Doggone Etiquette —

Safety First!

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:                           

Some of you macho types think your only job is to keep your people and your home safe, like barking when the trash collector steals the garbage. That’s just one part of your job. The other part is keeping yourself safe so you can do the first part. Get it?  Here are some doggy safety tips just for you.                         

Do not race out the gate that someone left open. Instead, always picture the gate as it’s meant to be – closed. The same goes for the front door. And the back door. And the cellar door. And the garage door. You only go through these openings when you’re on duty (and on lead) escorting your people.                             

Dig if you must (you’ll be shown where you can and, more importantly, where you cannot) but never under the fence, not even in those semi-open spots that need to be repaired. Don’t even try jumping over the fence. You could get badly hurt.                              

Maybe you have the kind of fence you can’t see, but zaps you if you try to cross the unseen line. If so, you have another job and that is trying to ignore the neighbor’s cat or dog, or the woodchuck wandering onto your turf. Or the UPS man. Or the FedEx man. They can’t see the line either, but – lucky them – they don’t get zapped when crossing it. In these cases, a few barks will prove you’re on the job.                

Be very good about remembering these things and any others your people teach you to keep you safe. They will cover most of the other rules for your safety.  

A Word to the Dog’s Owners:          

Young puppies do not handle uncarpeted stairs very well. When they manage to climb up, they tend to do a Superman flying leap down from whatever step they are on. This may be rather amusing to watch, but it can do lifelong damage to the growth plates in their legs. (Very expensive repair bills!) The same danger is true of leaps off furniture. The one word is “Off” said very firmly. Remind everyone in the family that the word is “Off” (never “down”). Four-feet-on-the floor is how puppies are safe, and where all dogs belong. Well, most of the time.

No matter what kind of fencing you put up to protect your dog, check it thoroughly, and often. Tiny spaces at the bottom can become escape tunnels in no time flat. A disconnect in electronic fencing means it no longer works and a clever Rufus will discover that fact in the blink of an eye. Put the collar on your dog and test-walk the perimeter periodically to check.

There are two additional things you must do to keep your dog safe. One is to obtain a town dog license. That tag goes on his collar and means he will be identified quickly and easily, especially if he has just wandered a short distance from home. The other safety precaution is to have him micro-chipped. That way, no matter where he is lost (or is found, but missing his collar and tag) he will be returned to you. This is very important when traveling anywhere with your dog, whether it’s for a hike in the Maine woods, a visit to Aunt Martha’s, or a vacation far from home. Most public shelters and many veterinary hospitals throughout the States are now equipped to read micro-chips.         

There are numerous other ways to keep good old Rufus safe and sound. Here’s a partial list – keep doors to the outside closed, check fences, use a proper collar and lead (both checked for wear), make regular visits to the vet (Rufus’ second-best friend), read labels on garden and anti-bug products for poison, and regardless of his age, keep out of reach anything you would not want a toddler to swallow. That’s your part of the bargain and in return you are rewarded with a faithful friend.  

Until next time, BE  GOOD  (and keep Rufus safe!)

- 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.