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SAFETY TIP #1: Collar Safety
Always remove slip (choke) collars when:
- leaving your dog alone
- crating your dog
- your dog is running or playing with another dog
NEVER tie your dog using a choke collar! If you *must* tie your dog in your yard, use a harness or broad flat buckle collar, and supervise whenever possible.
TIP #2: Supervision Is Essential
Never leave your dog:
- unsupervised in front of a store, restaurant or supermarket.
- alone in a parked car, truck or van.
Unsupervised dogs can be teased, harrassed, poisoned or stolen. If you wouldn't leave a young child alone in these risky situations, why would you subject your puppy or dog to this?
TIP #3: Pet Emergency Phone Numbers List
Post a pet emergency phone numbers list on your front door, refrigerator or near your telephone. Numbers should include:
- Veterinarian, animal hospital, veterinarian that does house calls
- Poison hotline, pet emergency hotline
- Transportation service that accepts pets (or specializes in pet transportation).
- Dog trainer, animal behaviorist
- dogwalker, petsitter
- Pet lost and found numbers
- Animal shelter, local humane society
- Pet supplies stores
- Trusted neighbor, friends or relatives who will help you with your pet in an emergency
This list will come in very handy should an emergency ever arise, as a panicked owner can make essential calls at a moment's notice.
DOG BITE PREVENTION TIPS ("Under Construction")
TIP #1: Child Safety With Dogs
TIP #2: Preventing An Unfamiliar Dog From Attacking You
TIP #3: Breaking Up A Dogfight
HEALTH TIP #1: Symptoms of An Illness or Physical Condition
Signs of a possible illness or physical condition include:
- Vomiting or retching
- Diarrhea or chronic loose stool or gas
- Bloody or mucousy stool
- Unusual or smelly discharge (eyes, ears or nose)
- Listlessness, or sudden disinterest in fun activities (playtime, fetch, etc.)
- Sudden decrease in appetite
- Unusual or sudden changes in behavior
- Signs of distress, discomfort, or an inability to lay down comfortably.
Contact your vet if these symptoms occur.
TIP #2: Signs of Pain or Discomfort
Signs of possible pain or discomfort include:
- Difficulty getting up.
- Groaning noises when laying down or getting up.
- Avoidance or defensive behavior (pulling away or growling) when touched or handled by owner.
- Signs of distress, discomfort, or an inability to lay down or get up comfortably.
Contact your vet if these symptoms occur.
OBEDIENCE TIP #1: Never Punish Confusion
Mistakes and confusion are a natuaral part of learning. Never punish your dog for making a mistake. Take responsibility as the teacher for your dog's confusion. Imagine taking a
course where the instructor spoke a different language. Now imagine being punished for not being able to understand what the instructor was telling you to do. Dog's are put in this
situation all the time, and are often labelled stubborn or dominant when they "refuse" to respond correctly.
MISC.
("Under Construction")
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12 Tips For A Well-Behaved Dog
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