October 2010: Protecting Our Dogs, and Others, While Out In Public

After the record breaking heat of this summer, autumn’s cooler temperatures are a welcomed change. When adding Antifreeze, be sure to keep the contents and used containers well away from pets, who are attracted by the sweet taste. Ingesting a half tablespoon of spilled Antifreeze can be lethal to a cat!  

Halloween is fast approaching; for tips on safety and including your pets in the festivities, please see our newsletter:http://www.canine-clippers.com/newsletters/october2007.htm. Remember too that we can creatively style your pet for Halloween.

Each year, we hear heartbreaking stories of encounters between dogs and people or with other dogs, wherein a pet or person is bitten and a dog becomes at risk of being euthanized. These encounters are often preventable and we’d like to remind pet owners of various ways to avoid confrontations & accidents. 

The benefits of enrolling in dog obedience classes can’t be over stressed. Dogs & owners need lessons in how to relate, behave and communicate with one another. When in public, a minimally socialized dog should follow four basic commands: ‘sit, stay, come, and leave it’ (to draw his attention away from an object, person or another animal).

Know your dog’s triggers. Is he likely to bolt or lunge if he hears thunder, a car backfire or sees a child running? It’s also important to research the traits of your dog’s dominant breed (for references, see our newsletters: http://www.canine-clippers.com/newsletters/april2009.htm and http://canine-clippers.com/newsletters/may2009.htm.) If you’re likely to encounter other dogs, it’s helpful to be educated on the traits of other breeds.

Most professional pet settings (veterinarian offices, grooming salons, doggie day care centers) have leash or crate rules, and will often hear from pet owners, whose dogs are entering their offices unleashed, ‘Don’t worry, he never bites.’ It’s crucial to neverassume this about any dog and always have him leashed or crated when out and about (an exception to this is dog parks; more on that below).

When out with our dogs, we’ll likely encounter not only other dogs, but their owners, or others also responsible (or the recipient of) for ‘what can happen next’. In these instances, it’s important to mind some of the rules responsible parents apply to young children playing, by deferring to the other ‘parent’. Respect the other pet owner’s signals & body language: if they appear concerned that your dog is playing too rough, call your pet away. (Reward your dog with a treat but get permission from the other dog’s ‘parent’ before offering one to their pet).

The exception to the leash rule is a dog park. In fact, probably the most important criteria for entering a dog park is that your dog is able to play and interact without his leash because, along with not having fun, a tethered dog can easily feel threatened and become aggressive if approached by unleashed dogs. Be sure too that your dog knows and responds to the basic commands and practice them liberally. Dog parks are like children’s playgrounds in that anyone & everyone is welcome, attracting some who are cooperative and play well and others who dominate or bully. Like parents, the pet owner needs to be in charge and remember to respect other pet owners’ wishes regarding their pet’s interactions.

Community festivals are another popular but problematic draw for pet owners & dogs. An interesting article can be found at:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/09/22/ST2010092205649.html?sid=ST2010092205649

Remember to be pro-active whenever you’re out with (or without) your dog; if you see a dog approaching and something,anything, doesn’t feel ‘right’, cross the street.

Finally, despite precautions, bites happen. Never get between two dogs to break up a fight. (Highly recommended is ‘Spray Shield’ a harmless citronella based animal deterrent. It’s available in the Pet Training Dept. of Pet Smart for $11.00 for an aerosol can.) And, be sure your dog is always up-to-date on a Rabies vaccine. In the event that your dog bites a person or another dog, what happens next may be up to the laws of your jurisdiction and your state’s dog bite statutes. Depending on the circumstances of the bite, in addition to being quarantined, if the vaccine is not current, your pet’s future could be out of your hands. (Virginia does not have a dog bite statute, per se, but, when treating a bite, health care workers are mandated to notify health department and animal control authorities, who will follow-up. Also, in our increasingly litigation happy society, anyone can, and often does, sue.)

We’re happy to announce that our website is being reconstructed and will soon be available with a new look, along with pictures, news, updates, and events.

Please note that our next Dog Grooming Classes for Professionals will be on October 12 in Dumfries. If you’re interested, please contact our Dumfries Salon at 703-221-3647

We’re sorry to lose Maria Sherman Royal, groomer & manager of our Chantilly salon, who is leaving to devote herself to showing and to her famly. We wish her the very best; Mari Bever will be filling in as manager.

All three of our locations need groomers and bathers. Please see the locations listed below if you, or anyone you know, is interested.

Please feel free to call Linda Law, owner & President of Featherle and Canine Clippers, with any questions about appointments, policies, employment, etc., at 540-854-0046.

~ Written by Rebecca Nilson ~

703-378-9500; featherlepetcarechantilly@verizon.net, 13881-A Metrotech Dr.

703-430-0414; featherlepetcaresterling@verizon.net, 113-B Edds Lane

703-221-3647; canineclipperschool@verizon.net 18016 Fraley Blvd.