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| May 2009
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Dog Star Daily's Monthly Woof
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
-- Unknown
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Safe Rex
 Like kids, dogs need clearly-defined boundaries in order for each species to feel secure. This is especially true around points of entry and exit. For instance, when you open the front door, would your dog (if given half the chance) go darting out into the yard or take off into the street? Without proper training, many dogs would do just that - and run the very real risk of getting lost or attacked, startling a passerby, or hit by a car. Therefore it's imperative to train your pup that doorways, curbs, street corners, and other thresholds are places in which she should automatically pause and look to you for guidance. Three important pieces of advice:
Teach a solid sit-stay (or wait).
Then gently insist your dog do so before crossing the street, exiting or entering the front door and the car, and even before digging into her dinner. Practicing this command not only helps instill impulse control, it allows you to stop an ill-timed escape before it happens.
Teach recall.
Every dog should know how (and want) to come when called. It's handy when you need to get her attention at the dog park, important for off-leash walks, and just darn convenient when you want her to appear (quickly) at your feet.
Then teach an emergency sit and an emergency recall.
This is the one word that stops your dog in her tracks, even if she's headed straight for that t-bone steak and nothing is standing in her way. It is practiced with extremely high-value rewards, set up in training never to fail, and is only used in true emergency situations.
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Crash Course in Car Safety
 Dogs and cars can be a dangerous combination. And we're not just talking about the potential for getting hit. Injuries frequently occur when dogs are inside the car - after all, most people let their pups roam freely when going for a ride. Fortunately, many such injuries are preventable.
If your car is large enough, keep Spot in a solid (hard) crate in the back. It's one of the safest ways she can ride, as it limits her tossing and tumbling around curves or during sudden stops. Or, consider a seat belt or harness designed especially for dogs. The idea may sound crazy (what's next - protective doggie helmets?), but the contraptions do save lives.
Car Communication
Take time to train your dog to respond to basic requests while in the car. Even though your dog may sit reliably at home or in the park, the car is a new environment and often very a very stimulating one for Rover. Remember that acclimating your dog to such a set-up may take time, especially if she's had the run of the back seat all her life, but the peace of mind is worth it.
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So THAT'S What Leashes Are For!
 DSD blogger Cindy Bruckart is all for training dogs to be well-behaved and reliable off-leash. However, there are times when leashes are required by law or for safety reasons. Additionally, there is a HUGE difference between having you're dog under control off-leash and simply having your dog off-leash. Read more... |
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