Your daily dose of doggy goodness!
Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Meme of the day: Fur child care is a lot of work!
|
|
Paws-itive Parade Safety: Keeping Your Canine Companion Calm and Secure During Celebrations
Parade season is a vibrant time, filled with exciting sights, sounds, and community spirit! While we humans often revel in the festivities, for our canine companions, parades can be an overwhelming and even dangerous experience. The loud noises, large crowds, and unusual stimuli can trigger anxiety, lead to escape attempts, or even cause physical harm.
Here are some key tips to keep your dog safe during parade season:
Assess Your Dog's Temperament
Before you even consider bringing your dog to a parade, honestly evaluate their personality. Is your dog generally calm and unfazed by loud noises and crowds? Or are they easily spooked, prone to anxiety, or reactive to strangers?
If your dog is anxious, fearful, or reactive: The best and safest option is to leave them at home in a quiet, secure environment. No parade experience is worth putting your dog under undue stress or risking their safety or the safety of others.
If your dog is calm and confident: They might be able to handle a parade, but still proceed with caution and follow the tips below.
Prioritize a Safe Viewing Spot (If You Must Bring Them)
If you're absolutely certain your dog can handle the environment, choose your viewing spot wisely:
Seek out quieter areas: Position yourselves further back from the main thoroughfare, away from speakers, marching bands, and large groups of cheering people.
Opt for an elevated spot: If possible, find a slightly elevated position where your dog can see without being jostled by feet or overwhelmed by eye-level chaos.
Avoid the front lines: The curb can be a dangerous place with moving vehicles and excitable crowds.
Leash Up Securely (Always!)
This is non-negotiable. Even the most well-behaved dog can be startled and bolt.
Use a sturdy leash and a well-fitting harness or collar: Double-check that your dog cannot slip out. A martingale collar or a properly fitted harness can be excellent choices.
Consider double-leashing: For extra security, you might attach two leashes to two different points on your dog (e.g., one to their collar, one to their harness).
Maintain a firm grip: Keep your dog close to you at all times.
Provide a "Safe Space" and Comfort Items
If your dog is attending, try to create a mini comfort zone for them:
Bring a blanket or mat: This can provide a familiar scent and a designated spot for them to settle.
Pack their favorite toy: A familiar chew toy can offer a distraction and comfort.
Offer praise and reassurance: If your dog seems uneasy, speak in a calm, soothing voice and offer gentle pets.
Hydration and Potty Breaks Are Key
Parades can be long!
Bring plenty of fresh water: And a portable bowl. Dogs can easily overheat in crowds, especially on warm days.
Plan for potty breaks: Scout out quiet, grassy areas away from the parade route for quick relief. Pick up after your dog, of course!
Protect Paws from Hot Pavement
Depending on the time of year and location, asphalt and concrete can get incredibly hot, leading to painful burns on your dog's paw pads.
Test the pavement: If you can't hold the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds comfortably, it's too hot for your dog's paws.
Consider dog booties: If walking on hot surfaces is unavoidable, dog booties can offer protection.
Beware of Dropped Food and Debris
Parade routes can be littered with dropped food, candy, and other debris that can be toxic or dangerous for dogs if ingested.
Keep a close eye on what your dog is sniffing: Be prepared to pull them away from tempting (and harmful) items.
Discourage scavenging: Train a strong "leave it" command.
In the unfortunate event that your dog does get separated from you, up-to-date identification is crucial.
Ensure your dog wears a collar with current ID tags: Include your name and phone number.
Verify your microchip registration information is current: This is often the quickest way to reunite with a lost pet.
Know When to Go Home
If at any point your dog shows signs of stress – panting excessively, yawning, lip licking, tail tucked, trying to hide, whining, or barking – it's time to leave. Their comfort and safety should always be your top priority. Don't push them past their limits.
Parade season is a wonderful time to celebrate, but remember that not every celebration is suitable for every furry friend. By keeping these safety tips in mind, you can ensure your dog has a safe and stress-free experience, whether they're enjoying the quiet comforts of home or briefly taking in the parade from a secure spot.
|
|
Only about 4% of U.S. pet owners have pet insurance
Pet care costs are rising, yet not enough people are doing something about it. Pet insurance can significantly offset rising costs – all for as low as $10 a month. Want to join the 4% club?
Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Savage Pet - Cat Food Chicken for potential bird flu exposure
Wild Coast Raw - Frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food for cats for possible bird flu exposure.
Blue Ridge Beef - Natural Mix for potential salmonella.
The Smile Section
Family Photo of the Day:
Frankie James!
We want to feature your pup!
We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.
Interested in reaching our audience?
Like newsletters?
Here are some newsletters our readers also enjoy:
Share our newsletter with your friends!
We’ll donate on your behalf!
🐶 Refer 10 people: We will donate a box of treats to an animal rescue 🐶
🐶 Refer 50 people: We will donate a bag of dog food to an animal rescue 🐶
🛏 Refer 100 people: We will donate a dog bed to an animal rescue 🛏
{{rp_personalized_text}}
Sources:
Dog of the day: IG cruisinwithcookie
Meme of the day: IG smileywileydog
|
|
