When at the vet a few weeks ago with Huxley, the collie relaxed on the floor after having his swollen eye examined for debris. I expressed to the vet relief as well as surprise that the eye problem was likely only conjunctivitis since this dog has a propensity to stick his face in every tree, bush, shrub and mass of weeds that he comes across. The veterinarian and I discussed how nice it must be to live a life oblivious to all of the dangers in the world. I smiled as my giant fluffy dog enjoyed the cool tile floor in the exam room and relayed to the vet how diligent I know I must always be to protect my dogs and all of my pets from all the dangers that they are not aware of. Staying constantly alert to how to keep my pets safe isn't easy, especially when new dangers arise with every change of season. Even though summer is supposed to be full of amazingly fun pet friendly adventures, there's always some pet hazard lurking. Besides time with pets leisure, summer also isn't supposed to have any quizzes. I know. But this summer safety for pets quiz is an excellent way to make sure every pet stays out of danger this season. Try it:
Typist: Bethany
When at the vet a few weeks ago with Huxley, the collie relaxed on the floor after having his swollen eye examined for debris. I expressed to the vet relief as well as surprise that the eye problem was likely only conjunctivitis since this dog has a propensity to stick his face in every tree, bush, shrub and mass of weeds that he comes across. The veterinarian and I discussed how nice it must be to live a life oblivious to all of the dangers in the world. I smiled as my giant fluffy dog enjoyed the cool tile floor in the exam room and relayed to the vet how diligent I know I must always be to protect my dogs and all of my pets from all the dangers that they are not aware of. Staying constantly alert to how to keep my pets safe isn't easy, especially when new dangers arise with every change of season. Even though summer is supposed to be full of amazingly fun pet friendly adventures, there's always some pet hazard lurking. Besides time with pets leisure, summer also isn't supposed to have any quizzes. I know. But this summer safety for pets quiz is an excellent way to make sure every pet stays out of danger this season. Try it:
Most pet summer safety seems like common sense. Anyone who knows anything about dog, cat, parrot, etc care would take precautions to ensure their pet doesn't get lost during a thunderstorm, would never leave a pet in a car even with the windows cracked or go for a summer hike without water, right? Well, with 1 in 5 pets going missing after being scared by loud noises, a news story about a pet dying in a hot car at least once a day and even I, a pet adventurer with decades of experience, am guilty of forgetting or running out of human and pet water on a summer outing pet safety isn't always simple. Then there is my biggest summer safety fear; foxtails. Surprisingly few people seem to be aware that this common weed that can be deadly to pets. Maybe I am so foxtail paranoid because I have a dog who sticks his face in every tree, bush, shrub and mass of weeds that he comes across as well as being covered in fur that loves to collect every bit of tree, bush, shrub and mass of weeds that we pass. Wait. Make that three dogs with velcro fur! Diligently keeping pets safe is never easy. And keeping up on pet safety knowledge goes beyond simply using common sense to feeling like an all consuming, full time job. Like me, I hope that all pet adventurers will never stop learning about pet safety and sharing the knowledge to keep all pets safe. Even if it means taking a quiz in the summer.
How did you score on the quiz? Did you learn anything new about summer safety for pets? Is there a summer pet safety tip we forgot? Please let us know in the comments.
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Please don't misunderstand this confession of my faults as a trainer and visualize me beating my pets for disobeying. I am simply admitting that I am not a perfect trainer. Pet training is forever a learning process and one of the places I am at in this process is losing some bad habits I picked up along the way. In an effort to keep this positive reinforcement training post positive I will first proudly share that one of the most difficult aversive training habits I desperately needed to rid myself of is long gone; the leash pop. Anyone who has been training a long time might remember the leash pop, a negative training technique of a quick pop on the leash when a dog pulls while walking or to correct a broken sit. Unfortunately, this pop had become a habit for me that I literally didn't even know I was doing. Once I became aware of how I was unconsciously leash popping, I spent countless walks undoing my own bad habit with the clicker. When the leash was taut and my instinct was to pop, I stopped, waited for a loose leash and clicked. Indeed, I clicker trained myself at the same time as the dogs! Not only is this method of teaching a loose leash walk massively more effective than the pop, it was another step on my journey to be a better trainer. A 100% positive trainer.
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Cascadian Nomads
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