Pet Auto Safety

The best way to keep your new dog from chewing your stuff or from messing on your floor while you are away is to provide crate training for your dog. Crate training is a safe and easy way to protect both your home and your pet. Some people may think that keeping a dog in a crate is cruel. This is not true unless you keep your dog in the crate for several long hours without food or water or a restroom break. But keeping your dog in a crate for only a few hours can actually help your dog feel safe. In the wild, wolves and other wild canines often stay in a cave or den. Their cave or den protects them from predators and elements of the weather. As descendants of the wolf, dogs still carry this instinct to stay in a secure place. Ever notice your dog sleeping under the table or the bed? Or behind the furniture or in a small room, such as the bathroom during a thunderstorm? Under the porch or in a doghouse? A crate will provide your dog with the same security that the places of your home bring. In fact, most dogs who have gone through crate training often go in their crates on their own initiative.

The most important reason you should provide crate training for your dog is that keeping your dog in a crate prevents them from chewing on harmful things or getting into harmful substances when you are not home. 

Being a puppy, my dog Maya likes to investigate things by putting them in her mouth. In order to prevent her from hurting herself or doing damage, I put safety covers on all my plugs, secured all the wires from my computer and television so that she could not get to them, and the trash can is kept under the sink. If you have a pantry, you can put your trash can in the pantry or get a trash can that has a secure lid. Also, anything I do not want to get destroyed is put up out of Maya’s reach or put into a room where she is not allowed to go. Laundry is kept in a laundry basket with a lid and the bathroom door is kept closed.

Puppies need to chew so it is important that you have fun and safe toys for your dog to play with. The chewing phase generally lasts to age two, but every dog is different and some may take longer to grow out of it. Besides keeping the house secure, I also work with Maya to help her learn what she is and what she is not allowed to chew on. Maya has several toys. If I find her chewing on something she is not supposed to have, I take it away and say “no” in a very firm voice. Then I give her a toy she is allowed to play with and tell her what a good girl she is for playing with it. If your dog gets bored with their toys, switch them out every week or so. You do not necessarily have to buy new toys each time. Just give your dog two or three of their toys at one time and change to two or three of their other toys the next time it seems your dog is getting bored. They will probably play with them like they are new toys!

Another think I do is I keep Maya in a crate for when I am not home. Crate training is a great way to keep your dog safe for when you are not able to keep an eye on them. For more information on crate training your dog, visit this site: trainingtipsfordog.info.

Crate training is not cruel unless you leave the dog in for hours and hours at a time with no potty breaks. Maya actually loves her crate and she often goes in there on her own to rest. On days when I am not going to be home for long hours, I take her to a doggie day care place called Woof’s Play-n-Stay or had a dog walker from Grand-Paws Pet Sitting Services to come by and take her for a walk.

Here is an overview of the things you need to do to make your home safe:

*Put safety covers on plugs that are not being used.
*Secure plugs and wires and make sure your dog can’t get to them.
*Put trash can under the sink or in the pantry or make sure it has a secure lid.
*Make sure items that your dog might like to chew are put out of reach.
*Keep bathroom closed in order to keep the dog from getting into the toiletpaper or laundry.
*Provide fun and toys that your dog is allowed to chew on.
*Teach your dog to chew on their toys only.
*Keep your dog in a secure place, such as a crate, when you are not home.

It is recommended for any dog who rides in the car to be secured in some way. There are many great products out on the market made just for the safety of traveling pets including dog car seat belts, dog car safety seats, carriers, and auto barriers. Before taking your dog for a ride in the car, it is a good idea to get them used to the auto safety device you are going to use.

Dog car seat belts can generally also be used as a harness for walking. Use the harness for this purpose as much as possible. You can even allow the dog to wear it around the house while under your supervision.  Once they are used to wearing it, they are less likely to try to struggle out of it.

If you are going to use a dog car safety seat, allow your pet to use it as a pet bed first.  Then when they use it in the car, they will feel more comfortable because they are in a familiary place.  Pet car seats should be used with a harness so also get them used to wearing this device as described above.

For dogs who are going to ride in a travel carrier, try crate training them first. Visit Training Tips for Dogs for help on Crate Training your pet.  Once the crate becomes a second home for your pet, putting them in the crate during a car ride will be much less stressful for them.

An auto barrier would be the simplest for your dog to get used to.  Simply install the device and take your dog for a ride.  If it makes them anxious because they can’t be close to you, take them for short rides at first to places they would love to go.  Evenutally, they will be less anxious about the barrier.

Dogs are pack animals; they act and react with this pack mentality, and we want them to see the adults in your household as the “Strong Pack Leaders”.

When working with your dog, you want to come up with a list of rules for your home. You want to be consistent in correcting your dog each time they breaks the rules.

We feel that you need to have good “on lead control” with the dog, before having good “off lead control”. You need to work “on lead” on the basic commands, sit, stay, down, heel, and come. Working on lead, you have the ability to give a command. If the dog follows the command, you want to praise the dog! But if the dog does not follow the command, you need to correct the dog. With a correction, you get the dogs focus back to you. You then show and guide the dog to what you want him to do, and then encourage and praise the dog when he responds. Working with the dog on lead, makes you the “Pack Leader” in your dog’s eyes! You are taking control of the situation. You are giving commands. You are giving praise when earned. You are also giving correction when needed, then followed with praise when the dog responds to the command. This is the role of a “Strong pack Leader”.

Exercise can be a key in training your dog. Exercise can help in the control of the energy that your dog has. When challenging your dog physically, this helps bring down your dogs energy level, allowing your dog to focus on the tasks that you are requesting from him.

For more pet training tips or to find a Bark Busters trainer in your area, visit www.BarkBusters.com.  Bark Busters does home training and can help with any dog with any problem.

Many dogs love to ride in the car. You see them often with their noses to the wind and a happy doggy grin on their face. So you know dogs can enjoy a car ride but perhaps you are not sure how to get your dog to enjoy it too. Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, here are a few tips to help help your dog enjoy the car ride.

First, you need to consider using a pet auto safety device such as a pet car seat, dog seat belt, or pet carrier. If you use a pet auto safety device for your pet, you need to allow your pet time to get used to it. If you are using a pet car seat, for example, allow your pet to use as a bed for a short time before putting it in the car. If you are using a dog seat belt, put the safety harness on the dog (without the buckle strap attached) and allow them to wear it around the house (with supervision). If you are using a crate, crate train your pet first.

Tip #1 - To Help to Prevent Vomiting or Voiding in the Car
* Do not give them anything to eat for an hour or two before the ride.
* Don’t allow them to drink excessively.
* Allow your dog to take a potty break just before going for a ride.

Tip #2 - Take Short Fun Trips
Once your dog is used to the pet auto safety device, start taking them somewhere they will enjoy.  This will help them learn to associate a car ride with these special places.
* Go to the park.
* Visit the pet store.
* Take your pet with you to visit a friend.
* Take your pet with you when you are only going to a drive-through such as at a bank or fast-food place.
* Go to a coffee shop or restaurant where you can sit outside.

Never take your dog someplace where you will have to leave them unattended in the car. The inside of a car is not safe for a pet, even if it is not hot outside or the windows are rolled down. Not only are there dangers, but it could also cause your pet to get lonely, anxious, or nervous. If your dog already fears a car ride, leaving them alone in it is not going to help.

Tip #3 - Sooth Your Pet
* Give your dog a familiar object like their favorite toy or blanket.
* Talk to your dog in a soothing voice while you drive. This may help calm them. However, every dog is different. Some dogs may get more excited by the sound of your voice, in which case you should ignore them. Try both talking and silence to see which works best for your pet. Try not to scold your pet. Positive reinforcement is the best way to make a car ride enjoyable. Do not let your talking to the dog distract you from your driving. It is also recommended that you do not pet them while you drive. Not only can this distract you from the road, it may also encourage the dog to pester you for more attention.
* Try playing the radio for your pet. Soothing music may have a calming effect on some pets. But most importantly, the sound of music will help cover the loud and unfamiliar sounds of the road. A passing semi, for example, may be a familiar sound to us, but the rumbling of these big trucks can be terrifying for a dog who has never heard them before.
* Open a window. Even if the loud sounds of the road are a problem for your pet an open window may provide a distraction of new and interesting smells for your dog. Most dogs seem to love this aspect of car rides. Your dog should not be able to stick their head out the window while using a restraint, but they should still be able to catch those exciting scents.
* If possible, have someone sit in the back seat with your dog.  They can provide the petting and comfort that you, as the driver, can not.