Decorating the dog door

Take your dog to work day June 21st 2013

Is your dog ready to go to work with you?
Ready? Yes... make sure your pup is ready to go to work with you before you take them.
You want your dog to be on their best behavior if you take them out, especially in your workplace. Set a good example of what dogs can be like when they are trained.

• Make sure your dog is friendly and enjoys meeting new people and visiting new places.
• If your not sure, take them out to some different parks, shopping centers, restaurants with outdoor patios.
• If your dog is friendly with others can they wait till you allow them to greet then greet appropriately and semi calmly?
• Does your dog get along with other pets/animals that may be at the workplace as well?
• How is your leash walking? 
• Make sure your dog can have a reliable heel and loose leash walk before going to the office. 
• You want your dog staying right with you in the office and not pulling, sniffing and knocking things over.
• Have you thought about stairs, escalator/elevators, and sleek floors that might spook your pup?
• Is your dog familiar with any or all of these?
• Some outdoor malls in the area have these that you could see about practicing with.
• Wait, Sit, Down - Solid
• Make sure your dogs obedience is solid so that you can leave them in a command when you are waiting in areas crowded with people. 
• How is your dog riding in the car?
• You want to make sure your dog is comfortable riding in the car.
• You don't want to start off your day with a stress-full car ride. Being in your work environment and having to deal with all of the new things will be enough for your dog.
• PLACE... how reliable is your "place"?
• At some point you will need to WORK at work right? In which case you will need your dog to stay and settle. I recommend using a Place for a few reasons. If you bring a blanket or towel for place that will be less dog hair you'll leave behind as well as it allows your dog to get comfortable not just holding the down position.
• Can your dog leave it when asked?
• There are so many strange/new things in the workplace that your dog isn't used to, make sure that they know leave-it well and you can get them to leave things alone if they show interest. 

Need a little extra work on any of these commands? 

Contact Paws In Progress dog training

www.pawsinprogress.com

(916) 735-7496

trainer@pawsinprogress.com

FOR CURRENT CLIENTS:

Field trips are a great place to work on this.

4th of July!

4th of July is rapidly approaching have you thought about your dog?!
Some dogs don't mind the noise and can go out with you and your family in all the noise, fun, and caos this holiday brings. 
Did you know that the 4th of July and the 5th of July is the busiest day of the year for our animal shelters. They are crowded already and they hardly have room to house the dozens of dogs that escape and break out from the fear and sounds of the fireworks. 

MICROCHIPPING CAN SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE and BRING HIM HOME
Please, Please, Please Microchip your dogs, even if they wear id tags those can come off, and with a microchip they can still find their way back home to you quickly and safely.
Getting your dog a Microchip is quick and no different than a simple shot and it will last forever.
VIP will be at Pet Food Express in Roseville on Tuesday evening from 3:30 - 7:30pm and they would be happy to microchip your pet for $39. Small price well invested to keeping your dog safe.

TAKING YOUR DOG WITH YOU
If you plan to take your dog with you to the festivities and your dog doesn't react to the loud noises please make sure your dog CANNOT slip out of their collar and keep them on a short leash with you.


LEAVING YOUR DOG AT HOME
If you have a dog that is fearful or easily frightened by noises or if its your first 4th of July with your dog and you do not know how they might act.

•  Keep them indoors. If you have a doggy door close it. I have seen dogs bust right through well secured fences or jump fences when they have never tried before.
• Exercise them during the day or early morning a tired dog is much less reactive to things they are fearful of. 
• Keep their brains busy while you are gone a kong with peanut butter or a treat ball works great.
• Leave the tv or radio on rather loud and maybe a fan too to help buffer the outside noises.
• Try talking to your vet if your dog is very fearful - your vet might have a mild drug that will help your dog cope with the noise.
• Their are a many number of things you can buy and try at your local pet store all dogs are different so these won't work for all dogs but you can definitely try them out and see if they will work for yours.
• Calming pills
• Aromatic plug ins that help to calm
• Thundershirt
• etc..

ALTERNATIVES TO LEAVING YOUR DOG AT HOME

• Stay home with your dog :)
• Take your dog to a daycare or boarding facility that is small scale in someones home where your dog will not be alone for the evening while you are out. 
• Or a friend or family members house who adores your dog and plans on staying in for the evening. 

I wish you and your dogs a happy and safe 4th of July!
As always feel free to call or email me with any additional questions you may have.
trainer@pawsinprogress.com
www.pawsinprogress.com
office (916) 735-7496 / cell (916) 956-8036

Halloween Safety and Tips

A few things to keep in mind for your 4-legged friend.

Halloween is lots of fun and thrills for us humans. But let’s consider it from our dogs perspective…

Costumes

From a dog’s perspectives costumes can look scary and very wierd and may bring out a slightly aggressive or fearful side of your pup. 

If you are dressing up your own dog please make sure that the costume is not too tight and is comfortable on the dog and does not obstruct the dogs eye sight. 

Trick or Treaters

All of these people coming to the door, one after another. They all knock or ring the door bell. If you know your dog is an alert barker or even a door darter consider confining your dog for the evening in a crate, another room, behind a baby gate, or on a leash attached to you. Please do NOT leave your pup outside, as all of the scary noises and other dogs barking, people noise and traffic in the neighborhood can scare dogs to the point that they will bust through or jump fences and gates. 

Candy

I hope that we all know that chocolate is dangerous to dogs. So are all the other variation of candies available. Don’t forget wrappers! Dog’s are opportunists and often will even try to lick or chew on candy wrappers and in tern wind up swallowing them. So when you are handing out candy and / or when your kids are home eating and sorting theirs make sure it is Completely out of reach of your family pet.

Have a fun happy safe halloween :)