Doggy park do’s and don’ts

The dog park is a place of wonderful doggy freedom and fun. What’s better than watching your fluff ball run and play with abandon along with their fluffy friends? There is a lot to be said for the positive influences and play dogs can have at an off-leash park. It’s a great opportunity for socialization, our pals get to run their crazy out after maybe being inside for the day (can anyone say zoomies?), and we get our own exercise in walking through the park with them.

That being said, to make sure it’s fun for everyone, us humans should try to keep a few things in mind when releasing our furry friend to the masses at an off-leash park.

1.       Basics

It is highly recommended your dog be vaccinated and healthy if you’re going to take them to a park. There are a lot of aspects in an off-leash park you will have no control over, so protecting your dog as much as you are able is a good start. If you have a puppy, you want to wait until they’ve had all of their puppy shots before exposing them to other dogs. It’s also highly recommended your dog be spayed or neutered before the go to the park, especially if they are over about six months of age. This will reduce the risk of aggression/fighting with other dogs, and avoid any risk of unwanted/unexpected pregnancies.

If you’re bringing a puppy to the park, you need to keep an extra close eye on them. Puppies learn a lot in their early months, and are much more prone to traumatization from negative experiences at an early age. You want to make sure all your puppy’s interactions are positive to reduce the risk of reactive/defensive behaviour in the future.

2.       Start slow

For new dog owners, an off-leash park might be overwhelming. There are a lot of dogs everywhere, there’s probably a lot of open space, and depending on your dog, their first instinct may just be to bolt to the farthest corner they can find. This can encourage negative behaviour and lessen the strength of your recall command if you have to yell repeatedly at your pooch to try and get them to return. It is highly recommended you have a strong recall bond with your dog before you go to an off-leash park. Some parks also have smaller enclosed areas where you can work on that recall with your dog while in a distracting environment. You can also use these pens for small group play-dates with other dogs.

3.       Don’t keep your dog on-leash at an off-leash park

There are cases where you may want to use your leash for a period of time (to lead your dog away from something/another dog, to lead them out of the park, or for short ‘time-out’ breaks), but for the most part you need to be able to let your dog roam. Leashed dogs may become reactive/aggressive to off-leash dogs approaching them, and vice versa.

4.       Watch your dog at all times

It only takes a second for play to get out of hand, and it happens. Just as you don’t get along with everyone you meet, neither will your dog. Keep an eye on your pooch and their playmates, and make sure you can safely intervene before play gets out of hand. Remember, NEVER reach into the midst of dogs who have gotten out of hand – you might lose yours. Watch for stress cues from your dog, like a tucked tail, excessive yawning, unusual snapping/baring of teeth, growling, raised hackles, etc. Call your dog to you, and lead them away from the situation.

If you’re new to dogs, signs of healthy play include a perky tail, frequent ‘bowing’ (when a dog lowers their front legs/chest to the ground), mild growling, and role reversal playing (chaser becomes the chased, and vice versa).

There are fine lines which can be hard to spot, but if you feel uncomfortable with the situation, call your dog and move on. Try to keep in mind a dogs idea of play is going to be different than yours, and make sure you know the difference if an off-leash park is somewhere you plan to take your dog to.

5.       Leave your toys at home

Even if your dog has no problems sharing their favourite ball, other dogs may be reactive or possessive of toys. This doesn’t mean they are a bad dog, it’s probably something their owner is working on, but it will make their park visit much less enjoyable. If you really want to play fetch with fido, be considerate of others. Don’t throw toys for someone else’s dog, or when other dogs are in your area. Avoid peak times so you have more space to play. And prepare to lose whatever toy you bring, because it’s bound to happen at some point.

6.       NEVER feed someone else’s dog without asking

Food aggression is also a common trait in dogs, and you never know what sort of allergies or intolerances another dog may have. Beef and chicken allergies are more common than you think. But more importantly, most people don’t want their dog begging for treats, especially from other people. It only encourages behaviour the dogs owner probably doesn’t appreciate.  It might be cute for you, but for the owner it’s probably not. Give affection instead, something you can all appreciate.

7.       Pick up after your pup

There is nothing worse than going to the park for some play-time and ending up with a dog covered in poop. Nobody wants that. On top of that, animal poop will attract other animals. Picking up after your dog is part and parcel of the deal. Nobody likes doing it, but it’s what you signed up for when you got a dog.

Beat the heat

While most of us are probably loving this temperature turnaround here in Calgary, you can bet some of our pooches aren’t going to be as enthusiastic. Summer heat for our furry friends can be rough. If you have a dog who is either elderly or very young, a snub-nosed breed (think pugs, bulldogs, Frenchies, etc.), or a long-hair/double coated breed, your dog is at higher risk for over-heating.

Since dogs have much more limited means to cool themselves than people do, it’s important to be aware of your dogs condition in the heat. Panting is your dogs best way to release heat, but excessive panting, especially when combined with stringy, sticky drool, is an indication your dog is overheating.

 So how do we keep our doggos cool? Well, we’ve put together a few tips for you. Keep in mind these are general hot-day tips. If you are trying to cool down a dangerously overheated dog, you’ll want to seek vet attention. You can check out our blog on recognizing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke/overheating, and some emergency measures you can take here. Please keep in mind this is not intended to override any advice your vet gives you, but is based off of the standard pet first aid guidelines.

1.       Always ensure your pup has access to shade. If you have an open backyard with no trees, consider creating a covered (but not enclosed) shelter where your dog can escape from the direct sunlight.

2.       Ensure your dog has access to water. Much like people, dogs can become dehydrated, as well as suffer from heat stroke. Check out our blog on signs and symptoms of overheating for more information.

3.       Consider getting a pet cooling mat (basically a giant ice pack), which will help keep your dogs body temperature down. This is especially helpful for those dogs noted above at higher risk for overheating. It is not recommended to cover your dog, even will cool or wet products, since their bodies cool much differently than ours and you run the risk of insulating the heat instead of allowing it to disperse.

4.       Do NOT shave double-coated dogs. While this might seem like the best idea to help them release heat, it will in fact cause more harm than good. Just as their fur will insulate them from the cold in the winter, double-coated dogs will also be insulated from some of the heat in the summer. Shaving their coat strips them of their natural protection, and exposes their skin which is unused to being open to the air and sun. Shaving your double-coated dog can also change the way their hair grows, which leads to other complications. Regular grooming (with a knowledgeable and experienced groomer) to keep their coat healthy, along with our other tips, is the best way to make your double-coated dog comfortable during the warmer months.

5.       Put out a sprinkler! This is likely to be great fun for you and your pooch, and a good way for them to keep cool while playing.

6.       Give your pooch a cool, wet towel to lie on. Remember, you don’t want to cover your dog as you’ll simply be insulating them. Having a cool surface to lie on will help your dog keep cool much more efficiently.

7.       Keep outdoor exercise limited to early morning and later evening hours if you can. Always check the pavement before you take your dog out. If it’s too hot to hold your hand on for a few seconds, it’s too hot for your dogs paws.

8.       Give your dog ice cubes or frozen treats. Frozen cutes of soup broth (the no sodium kind) are a great treat for your pup on a hot day.

9.       If you have the space (and don’t mind the mess), get a kiddie pool for your pooch! Check out this awesome idea for a multi-use pool/fireplace for your yard.

And we hope it goes without saying, but never, ever, EVER, leave your dog alone in the car. The only exception is if you can leave your air conditioning on for them, but even still it’s debatable. And certainly not just with the windows down, not even for five minutes, because you never know what could happen. If you get delayed for any reason (a medical emergency for example), your dog could be left alone, and there’s no way for it to save itself. It’s just not worth the risk.

So, play safe, be aware, and beat the heat this summer!

Winter tips for Fido

Winter. Most people hate it, but if you’re living here in Calgary, and most the rest of Canada, it’s one of the delightful seasons we’re treated to in the great white north. And since we’re experiencing one of the coldest winters on record in recent history, it seems like a good time to trot out some tips to keep your furry friend safe and sound this year.

1.       This goes for humans too, but avoid thin ice. Unless you know for sure the ice is safe, it’s probably best to avoid frozen ponds, lakes, and rivers completely. You might think it’s cute to watch your pooch slip and slide across the ice, but if it cracks, it’s going to be a bad time for everyone. There are too many stories of dogs drowning after falling through the ice, along with humans who try and save them.

2.       Watch your dog’s feet. Winter conditions can damage your dogs foot pads, causing cracking, bleeding, and other problems. Places that salt their roads and sidewalks pose further problems for pups adventuring in the outdoors, and you need to make sure you rinse their paws when you come inside to reduce the risk of damage. Booties are a good solution for active outdoor dogs, as well as being sure to trim long fur on their feet to avoid snow clumping. There are also a variety of paw balms you can apply to stop your dog’s paws from cracking.

3.       Try to find indoor play. When there are extreme cold temperatures, dogs run the risk of frostbite just like humans. Unless you’ve got a winter dog (Husky, Malamute, Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Tibetian Terrier, Newfoundlander, Akita, etc.), your pup is probably only going to be able to handle the cold for a brief amount of time. Puppy play dates, daycare visits (hint hint), and extra playtime with you will help expend some of that energy your dog has from being inside more.

4.       Dress up! Sure, your dog has a fur jacket on, but especially for shorthair breeds, young puppies, and older dogs, this is not going to be enough when the temperature drops. There are tons of fun ways to keep your dog warm and stylish, and keep an eye out for end of season sales to save money on your dog apparel.

5.       Just like lilies are deadly for cats, anti-freeze will take your dog down with as little as a teaspoon. Even anti-freeze that has been spilled on the street or in the snow can pose a hazard to your dog, so make sure you’re watching out for coloured snow on your walks. If you’re adding anti-freeze in your garage, make sure you clean up any spills right away, and keep your dog away from the area.