Dog Safety: A Happy Dog Learns a Few General Rules, And The Owner Understands Crating, and Using a Dog Gate
Dog safety means having a happy dog. And it is so important, because dogs are inquisitive and can get themselves in big trouble.
Before I talk about crating and using a dog gate, make sure that all medications and poisons are out of sight and out of reach. This includes over the counter ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol),etc. These medications are TOXIC to your dog.
Some dogs are very smart, and you may need to child-proof cabinets and closets, as you would for a toddler!Remember when you were a kid? Back in the day, some dogs were given free reign of the house, and owners put up with ruined furniture, housebreaking problems, and too many trips to the vet caused by the family dog eating dangerous things.Today, we're a lot smarter about dog training. We have kinder and more effective methods of dog training that are geared towards keeping your pet healthy and safe. It is politically and socially correct to crate-train your puppy. Properly done, the dog learns to think about the crate as its own private nesting place.Most dogs actually like spending part of the day (or night) confined in this way. (In the wild - dogs will lay down in a "den" - and the crate approximates this).Keeping your dog in a crate for a few hours at a time will keep your dog safe. But, please, be considerate of your dog. If you will be out of the house for many hours, hire a Dog Walker.
Too many people think nothing is wrong with confining their dog in the crate for 10 - 12 hours a day. It's not fair to do this to your dog.Chewing hazards are a big risk to your dog. A dog's esophagus is larger than the intestine, so dogs can eat objects that lodge in the bowel and cause problems.Some dogs get lonely, bored and anxious when they are home alone, and they will occupy themselves chewing and eating things they shouldn't. (Furniture legs, stairs, upholstery, plants, trash, toilet paper, etc).Dangerous Items Include: Clothing including socks, underwear and pantyhose; Bedding; Plastic toys; Rawhide Chews; Bones; Sticks and Firewood Kindling; Rocks; Batteries; Small balls including golf balls; Shoelaces; String and ribbons; Thread and dental floss; Medications including vitamins and fiber laxatives; Coins; Pencils and Pens; Crayons and Markers; Makeup, lipsticks and contents of purses; and many other objects. A good playtoy for crate time is a KONG. This is a bright red dense rubber ball that has a hollow inside for peanut butter or squirt cheese. Most dogs love a KONG. It keeps them amused and occupied, safely.There are many dog gates on the market.They are well designed, and safe if installed properly. Make sure your dog cannot get stuck in the gate, especially if your dog is a toy or small breed. Make certain your larger dog cannot get her head stuck in the device. Most gates are held into place with a pressure mount system.Strong dogs can display super-hero strength if the doorbell rings, or if the dog is frightened or anxious. Knocking-down the gate can create a dangerous situation, so make sure the gate is very secure and tight. One dog we know ate a teabag out of the trash (string and all), and suffered months of throwing up, until finally it threw up the teabag.Dogs will eat plants, plant soil, fireplace ashes, stones from gas log fireplaces, and many other things while unsupervised. One dog we know ate a teabag out of the trash (string and all), and suffered months of throwing up, until finally it threw up the teabag. (The owner said the teabag was still recognizable).Keeping trash safely put away where your dog cannot get it is very important. Most dogs love trash, and as the story above attests, some dogs will eat almost anything. Cigarette and cigar butts are poisonous, as are coffee grounds. Last but not least, remember chocolate.Chocolate is very poisonous to dogs. Don't leave the box of valentine candy where your dog can get it. If you have a big dog, don't leave food on the counter.Last but not least, remember to put the sugar bowl away. (Need I go into details about this one)? I know a Gordon Setter that was found on top of the dining room table licking out the sugar bowl...
Read about a Plastic-Bag-Eating-Corgi... Some dogs will gourge themselves on food, if they can get at it. While rarely life-threatening, food-oriented dogs can get very destructive trying to help themselves to what they want. (I do know of a terrier-mix that was a foodaholic, and it had binges of gourging that were life threatening because the dog ate everything in sight - including the packaging).
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