Taking your dog on outdoor summer excursions is great!  Your dog gets exercise, runs around outdoors, and it is a wonderful excuse to relax and get away from the city.  But you need to prepare for these outings properly.  Here are some basic rules to follow regarding how to keep your dog safe while vacationing outside.

Update Identification Tags and Microchips

Before leaving for vacation, update your dog’s identification tag information.  Make sure the phone number, address, and name are recent.  In addition, it is a good idea to implant a microchip in case your dog gets lost.  Your dog might run around in the wilderness, and of course, you should be near or have your dog on a leash the entire time.  However, sometimes the leash breaks, or your dog may run after a squirrel and get lost.  Thus, an identification tag and microchip are a great way for others whom may come across your dog to identify your pup and bring him/her back to you safely.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

If your outdoor adventure is in the woods gain knowledge about the area prior to departing.  Know what plants may be threatening to your dog’s health.  Find out if there are any poisonous vegetation and in which region they would be growing.  Furthermore, if you are going to take your dog to the beach, discover if there are jellyfish in the water.  Gain information about your location prior to letting your dog explore.  It is vital to keeping your dog safe, and yourself at all times.

It is summer time, and with the warm weather comes the temptation to run outdoors with your canine.  Just take extra steps to keep your dog healthy throughout the entire summer season.  Talk to a Florida dog obedience training professional today.  Find out what other precautions they suggest, so you may travel with confidence.

There are techniques to help your dog cope with separation anxiety.   A Florida dog obedience training professional can teach you specifics, but in the meantime, here are a few tips to help you start training immediately.

Step Away in Small Spurts

The first method utilizes the “stay” command.  Be certain your canine is able to master this command.  Once your pup is able to execute it properly, try stepping into another room, say the stay command, shut the door and wait.  Sit there for a short amount of time and walk back out.  It allows your dog to get used to the fact you are not present.  Do this a few times.

After completing the entering and leaving a room, implement the same technique with exit doors and food toys.  For instance, if you normally leave for work out the backdoor use it for this practice.  Walk towards the backdoor, put a toy filled with food goodies for the dog, say the stay command, shut the door and walk out of sight.  Stay outside for a time.  There are many messages sent via this action.

The food tells the dog regarding the time apart is a non-threatening, positive experience.  By departing for short amounts of time, it shows the dog you return and are not leaving permanently; therefore, there is no reason to panic or feel anxious.  Eventually, you lengthen the time in-between departures for your dog shall associate the fact of you leaving and being gone with everything is okay.  You always return.  As a result, it is solely a time to relax and not one of worry.

For more information on how to help your dog cope with being apart, meet with a k9 obedience instructor today.

It seems that dog owners suffer from separation anxiety more than their actual pups.  It is tough to leave your dog at home alone.  But there are times when it is necessary.  It is part of life.  But how do you know if your canine is suffering too?  Here are some traits enabling you to pinpoint if your dog has fear of being apart from you.

Your Dog Turns Into Houdini and Escapes

Every time you leave your dog with someone else or alone, does your dog take-off and perform a magical disappearing act?  You may see evidence of your dog chewing through doors, digging under fences or clawing at the window.  If this is not normal behavior for your dog, and only occurs when you are not present, then your dog may suffer from nervousness due to you being gone.  Start taking note of this behavior.  If it persists talk to a Florida dog training professional about how to resolve this issue and keep your dog happy, even while you are gone.

Your Dog Walks the Line…Back and Forth

Does your dog leave a pacing pattern on the carpet while you are gone?  What about when you are present?  If your dog is relaxed in your presence, but turns into a pattern stepping fiend when you are gone, then your canine may be having issues.

To comprehend your dog’s actions, you need to watch your dog’s physical behavior.  If it changes when you are not around, then you need to take a closer look about how to relieve your dog from this stress.  Ask a k9 obedience instructor about what techniques to follow lessening the strain on your pup, and creating a serene state of mind for the both of you.