Keeping your dog cool during the summer months is extremely important. It can prevent heat stroke, dehydration or even death. Dogs not only need to drink plenty of water to keep cool, many of them like to swim in it as well. While it is a great form of exercise and will help to keep Fido from overheating, many dogs drown each year from pool accidents that could have been avoided.

If your dog loves the water and loves to jump into the pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. If a dog falls into a river or lake, its instinct will tell it to turn around and try to get out from the point at which it fell in. This may work well in a lake or a river, but in a suburban swimming pool the dog may drown if it adopts this instinctive action. Therefore it is important to teach your dog where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in.

To teach a dog how to exit a pool, first attach a recall leash to its collar. Gently place the dog into the pool from the steps. The dog will instinctively turn around and get out from the point of entry-the steps. Place the dog in the pool from the steps several times. Once it realizes that it can scramble out via the steps, move to the other sides of the pool and again gently place the dog into the pool. Use the recall leash to guide the dog to the step area, giving as little help as possible to the dog.

“Once the dog has oriented himself to the steps in relation to the house and understands how to use the steps to exit the pool, the danger of it drowning in the pool will be reduced,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, CEO and master trainer. “Practice as much as possible with your dog, especially with pups, but make certain your dog does not become exhausted. The most you will be able to achieve at any one time is three or four entries and exits.”

With regards to exhaustion, it is also important for you to keep an eye on your dog while in the pool because swimming can be very tiring for a dog. Just like many dogs will chase a ball or Frisbee again and again until they nearly collapse, many dogs will continue swimming without any thought as to how tired they are. And unlike chasing a ball on land, they have no solid ground on which to rest.

If a dog has year-round access to the pool area, you should conduct pool safety in all weather, hot and cold. Try to keep the pool’s water level as full as possible, as the dog has a much greater chance of being able to get out the closer the water level is to dry land.

If you don’t have access to a pool that allows dogs but still want to take him swimming, nature offers other enjoyable options. However, be aware of the surrounding area if you take your dog to the beach, lake or pond. Watch for trouble and make sure your dog will come to you as soon as you call. Recall is one of the most important lessons you can teach your dog. It can literally save his life.

With a little planning and forethought, you can help your dog swim without incident in most any environment during the hot summer months. We love our pets and want them to be with us for as long as possible, and the above tips will go a long way to ensure their safety.

The post Pool Safety For Dogs first appeared on Puppy Blog.

To communicate with each other, dogs use body language and guttural sounds, such as barks and growls. When they first meet, dogs use their body language to assess where each ranks in the pack order. Signs of dominance and confidence are a stiff body, head and ears up, hackles up and tail up. Signs of submission and respect are a lowering of the body, the head, the ears and the tail.

Because dogs instinctively know and understand these body signals, it only makes sense that we humans would be able to communicate with them better if we can learn how to imitate the ways in which they communicate with each other.

For example, dogs do not instinctively know the words that come most naturally to us. If two dogs meet and neither shows respect to the other, they will issue warning growls. This again is a language that dogs already understand. They do not instinctively know “Spot, don’t come any closer.”

That’s why experts say behavioral training is so important-and that lasting training isn’t about treats and physical punishment. It’s about understanding the way your dog thinks and communicates in a way that establishes the owner as “top dog.”

“Dogs are pack animals,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, CEO and master trainer. “They have a specific way of interacting, which includes an instinctual manner of communication. Learning how to communicate effectively with your dog in a language he understands is the first step toward establishing leadership and control.”

So, while Spot and Rover might learn the meaning of a few words, they will learn more quickly if we communicate using their language. Once we communicate clearly with them by using a language they already know, then we can start to teach them some of our own language.

Learning canine is not hard. It takes practice, however, because it is not instinctive for us. If you watch Rover and Spot talk to their friends and then to strangers, you will begin to see certain patterns of communication. We learn how they meet each other, how they greet each other, and how they call one another to follow. We see how they let each other know when they are uncomfortable with someone getting into their space.

Using a dog’s own language to communicate with them is the quickest, most effective way of getting through to him. Thus, when we are trying to train our dogs, it just makes common sense to teach them in a language they already understand.

The post Speak Your Dog’s Language For Better Communication first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Summer may be your favorite time of year, but with it comes the heat, humidity and summer storms-all of which can be very hard on your dog. When planning your summer, it is important to remember your canine family members to make sure they make it through the summer happy and healthy.

“We see and hear of so many dogs every summer that get dangerously ill, or worse, by being placed in completely avoidable situations,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, CEO and master trainer. “Many times the owners just don’t know any better, so educations is the first step in preventing our dogs from getting heat stroke, dehydration and other heat-related maladies.”

Depending on your experience level with dogs, below are either some new tips or some important reminders to keep your canine friends happy and safe during the summer months.

Heat

Heat can kill…and very quickly. Make sure your pet has plenty of cool, clean water. Do not dehydrate your pup by exercising it in the heat of the day. Save the run or long walk for early morning or late evening when it is cooler. Bring plenty of water with you and give him a drink whenever you take one. Be aware, too, that hot pavement can burn your dog’s paws. So if the pavement feels warm or hot to your hand, your dog will not like it. Dogs don’t have shoes to insulate their feet!

If your dog is spending time outside, make sure he has shade available to him along with plenty of cool, clean water. Provide two or more sources of water in case one gets knocked over. Your dog will also need shelter in the event of a sudden storm. He does not want to be out in the storm any more than you do. For his shelter, be sure to provide adequate ventilation because heat is a major cause of death in pets in the summer.

Cars and Trucks

Do not leave your dog in the car, even with the windows open. Heat buildup is tremendous, and it will not take long for him to overheat and suffer heat stroke. In less than 10 minutes, a car can reach over 120 degrees when it is only 80 degrees outside. Remember, your dog is wearing a fur coat. Think how you would feel if you were wearing fur at this time of the year!

Some dogs love to stick their heads out of the window to catch a breeze. It may look cute to you, but flying objects can injure your dog’s eyes and the constant flapping of his ears in the wind can harm them. Instead, crate or harness your dog to keep him safe. The back of a pickup is not a safe place for him. If untethered, he can jump or fall out, and even if he is tethered, he may get jerked around and injured during turns or sudden stops. He could also be hurt from the intense heat on the bed of a pickup.

Water

If your dog loves the water and loves to jump into the pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. Dogs will instinctively try to get out at the same place they went in, so it is important to teach your dog or puppy where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in. It is also important for you to keep an eye on him when he is in the pool because swimming is very tiring for a dog.

Be aware of the surrounding area if you take your dog to the beach, lake or pond. Watch for trouble and make sure your dog will come to you as soon as you call. Recall is one of the most important lessons you can teach your dog. It can literally save his life.

With a little planning and thought, we can help our dogs enjoy the summer and make it through without incident. We love our pets and want them to be with us for as long as possible.

The post Making the ‘Dog Days’ of Summer Easier on Your Pet first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Your pets are treasured family members and need protection as much as your own family in the event of fire. Sadly, some 500,000 pets are affected by fires each year, and over 40,000 of them die. Most fire victims die from smoke asphyxiation. A fire needs oxygen to burn, so lack of oxygen or inhaling smoke is more often the killer than the fire itself.
Following are some tips to help you know what to do to prevent fires and if a fire breaks out in your home.

1. Be sure you have working smoke detectors on every level of the home.
a. Place detectors near bedrooms and in the kitchen, either on the ceiling or 6-12 inches below the ceiling on the wall, well away from air vents.

b. Be sure detectors are in good working order. Mark your calendar to remind yourself to check the batteries regularly (for example, at the start of a new season).

c. Another smart home safety measure is to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can cause severe illness or death to both people and pets.

2. Have an emergency exit plan that includes your pets, and practice the plan regularly. Once a fire starts, it spreads rapidly, so everyone should know what to do to escape.

a. Affix window decals around your home so rescue workers know there are pets inside. Decals can be obtained from your local Bark Busters trainer, the ASPCA or your local fire department.

b. Fire experts report that many dogs perish in fires because they are confined in a crate or room and cannot escape. Be sure your fire plan accounts for crated dogs.
c. Keep leashes at hand so you can leash your dog to prevent him from escaping in panic.
d. Keep pets on a ground floor of your home to make rescue easier.
e. Keep hallways and exits free of clutter to allow you to get out of a burning house more safely.

3. Make sure pets always wear current identification. Consider subscribing to a service like 1-800-HELP-4-PETS, whose Pet Protector System will help to reunite you and your pet if he becomes lost (www.Help4Pets.com).

4. Research a safe place to take your pets. Ask friends or relatives if they can shelter you and your pets, and check with local pet-boarding facilities, humane societies and animal shelters.

5. Assemble a dog disaster kit with dog food and his medications, copies of his health records, your veterinarian’s phone number and list of facilities you can take your pet, recent photo taken of you with your dog, favorite toy or bedding, and extra leash and collar affixed with the pet’s I.D.

6. Give a key to a trusted neighbor, and make sure he knows where the dog might be located within the house so he can inform firefighters.

7. Ask your local fire department if the fire trucks carry pet oxygen masks. If they don’t, ask neighborhood pet owners to join you in making a donation to buy masks for the fire department.

8. Listen to your dog! Canines have a keen sense of smell and can detect smoke long before humans. If your dog is acting strangely, look into the situation promptly and be prepared to gather your family and follow your evacuation plan.

9. If you must evacuate and can’t find your dog in the house, leave an outside door open and then call your dog’s name once you get out. He may be able to hear you and escape.

10. If your dog was in a smoke-filled building or if you can smell smoke on his fur, take him to your veterinarian. Toxic fumes can be deadly.

11. Prevent fires from happening by ensuring your dog doesn’t have access to dangerous combustible items.

a. Keep electrical wires and batteries out of your pet’s reach. Chewing or biting anything electrical can cause him shock or burns, or could start a fire.

b. Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. A lit candle knocked over by a swinging tail can burn your pet or cause a fire.

The post Fire Safety Tips For Dog Owners first appeared on Puppy Blog.

We’ve all seen them. Those carefree dog food commercials that feature adorable, furry puppy’s jumping on the laps of children, licking their faces and, for the most part, being on their best behavior. Unable to resist the allure of this loveable scene played out on television, many children ask their parents for a dog of their own.

Many parents submit to the requests. After all, a puppy would make a great companion, it might distract the youngster from the PlayStation gaming console for a while, and it just might teach him or her some responsibility. But buying the dog is easy. The hard part is training it to act like the dog in the commercial. And that task becomes even trickier when there are kids involved. Most kids don’t know the first thing about being with and training a dog, and many parents could use some remedial training as well.

Whenever a parent makes the important decision to purchase a dog for the kids, they should also make the commitment to enroll the dog (and its adolescent companion) in formal training classes. I have found that Bark Busters, the only international dog training company that offers a lifetime guarantee, to be one of the most effective, proven dog training companies around. Bark Busters uses a dog’s own innate pack mentality, voice commands and body language to teach most dogs the basics in roughly two hours.

“Dogs are pack animals,” says Liam Crowe, Bark Busters president, CEO and master trainer. “They have a specific way of interacting, which includes an instinctual manner of communication. Learning how to communicate effectively with your dog in a language he understands is the first step toward establishing leadership and control.”

First and foremost, never buy a dog as a toy substitute. Dogs are living, breathing creatures with feelings. Children should be taught this fact from an early age and should be shown how to treat dogs with respect. By adopting a new dog for the right reasons and instilling the right mindset within the child, a parent takes the first step in avoiding undesired consequences, such as mistreatment and neglect.

After you have adopted a dog for the right reasons, go out and find a local trainer immediately before you become “dogged” with bad canine habits. In the meantime, here are a few safety tips to make sure your new pet and your child make it together safely to their first training class.

Never leave a child or baby alone with a dog. When visiting friends or relatives who have a dog, do not allow your child to play in the yard unsupervised. If that is not possible, ask the owners to put the dog away.

Do not allow your child to feed a dog unsupervised, as some dogs can be very protective of food. Also, never allow your dog to snatch food from your child. It not only teaches the dog bad manners, but it endangers the hand that feeds it.

Do not allow your child to pull on the dog’s collar to lead it outside the house, as it could bite them. Children without adult supervision should not be allowed to walk a dog, as the child could be dragged unwittingly into a fight with another dog. The dog should be taught to respond to a verbal command. However, if the dog does not respond to a verbal command given by the child, correction should be given by the parent, not the child. In fact, under no circumstances should a child ever discipline a dog. That is the parents’ job.

In addition to the above tips to help parents create a safe environment for their children and their new dog, here are some additional tips that parents should teach their children for when they are not around to directly supervise them. Children should be instructed to:

1) Never pet a strange dog, even if his owner is present.
2) Stay away from a dog while he is eating and sleeping.
3) Stop your bike if chased while riding.
4) Never retrieve a ball from someone else’s yard.
5) If visiting friends who have dogs, ask them to put their dogs away if you want to play.
6) Stay away from a dog that has puppies.
7) Stay away from a dog that is tied up.
8) Never pull a dog’s tails or ears; dogs feel pain, too.
9) Never tease a dog or make it angry.
10) Stand totally still if a dog runs at you barking. Cover your face with your hands. If knocked to the ground by a dog, roll into a ball, cover your face with your arms and stay as still as you possibly can. Do not try to get up.

Adopting a dog can be fun-both for the parent and the child. A dog can provide one of the best forms of companionship possible, it teaches the children some responsibility and it brings smiles to all. By following the above tips and enrolling your dog in a local training course, you may soon have the dog food companies calling you for a TV spot.

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