10 Canine Safety Tips for 4th of July

4th of July-- Independence Day! It's a day where we humans BBQ, socialize, relax and explode things. For dogs, it is a time of pure scariness. Dogs don't associate all the noise and chaos as YAY! Whoohoo! Fun! Most dogs associate it with--> OMG, the world is ending. So, how can we humans make this nightmare a bit more bearable? Here are 10 safety tips for the 4th of July:

1. First and foremost, right away in the morning, exercise your dog prior to all the activity. This exercise should be long enough to thoroughly wipe out your dog mentally and physically. A well exercised dog equals a calmer dog.
2. After exercise, keep your pet (including cats) indoors during all the activity. The 4th of July is a shelter's busiest time of year, because pets go missing while trying to escape all the noise. Make sure your dog has a place to hide in the house if necessary. Leaving your dog in the car is not an option and can often escalate into more panic. Plus if it's hot out, leaving your dog in the car equals a life threatening situation. 
3. Respect your dog's fear. If Fido is hiding under the bed or in a kennel, do not try to pull them out "to get used to the fireworks". 
4. Have proper identification for your dog: collar with tags and a microchip just in case your dog escapes. 
5. Stay home with your dog or hire someone to stay home with your dog. If your dog is in a panic, they could try to claw and dig their way out of the house. I've even seen pictures of dogs jumping through closed windows. This could lead to serious injuries. A person should be home with your four-legged family member for safety. 
6. Keep calm. If your dog is in a panic, the worst thing you can do is start panicking with them about the fact that your dog is panicking. You, or your doggy babysitter, needs to remain calm through the whole situation. 
7. Drowned out the sound. You can do this by closing all doors, windows and blinds, and turning on the tv (or radio).
8. Provide distraction through fun games or incredibly yummy treats. 
9. Invest in a thundershirt: http://www.thundershirt.com/ You can usually find these at your local pet store. They have them for dogs and cats.
10. Drugs. If you know already that your dog hates 4th of July, talk to your vet. A veterinarian can prescribe a medication to help ease your dog's panic. 

The Fourth of July can be a fun, relaxing time for family members to get together. It's a time of bonding. But please don't forget about your furry family members! Make sure you are well prepared and they are taken care of in order to minimalize the possibility of injury or escape. 

Dog Language: Aggression

Dogs do not become aggressive overnight. There are always signs, though sometimes they can be subtle. In addition, understanding a dog's puppyhood plays a key into the temperament of their adult life. If your puppy has not been properly socialized or has a had a rough childhood, these could be factors that put your dog into a higher risk of being aggressive.

Dogs act aggressive when they are in an uncomfortable situation with no route of escape. A dog's mouth is the equivalent to a human hand. We human's use our hands to express language: We hug, we tickle, we talk with hand gestures and we even punch. Dog's do the same. If a dog is in an uncomfortable situation and their fear or frustration becomes overwhelming, they will bite if they cannot find or have not been taught an alternative way to soothe themselves.

As a dog's human companion, it's our responsibility to recognize our four-legged friend's language when they are telling us they are uncomfortable with a situation. Here are some cues:

• A pronounced and unyielding demand for affection: Does your dog constantly sit on your lap, hide behind your legs or even lean on you? These are all signs that your dog is uncomfortable. 
• A prolonged stare at another individual or animal: Dogs do this in an attempt to try to gain control.
• Raised Hackles
• Growling
• Bared teeth
• Arched body
• A stiff walk
• Tail lifted over the back or under the legs: When a dog is relaxed, it's tail will be in a neutral position, even when wagging. When a dog is overly excited or scared, the tail will be lifted over the back or under the legs. Rapid tail wagging can also accompany this position. So, it's important to note a tail position when assessing a dog's mood. It should also be noted that some dog breeds naturally have a tail curl. This should not be confused with an anxious pup. 😉
• Ears pricked forward or back: This is kind of like the tail position. In a relaxed environment, a dog's ears will be neutral.
• A slow sweeping tail: This means your dog is unsure of the situation and is assessing the environment. 
• Guarding: Does your dog resource guard? (Click on these links for more information on food aggression and toy aggression)
• Excessive barking which does not stop when you ask. (Unless you happen to have a Basset Hound. Hahaha. 😂)
  
• Snaps and misses
• Urinating Intentionally: This is a big one, but can also be misleading. If your dog is urinating in the house and is house trained, you must first take them to the vet to rule out a medical issue. Once ruled out, it is most likely a sign that your dog is showing signs of aggression and does not like it's environment. 

If your dog is showing any of these signs, it's time to take action because it will not get better on it's own. You need to assess the environment to find out what is causing the anxiousness. Then you need to find training tools to teach your dog a healthy way to cope. It is never a good idea to make your dog confront a fear. Remember: when a dog is trapped and has no route of escape, the fight instinct will kick in. All in all, when aggression starts to rear it's ugly head with biting and lunging, it's time to call in a professional.  You won't be able to handle it on your own.

Some other helpful links for dog aggression:

• How To Tell If Your Dog Is Anxious
• Sensory Overstimulization in Dogs
• Top 10 Rules for Children Around Dogs

Diet: Why a Healthy Weight Matters for Canines

Pet weight- it's a big deal! Not only will your pet's weight affect your pocket book in the way of veterinarian bills, but it also plays a huge role in the quality of life your pet is living. According to a 2016 survey by The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 54% of all dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese and 93% of pet guardians thought their dog's weight was normal. How I read that statistic is that a lot of humans out there have an overweight dog and think their dog is normal. So how can you tell if your dog is at a healthy weight?

• Feel your dog's spine and ribs. If you are having difficulty feeling the spine and ribs, Fido is overweight. 
• From a side view, a dog's stomach should be raised. It should not be sagging.
• From an upward view, you should be able to see a "waist", an inward curve, between the back of the ribcage and the hips.  

Having an overweight dog greatly affect their health: They have a shorter life expectancy, there is tremendous stress on the joints leading to injury and arthritis, a greater risk of heat stroke, hip dysplasia, respiratory problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, Kidney and liver disease. Basically, the list goes on and on... If that does not persuade you, maybe your pocketbook will-- vet bills are not cheap.

If you have determined that your beloved four-legged family member is indeed overweight, the first step you need to take is a vet visit to rule out any metabolic disorders or other health problems. Once those are ruled out, it's time to put your dog on a DIET. 😩 You must first look at the "whats" and "how muchs" of your dog. Are you feeding your dog too much food? The wrong kind of food? Too many treats? Maybe your dog isn't getting enough exercise? Research, research, research and then develop a plan of how to get from the current weight to the ideal weight. Remember, each breed and gender will have different weight ranges for healthy. It is also important to take it slow. We aren't talking about a crash diet of quick weight loss. This will only add stress to your canine. One step at a time is key:

Proactive steps towards a healthy weight:

• Cut down portion size little by little until you reach an appropriate portion size. 
• Use an actual measuring cup. Not just a random scoop or drinking cup out of your cupboard OR the ol'-dump-the-food-into-the-bowl-straight-from-the-bag technique (Big no!)
• Cut back on treats and no table scraps. Any treats should be given for a deliberate reason (as in training good behavior). Choose your treats wisely: fruits or vegetables, low fat dehydrated meats with no additives are all good for training. Remember: some fruits or veggies can be toxic to your dog, click here to find out the good/ bad fruits and vegetables. 
• Don't leave food out. Free feeding your dog is a big "no-no". Have designated meal times at the same time every day. If your dog doesn't eat all of the food, take it away after 15 minutes. Small meals several times a day is key. It helps keep Fido's blood sugar steady, which in turn makes the body less like to store extra calories. 
• Choose the right food! Kibble is notorious for being high in carbohydrates. Please choose a high quality pet food that is high in protein and low in grains. Also remember that each breed of dog has a different nutritional requirement. So you must be diligent and do your research on what kind of food is appropriate for your breed. 

If you take the above steps in a slow, but steady progress towards a set goal, you and your dog should have a happy, healthy life with new adventures waiting around the corner! 💕