How to Get Your Pet Used to Boarding for Long Trips
Dog Parks: They Can Be Fun, But Be Aware to Keep Your Dog Safe
How Often Should You Get Your Dog Groomed?
How to Get Your Pet Used to Boarding for Long Trips
If you’re going on a long trip and have decided to board your dog, you can prepare your pet beforehand. Planning is your best friend when it comes to boarding your dog.
First, be sure your pet will be in good hands by researching boarding facilities.
According to the article, “Doggy Daycare and Pet Boarding Do’s and Don’ts” at be.chewy.com, that means “calling up each pet boarding facility and asking lots of questions about their services and what your pet’s itinerary will be like during their stay.” Check facilities offering doggie daycare for high-energy dogs. Tour facilities you are considering and meet the staff.
Ensure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and speak with staff before boarding, as “it is still essential to go over your pet’s food, medications and any behavior quirks that your pet may have.”
First-time boarders “might consider short, overnight stays at the kennel prior to an extended boarding stay to help him or her get used to boarding,” according to the article, “Boarding Your Dog (and Cat)” at PetMD.com.
Our pets are very in tune with our emotions, so try not to make the goodbye too emotional. “Your pets can be made to feel unnecessarily anxious about the kennel visit if they are subjected to this kind of dramatic display,” the PetMD article said.
Leave an item that reminds your pet of you or home, such as a special blanket. You can also “bring them a T-shirt or towel that smells like you and their home,” the be.chewy.com article said. “These comfy items will give them something to cuddle at night, and they have a familiar scent to ease their stay in a new place.”
For information on boarding your dog or cat at Second Home Pet Resort, click here.
Dog Parks: They Can Be Fun, But Be Aware to Keep Your Dog Safe
Dog parks continue to pop up across the country wherever there are dogs and people who love them. While they are great for many dogs and their people, there are things to keep in mind to protect your dog.
Safety tips are important when you take your dog to the dog park, according to the article, “Dog Park Safety: 6 Tips for Pet Parents” at PetMD.com. They are:
• Ensure your dog has all her vaccinations. This will protect your dog from “transferable diseases.”
• Visit dog parks with different play areas for large and smaller dogs. Place your dog in the area that suits her size. This can prevent dangerous situations and injuries.
• It’s best to keep unvaccinated puppies who need socialization away from dog parks.
• Your dog should know basic training commands especially “come,” and she should respond automatically.
• Check for trash. The dog park should be clean and free of things that can be dangerous to your dog.
• Watch your dog closely. A bad situation or dog fight could start in an instant, so it’s best to pay attention to your dog.
There are other important things to consider when you take your dog to the dog park, such as making sure your dog is on a leash until entering the dog park area. “Do remove your dog’s leash before he joins the other dogs to play,” according to the article, “Play It Safe and Be Polite: Dog Park Rules You Should Never Break,” at Vetstreet.com.
Your dog should enter the dog park area in a calm yet orderly fashion. It’s best to keep unaltered dogs out of dog parks, as that can cause a lot of conflict. And, just as your dog should have manners, show your own by cleaning up after your dog.
How Often Should You Get Your Dog Groomed?
From long coats to short coats to fur or hair, there’s so many types of dog coats. With so many, how often should you get your dog groomed?
“The answer depends on what type of coat your pooch has, how much they shed, and how much brushing and bathing you are willing to do at home,” according to the article, “Ask A Groomer: How Often Should I Groom My Dog?” at iHeartDogs.com.
According to the article, the following are tips on grooming and a dog’s coat type:
• Short-haired dogs need “minimal brushing” and an occasional bath.
• Double-coated dogs (softer undercoat and coarse top coat) should be groomed “at least four times a year to help pull out the dead undercoat,” the article said, adding it’s a bad idea to shave these coats.
• Long hair and double-coated dogs may need a trip to the groomer to cut the hair around the feet, legs, bellies and butts. These dogs can get matted easily.
• Silky coated dogs have fine hair needing professional grooming at least every four to six weeks or as long as two to three months to prevent matting.
• Wiry-coated dogs get matted much less and can be groomed every two to three months. However, they should get the occasional bath and brush out but don’t over-bathe!
• Dogs with curly or wavy coats are more susceptible to matting. Brush a couple times a week. See a professional groomer every four to six weeks.
“Most pets should have their nails trimmed every 2 to 3 weeks,” according to the article, “Grooming Your Pet” at American Humane.
If you decide to clip your dog’s nails yourself, start by making sure your dog gets used to you handling his paws. Speak softly, have treats close by, and have someone nearby to help.
Recent Comments