Doggone Etiquette—

Spring Break

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Hooray for you dogs! The kids are home for a whole week! That could mean extra walks, more playtime, more fun and games. If you’re a lucky dog with kids in your family, it could mean all of that and more. And if there are no kids in your family, not to worry — just hope your good people will hire some of the kids that will be around all week looking for something to do.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:                            

For some (usually the older crowd) Spring Break means a true vacation either on a beach in warm sunshine or on a ski slope in the snowy north. For the majority, it simply means a week with no school, and that’s where the dogs come into the picture.                     

Maybe you don’t have a dog, but are thinking about getting one. Spring is a great time to do some research into the various breeds and to decide which ones most closely fit into your family and your lifestyle. Then plan to visit the breeders of the dogs at the top of your list. Puppies of almost any breed will win you over, but most breeders usually have an older dog or two for you to meet and to help you decide if you’re on the right track. Getting a dog is a long-term investment that needs to be made with input from every member of the family. (Toddlers, however, are definitely exempt.)   

With a dog already a member of your family, during Spring Break the kids only need to know what Rufus can and cannot do — physically, that is. There are games, tricks and fun things to teach dogs of any age, but a puppy needs as much naptime as a geriatric dog. (Puppies just don’t give up as easily!) It doesn’t take long to teach a dog to catch a Frisbee, for example, but it’s for the athletic dog because soon he’ll be jumping up to catch it in the air. For the less agile dog, chasing a ball rolled on the ground is an easier game to play. Brush up on the “give it” command, so the game can continue. Starting out with a couple of treats to reward Rufus for returning the toy is okay, but the game’s the thing, not the treats!        

Walks are what most dogs like best, especially going somewhere new or different from their routine daily walk. Rufus would enjoy hiking in nearby fields or woods as much as the kids would — or probably more. The wildlife warnings are in effect, so check the strength of the dog’s collar and leash before there’s a chance to encounter any creatures scurrying about, no matter where the walk takes place.         

Going back to the other side of this “dogs on spring break” topic is the fact that not every child who would like to have a dog of his own actually has one. There are several ways to get the dogs and kids together. Responsible teens and preteens can probably help walk, feed, brush and comb, or just entertain a neighbor’s dog. (They might even get paid for it if they prove to be good at the job.) Another possibility would be to help out with any one of the dog (and cat) rescue groups in the area. Even the Friends of Park and Bark might be able to use help from school kids during the break. Plans are underway for Park and Bark to have a big “Strutt Your Mutt” fundraiser in mid-May in the hope of raising enough money to open the dog park in the fall. You could get a neighbor’s dog ready by teaching it to strut!    

Of course, if the kids in your house can’t get enough of school, how about getting them to undertake schooling Rufus? The initial basic obedience training of a dog is not for very young children, since they tend to be a bit impatient, but the preteens and teenagers can usually handle it well. This could well be a Spring Break Gone to the 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 in 2008.