of us all year long, and this is the month devoted to taking extra good care of them.

Even if you don’t have a dog specifically trained as an assistance dog, most pets have been shown to provide benefits to humans in lowered blood pressure, stress reduction, and general health and well-being. So, let’s consider some ways in which we can give back.

How do you provide for your dog’s safety and protection? Here are some simple steps you can take:

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Boating with Bonzo

Riding in the bow of the boat, wind whipping up all kinds of good smells, hair blowing in the breeze…no wonder dogs like to go out boating with you! Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.

1. Regardless of whether or not you bring the dog, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. It’s just as dangerous in a boat as it is in a car, and your dog needs you to come home tonight.

2. Keep an eye on your dog, especially while the boat is moving. If he falls overboard, he had a good chance of getting nipped by the propeller.

3. Try a short trip first, to see if your dog enjoys it. If he’s scared, plan to leave him home next time.

4. Use a personal flotation device, even if your dog is a good swimmer. He may not know his limitations and may become tired before he makes it back to the boat. Try to find a PFD that has a handle on the back, allowing you to lift the dog out of the water.

5. Provide shade so the dog does not get overheated. If you have a hairless dog, use sunscreen.

6. Provide stable footing for the dog by laying a piece of carpet or a rubber mat over a fiberglass deck.

7. Make sure your dog has a legible ID tag and / or a microchip, in case you get separated from him.

Enjoy the lake!

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!