Doggone Etiquette —

Changing Times

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Lots of strange things happen when the weather gets cold. You have probably been chasing leaves that fall off the trees. And with the bare branches it’s easier to see where the squirrels (and the neighbor’s cats) are going. When you take that first step outdoors in the morning, the grass is kind of crisp under your feet. That’s called frost.                               

There’s another strange thing about to happen. Even though it’s pitch dark in the morning, your people will start getting up earlier. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Oh well, longer darkness and less daylight is great for catching some extra snooze-time. It may take some getting used to, and by the time you’ve got the new routine all straightened out, your whole day will change back to the way it is for most of the year. 

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

It’s time to “fall back” to Eastern Standard Time and you may have a sleepy Rufus at wake-up time for a few days, or a bewildered one. All animals have an inner sense of seasonal rotation, so the chances are he’ll only be upset by the all-of-a-sudden one hour change. When I had a kennel, I put the dogs to bed half an hour earlier, and got them up half an hour earlier, for two or three days before the clocks went back the full hour. It eased them (or me) into the change. However, in a one or two dog household, it’s unlikely any such easing into bedtime and the wake-up call would be necessary.                              

What might cause a slight misunderstanding for a couple of days could occur if Rufus is on a strict time schedule for breakfast and dinner, or maybe just thinks he should be. Don’t give in to any between-meal begging. Rufus will get over it. You may have to change some of his exercise routine. For example, if an early morning walk has been a daily event all spring, summer and fall, your own schedule may mean you’ll need to switch that to an afternoon walk. No problem, but be sure the dog gets out before and after breakfast for his “bathroom” duties.                               

Leaves on the ground and weeds by the roadside can harbor fleas and ticks. They don’t all die off just because we’ve changed our clocks! Continue with whatever monthly prevention you’ve been using. Most dogs will have started to grow their winter coat (another normal animal reaction to weather change) so more brushing and combing will help alert you to unwanted bugs. It will also help keep dog hair off your furniture. As we get into winter, be sure to trim most of the hair that grows around the pads of the dog’s feet. The longer hair makes it harder to remove snow – when we get to that problem!                     

Until then, cold fall rain means Rufus must be dried off thoroughly and this includes his paws and the pads of his feet. Most dogs enjoy this spa treatment done with a bath towel, beach towel or hand towel (depending on the size of your Rufus). Some people prefer to use a blow-dryer, but if you do, watch the heat. It must never be more than just warm. Some dogs like this method, while it terrifies others. If towel-drying the dog is a first-time procedure for you and/or the dog, make it a game. That way you won’t be apt to lose your temper over what could be a struggle, and the dog will be more likely to think of it as fun. For example, rubbing his body dry is normally not the big deal.

When that’s done and he’s rolling over on his back, he won’t be so quick to object to your drying his paws. Oddly enough, large dogs are usually better about standing still for all this “body work” than little dogs.          

Until next time - Be Good!

-  Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me! which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award this year.