Barbecues and Cookouts: Fun for Humans, Dangerous for Dogs
As we head into spring and summer—the period of time most of us spend as much time outdoors as possible—it’s impossible not to get excited about the prospect of barbecues and cookouts. While these are fun for those attending, they can often pose a significant danger to dogs in a variety of ways. Before you fire up the grill, check out our tips for ensuring a successful and safe cookout. Don’t Give Your Dog Too Many Scraps We’ve all fallen victim to puppy-dog eyes from time to time, but it’s important to make sure your dog doesn’t get too many “treats” during the cookout. Not only can it upset your dog’s stomach, but also in the case of things like grilled bone-in chicken or wings, it’s possible for your dog to swallow chicken bones, which can be hazardous. Make sure your guests know that your dog shouldn’t be given any table scraps, and gently enforce that rule if you see it being broken. In the same vein, be sure to keep alcoholic beverages away from dogs, as some of them will see an unattended cup as a great opportunity. Keep the Grill Away from Pets When people are playing with the dog, be sure they are doing so far away from the grill. One misstep can cause serious injury to the dog, the people, or both. If your dog is particularly jumpy, you may even want to consider keeping the grill behind some type of temporary fence so that the dog doesn’t try to jump at you while you are flipping burgers. The only dog near the grill should be a hot dog. Pay Attention to Your Dog Aside from actually spending time with your dog, we actually mean paying attention to your dog’s demeanor to ensure that they aren’t getting too tired, too hot, or too over-stimulated at the cookout. Too many people around can overwhelm dogs easily, and if you notice your dog becoming antsy or aggressive, you may want to consider bringing the dog inside. While your dog is outside, also be sure to check that he or she has enough water—especially if your cookout is on a hot, sunny day or your dog runs around a lot. Keep Other Dangers Away from the Dog Other things at cookouts can be dangerous aside from food scraps and the grill itself. Things like bug repellant and citronella candles, for instance, can be imbibed or knocked over, causing injury or other problems, and charcoal can also be mistaken for kibble (albeit very large kibble!) so that should also be kept away from dogs. Cookouts can be fun, and they don’t require much additional planning in order to keep your pets safe, but there should be some extra precautions in place to ensure the event goes off without a hitch.
Beach Safety for Dogs
Some dogs are terrified of water—be it baths, the beach, or pools, they want nothing to do with any of it. But others dogs love it, and when it gets warmer out, trips to the beach with your dog can be fun. If you’re planning on heading to the shores with your pup, it’s important to follow certain safety measures to ensure the day goes well. Check out our list of tips to make sure you and your dog both have fun at the beach! 1) Bring a Life Jacket for Your Dog Not all dogs can swim, and even if yours can, there’s a chance that a wave, the current, or other disruptions in the water’s calmness can disorient your pooch. Some breeds are especially bad swimmers, such as corgis and pugs, so if you have a dog that can’t really swim, even a small amount of water can pose a danger. Bringing a doggie life vest can help prevent problems. 2) Don’t Forget Sunscreen That’s right—sunscreen for dogs exists. Just like we humans are at risk for burning on unprotected spots like our ears and noses, so are dogs. Get a dog-friendly sunscreen and apply it to your pet’s ears and nose about 30 minutes before heading out to the beach. 3) Bring Fresh Water You might think that with such a large body of water on hand, bringing your own water would be redundant. However, lake or ocean water can be dirty (or salt water) so it’s important to bring clean, fresh water along with a bowl with you to the beach. You might even find that you get a bit thirsty yourself—after all, being out in the sun can be dehydrating for anyone! 4) Be Mindful of Temperatures Like cold snow and ice, hot sand and sidewalks can be harmful to your dog’s paws. Make sure they have adequate protection, or a place to get off of the hot surface from time to time. You should also be aware that running on sand is much harder for your dog than running on grass, so you should expect to have a shorter play time than you would at a traditional dog park. 5) Keep an Eye on Your Dog with Other Dogs Like any dog park experience, beaches can be places for aggressive dogs to take over, so it’s important to keep a watchful eye on your dog as well as any dog your pet might be interacting with. This helps you notice potential problems early enough to intervene and can save a lot of heartache. 6) Wash Off Thoroughly After the beach, make sure you rinse (or even wash) your dog off thoroughly. This helps get rid of salt, dirt, sand and any microorganisms from the water that they may have picked up. Be sure to dry off the inside of your pup’s ears as well (as well as any folds or rolls, depending on the breed of dog). What routine do you follow when going to the beach? Let us know!
Five Great Movies About Dogs
If you’re a dog lover, movies about dogs can be bittersweet—especially because so many of them end with the beloved pooch passing away. If you’re looking for a movie that you can really kick back and enjoy, though, there are plenty to choose from that aren’t Disney cartoons. We’ve compiled a list of five great movies that are about dogs that you can’t miss. 1) Best in Show A satirical look at the world of dog shows, this mockumentary shows the good, the bad, and the ugly involved with competing for the most coveted award at the competition—Best in Show. You’ll love it, and your dog will probably bark at all of the dogs on screen—win-win! 2) The Adventures of Milo and Otis This silly film follows a pug and his orange-cat friend as they traipse through life’s adventures. The pair start as friends growing up together on a farm, but find themselves accidentally separated. The movie follows their triumphs and tribulations of going across mountains, plains, snow, water, and more as they try to reconnect with one another. You’ll love Milo the cat and Otis the dog—and if you’ve got kids, they’ll love it too! 3) Beethoven and Beethoven’s Second Though technically two movies, we didn’t want to have to leave one out here! This pair of films features a loveable yet rambunctious Saint Bernard whose family becomes unknowingly involved with an unethical veterinarian who is trying to take Beethoven from the family for scientific research. Through the plot, the family works against the hapless vet to bring home their family pet, and the sequel deals with Beethoven’s girlfriend’s kidnapping! 4) Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale This 2009 film is a drama based on the story of a college professor’s bond with Hachiko the dog. Hachiko is an abandoned dog that the professor takes in, with intentions on returning it to its owner. When no one goes on to claim the dog, he keeps Hachi. The film is based on at rue story, and its tagline is “A true story of faith, devotion, and undying love”—so basically, what it’s like to own a dog. 5) Air Bud Perfect for the kids, Air Bud is about a young boy and a rather uniquely talented stray dog with an amazing ability to play basketball. Twelve-year-old Josh Framm moves to a small town in Washington after his father’s unexpected death, and with no friends and being too shy to try out for the basketball team, Josh prefers to play on his own, eventually befriending a runaway golden retriever, Buddy. He learns that Buddy not only loves playing basketball but is actually good at it too! Buddy’s former owner, however, intends on cashing in on Buddy’s celebrity—what will happen to the pair?
May Dog of the Month is
MINA! affectionately, also known as Wilhemina. Breed: Gorgeous Golden Retriever Age: 7 Where I Live: Ukrainian Village Joys in Life: Scrambled egg whites, string cheese, chasing a Frisbee, naps, salmon sashimi, belly rubs and ear scratches. She also loves leisure – leisurely strolls are her thing. Cruisin’ Dog Walker: Jesse -she loves walking with Cruisin’ Canines and really appreciates how accommodating they are to her busy schedule 😉