Team NYC Doggies vs. Team Gwen Stefani

Winner Takes Gio

Round 1: The Playground
Sunny days and antics in the park, a stroll with furry friends down Fifth Avenue, getting paid to bask in the affection of his doggies… Can Gio really give all of this up for celebrity parties and the opportunity to join a supremely awesome rock star’s inner circle? This one is close, but our appreciation for Gio’s panache tips the scale in favor of champagne and schmoozing with the stars. Team Stefani: 1

Round 2: The City
Every New Yorker knows what “The City” is because there is only one and it’s obvious. It’s the center of the world, and despite the mediocre weather and small apartments New York is a magical, opportunity-full, splendid place. Okay, LA has “The Industry”, but really, how many actors does it take to screw in a light bulb? New York takes the cake on this one, and that means Team NYC Doggies: 1

Round 3: Doodie Calls
Forget the day job, Gio is going to be perpetually on duty for the foreseeable future. No more 11–6, no more weekends to himself, no more days full of NYC Doggie love.
That being said, unconditional love is not the only gift we get from our dear pups. There is that other smelly, unpleasant thing, some days more unpleasant than others, but always demanding our immediate attention. In sunny Los Angeles Gio will be on Duty 24/7, but Ms. Stefani will not be requiring any services in the Doodie department. For that she wins the round. Team Stefani: 2

Round 4: Obeyed becomes the Obeyer
Enough about doodie, this is NYC Doggies’ chance to take the lead. As a term of employment with Ms. Stefani, Gio must surrender his arsenal of commands — “Come”, “Stay” and “No, No, Bad!” — to his new boss who may use them at her own discretion. We expect the Lady to be merciful, but nonetheless it’s a turn of the tables. Clearly the round goes to Team NYC Doggies: 2

Round 5: The Glam Factor
Must we even make the comparison? According to Merriam Webster, “glamorous” is 1. “gwen stefanious” (adj. — proper noun capitalization doesn’t apply); 2. a description of someone who mimics Gwen Stefani in style or character; 3. a description of the people, places and activities associated with Gwen Stefani.
The fight was rigged from the start. She’s a heavyweight in the ring with a welterweight. Team Stefani: KO.

Gio, we’ll miss you and you will always have a place at NYC Doggies to come back to, but there is No Doubt that this will be an extraordinary adventure for you. Don’t forget us, and hollaback anytime.

Fond Farewells,
Team NYC Doggies

There’s the high-strung lady with a sweet-faced, poorly trained, mid-sized pure-bred who believes her darling can do no wrong. At any sign of a scuffle, high-strung lady’s nerves go into overdrive, and she instantly transforms the scene from dramedy to horror by playing the terrorized victim. She makes a lot of unhelpful noise from the sidelines.

There’s the big dude with the really big unfixed dude-dog who tells everyone to chill out, perches himself in prime viewing position, and in his holier-than-though way announces that everything will work itself out, even when things turn bloody.

And then, of course, there’s the angry one. This is the vigilante who, instead of helping to break up the fight, chases people around with a pitchfork blaming them for the aggression, the mess and the bad weather.

The truth is, dog fights happen, they can be dangerous, and it is the responsibility of every dog owner to know how to properly handle the situation. If your dog is involved in a fight, whether or not he is the aggressor, it is never okay to aggravate the situation by panicking, to sit back and do nothing, or to incite hostility with the other owner by allocating blame instead of acting.

The best way to be prepared for safely handling a dog fight is to be familiar with:
1) things you should never do,
2) the actions available to you for regaining control of the dogs, and
3) the situational variables that will determine what kind of action you need to take.

What NOT to Do when separating a dog fight:

- Do not panic or scream. Being agitated will only make the situation worse.
– Do not try to separate fighting dogs by putting yourself or your hand between them, or by grabbing the collar. Even if it is your dog who is acting aggressively and you think there is no way she would dare to bite you, you are wrong! While engaged in a fight, dogs will bite whatever is within their reach and placing your hand in the fight zone is extremely dangerous.
– If only one dog is the aggressor, do not act on the dog being attacked. The aggressive dog will continue to attack, but you have immobilized the other dog who can no longer defend himself. This is true especially with respect to picking up the dog in one’s arms. Not only are you immobilizing him, but you are placing your body in the fight zone.
– Do not run and hide. If your dog is involved, it is your responsibility to act.
– Do not focus on the other owner — focus on safely resolving the fight between the dogs before picking a human fight.
– If a dog is holding a bite on your dog, do not try to pull your dog from the other dog’s mouth. You will cause an even greater injury to your dog by tearing his flesh. Act on the aggressor dog to make him release his bite.

How to stop or separate a dog fight:

The actions a person should take to safely prevent or separate a dog fight, are described here in an order that is loosely applicable to ascending levels of aggression.

1) Use your voice and body language to regain control of your dog. This is usually appropriate before a fight actually starts, when the dogs are just posturing and displaying signs of aggression. Make a sudden noise to create a distraction; advance towards the dogs (but not in between them) and act tough in voice and posture; give your dog a warning nudge on his behind; if possible, do something unpleasant like spray water on the dogs.

2) If the dogs have begun fighting, grab the aggressor by his tail and pull up and backwards. When grabbed by their tail, most dogs will also release a bite grip. Continue moving backwards, pulling the dog by its tail so that he cannot turn around and bite you. If you are not the owner of that dog, continue holding the dog by its tail until he has calmed down or the owner arrived to take control of him.

3) If the aggressor dog does not release the bite grip when pulled by his tail, grab his back legs and flip him on his back. 95% of the dogs will release a bite grip when flipped on the back. It is very important that this is done correctly so that the action is safe and effective. Firmly grab one back leg with your opposite hand, while positioning the other hand on his croup. With an upwards sweeping motion, swiftly pull the dog’s leg from under him, while pushing on his croup the other way. As soon as the dog is on his back, grab the other leg with your free hand so that you are firmly holding both of the dog’s legs. From this position you can control the dog so that he cannot bite you. Continue to hold and maneuver the dog until he stops putting up a fight, or the owner of the dog arrives to take control of him.

Under normal circumstances, the back leg flip can be scary and unpleasant for a dog. However, when dogs are fighting, they are in a different psychological state, completely consumed by the adrenaline and aggression of the fight. In this situation, the flipping action is not traumatic for the dog; rather, it serves to remove him physically and mentally from the fight.

Applying the Correct Set of Actions to the Specific Situation:

In an “ideal” dog fight situation, both owners will act simultaneously and will know what to do. The owners will use the actions discussed above to gain control of their own dogs.

Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Usually, only one person takes action to separate the fight, and this person may or may not be the owner of one of the dogs involved.

If one dog is attacking and the other is defending and trying to get away, the person should act on the aggressor dog, using the actions described above.

If both dogs are attacking each other, it is best to try to separate them using non physical methods (described above). If you act alone and phisically immobilize only one dog, the other dog will take advantage of the situation and could potentially hurt his adversary a lot more than if they were left alone, to handle their own dispute. In most dog fights, after a few seconds, one dog will acknowledge he is weaker and try to get away. At this point one dog will become the aggressor and the other will become the victim. If the aggressor doesn’t stop and goes in pursuit of the other dog, the person should take the appropriate actions (described above) to stop him.

In some cases, the victim dog may take advantage of the fact that the aggressor is immobilized and try to bite him. In this situation, if nobody is there to help, the dog being restrained should be released so that he can protect himself.

Dog fights can be very loud and very scary, and it is unfortunate that people often only make the situation worse. You can’t stop Mr. Hysterical or Ms. Crusader but you can learn how to stop a dog fight. Familiarize yourself with these techniques, use a little common sense, and you will be able to keep yourself and your dog safe.

Have you ever had to deal with a situation like this? What worked best for you?

When I moved to New York I quickly learned that dog walkers are as integral to city life as taxis, food delivery, laundry services and Bloomingdales. With subway commutes, long hours at the office, and a growing number of dual income families, a dog walker is a necessity for most  dog-owning residents of NYC.

After seeing how good a dog’s life in the city can be, especially and perhaps most importantly, with the help of a reputable dog walker, I decided I needed a dog (or two) of my own. In law school I started taking my pups, Emma and Oliver, to the dog run in Washington Square Park every day. It soon became the highlight of my day, sitting in the sun, getting to know the Greenwich Village dog walkers, and watching my loves run around and make new friends. It was especially comforting to see the relationships that some dog walkers build with their dogs, knowing that I would eventually have to find a dog walker for Emma and Oliver.

Moving to NYC and learning about dog walkers, dog runs, and dog-friendly parks can be an overwhelming undertaking because the safety, health, and happiness of your dog is at stake. The task is made more difficult by the myriad dog walking businesses to choose from. I had a transitional period to get to know the ins and outs of owning a dog in the city and to become familiar with the different types of dog walkers, but most people don’t. The information in this article is intended to ease that process by providing you with some basic answers to commonly asked questions about where your dogs can play and what type of dog walking services are available.

Where do people bring their dogs to play in NYC?

It may be a concrete jungle, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t green oases, open spaces and opportunities for your pup to escape the city:

Dog Runs:

Teddy on a walk in Washington Sq Dog Run

Dog runs are not only a place for your dog to run, play and socialize with other dogs, but are usually at the heart of the local dog community. Most of the NYC dog runs are created and maintained by the city and by volunteers, but there are also a few private dog runs. Sometimes the dog runs host fun events or fundraisers like Washington Square’s doggie Halloween party and annual calendar. Dog runs generally have a surface of gravel, pavement, dirt, or wood chips, and some dogs can be particular about which surface they prefer. If your pup is teeny tiny, don’t worry, there are dog runs for the little ones too. A list of NYC dog runs can be found here.

Parks:

Many of the parks in New York, Central Park and Prospect Park included, have off-leash hours between 9pm and 9am when dogs can run freely in the open spaces. Prospect Park even has a dog beach where dogs can swim and play off leash.

Day Trips/Dog Hiking:

For more wilderness, NYC dog owners can send their pups for a mid-week adventure in the mountains using a dog hiking service. There are only one or two NYC dog hiking services, but it is an amazing opportunity for your dog to really be a dog. There is nothing my pups love more than escaping the city for a day to hit the trails!

Do I need a dog walker?

Most likely, yes. For dog owners — city dwellers and suburban commuters especially — the minumum recommended amount of exercise for your dog of 3–4 hours is, in reality, aspirational. Most of us barely have enough time to go to the gym, and providing our pups with 3–4 hours of exercise every day can be unrealistic. Even taking them out in the middle of the day to poop and pee is impossible for most working people, and without a dog walker your pup will probably be left alone in the apartment for long past the recommended limit of four hours at a time. Having a reputable dog walker will provide your dog with exercise, mental stimulation, and fun, bringing you peace of mind and easing your busy schedule.
top

How do I choose a NYC dog walker?

Anton and Hudson on a walk in Union Sq Dog Run

Choosing a dog walker or dog walking business in New York City is a tremendous decision for two reasons: 1. you are trusting someone you don’t know very well with your beloved dog; 2. you are trusting that same person with keys and access to your home.

Reputation and Expertise are of paramount importance in the search for a dog walker. Talk to people in the neighborhood and don’t be shy about asking for references. Local communities are a great resource, and some dog walkers only work in certain areas of Manhattan, such as Union Square or Greenwich Village.

NYC Dog walkers offer different types of walks (see below), and you should choose one that best meets your dog’s needs. Don’t be afraid to meet with different dog walkers to see who you feel comfortable with — the best dog walkers are in the business because they love dogs and are good at the job. Using a dog walking service that has built a reputation, that carefully screens its dog walkers, and that has been around for at least a few years, is usually a better choice.

Finally, it is a really good idea to use a dog walker who also provides dog boarding and/or sitting services because most dog owners will have to occasionally leave the city without their doggie. Using the same service will provide your dog with a safe, consistent, trusted environment. The first time I boarded my pups I felt like they were the ones getting a vacation — they already knew, loved, and trusted their caretaker.

What does a dog walk entail?

Different NYC dog walkers have different approaches to the job, and these are some things to consider:

Type of Walk:

Different NYC dog walkers offer different types of walks, and it is wise to know about the pros and cons of each before selecting a dog walker.

Dog Run Walk: Many NYC dog walkers take their doggies for a walk and then to a dog run or park in the neighborhood where the pups can play off leash. This provides the dogs with the chance to exercise, socialize with other dogs, and interact with people. All of these things are extremely important in the life of a healthy and well-balanced dog. It is also a great way to become a part of the local dog community — I don’t live near Washington Square anymore, but when I visit the neighborhood my dogs still pull me all the way to the dog run so they can say hello to their old human and doggie friends!

Walk Only: Some NYC dog walkers do not go to the dog runs, and instead take their dogs for neighborhood walks, or even for a run. This might be a good option for some dogs, particularly aggressive dogs, but it is important to remember that a walk on the leash does not give your dog the opportunity to play and socialize.

The same can be said for another type of walk sometimes referred to as a “ramble” — dogs are taken on a long walk, in a circle around a particular neighborhood, dropping off and picking up other dogs along the way. This kind of walk is efficient for the dog walker, and does give your pup the chance to meet other doggies, but falls short of the kind of stimulation that a trip to the dog run or other off leash play area provides.

Out to Pee Only: the most minimal kind of “walk” sometimes offered is for your dog to be taken out to poop and pee. Often, your dog will be picked up with several other dogs from the building, brought outside to go to the bathroom on the sidewalk, and then returned to the apartment. The disadvantages to this kind of outing are obvious.

Number of Dogs:

A dog walker walking a large group of dogs

An individual dog walk — one dog at a time — can be an appropriate option for aggressive, antisocial, or sick dogs. Some owners also just prefer that their dog be walked alone, whatever the reason. There are some very significant disadvantages to individual dog walks, however. Dogs are social animals, which means it is more fun and usually better for their well-being, to be walked and to play with other dogs.

Small group dog walks, up to three at a time, are usually the best option. This allows the dogs to be social and get to know each other, while ensuring that the dog walker can safely watch all dogs in the dog run. More than three dogs at one time is generally not a good idea and can be dangerous. Most dog runs set a limit of three dogs per person because it is difficult for one dog walker to control and keep safe any more than that at one time.

Large group dog walks are a sight to be seen. Veteran New Yorkers may be able to impassively brush shoulders with crazies and celebrities, but the sight of a dog walker with 15 dogs on a leash behind him will always turn heads. The scene is remarkable and iconic in New York, but large dog walks offer only one advantage — they are less expensive.

Length of Walk:

Many dog walkers in New York City take dogs for at least hour long walks because of the time it takes to get the dog in and out of the apartment building, and then to the dog run. An hour offers ample time for the dogs to exercise, socialize, explore and play (but most would stay all day if permitted!).

Some dog walkers do offer half hour dog walks, which may be appropriate if your dog is elderly or less agile. That being said, I have seen plenty of barely mobile dogs happily relax and socialize in the dog run for hours on end.

The walk sometimes called a “ramble” mentioned above can last two hours or more, but the pace is very slow, and again, does not give your dog the chance to play and explore off leash in a stimulating environment.

In sum, for most dogs who are left home during the day, anything less than an hour is usually insufficient, and it is best if at least part of that time is spent off leash.

Size of the Company:

There are three options  - an individual dog walker, who does not work for a company; a small dog walking business; and a large dog walking business.

The advantage of hiring an individual dog walker is that you will have direct communication with the walker, and you only have to schedule and discuss details with one person. However, because these dog walkers work alone, that also means that they don’t have back-up if they get sick or go on vacation. This often puts a great responsibility on the owner to find a temporary replacement dog walker who has not established a relationship with the dog.

Small to medium sized dog walking businesses are a great option because, when well managed, they provide the owner with the same personal, trusted relationship that an individual walker offers, but also provide the flexibility of a larger company. These mid-sized services hire a select group of well-qualified dog walkers, one of whom will be your pup’s primary walker. You will also get to know the whole team so that when your regular dog walker is unavailable, a familiar face will be taking your pup out to play. The best small to medium sized dog walking services have cohesive, dedicated teams and are always in communication with one another, something I got to witness first hand during my law school days hanging out in the Washington Square dog run.

Large dog walking businesses offer flexibility and efficiency, but this is usually outweighed by the disadvantages. These companies often hire short-term dog walkers, who are not as carefully selected, and thus cannot provide the level of personalized service and consistency that a smaller business can. The relationships between dog walker, client, and dog are just not developed in the same way.

Extra dog walking perks:

Happy dogs on a walk in Union Sq Dog Run

When choosing a NYC dog walker, ask about additional services included in the walk. Some dog walkers will offer to brush your dog while at the dog run if you leave a brush by the door, and most should leave a note about the day’s walk. Also, if you send your dog for a hike, be sure to ask for photos and videos of the adventure so you can see what fun your pup had!

Whether you have recently moved to New York, just bought a puppy, or relocated within the city, finding a reputable NYC dog walker can be a difficult process. Hopefully these guidelines have provided a framework and helped to familiarize you with the main points to consider when choosing the best New York City dog walker for you and your puppy. We welcome comments regarding your experiences with NYC dog walkers, dog sitters and dog runs, as well as any questions!

1. Choose the Right Dog

As tempting as it is to take home the adorable puppy from the pet store window or rescue the shelter dog who looked into your soul, bringing a new pet into your home should never be an impulsive decision. The dog should be appropriate for the environment you are going to provide it with, and it’s temperament should be compatible with yours. Important considerations when choosing the right breed of dog for you are: whether there are children in the household; exercise requirements of dog and owner; special purposes the dog may serve; human allergies; and health problems associated with specific breeds.

2. Socialization

Socializing your puppy and exposing her to new situations is the most effective way of ensuring that she will get along well with other dogs and people. Proper socialization, however, presents a predicament for many owners: a puppy is not fully vaccinated until she is 4–5 months old, but it is imperative that socialization start at around 7 weeks of age. The next 8 weeks are the most important time in a puppy’s socialization process, so begin by taking your little one on walks and organizing play dates with her healthy doggie friends. As soon as she is fully vaccinated, take her to the dog run and on walks with other dogs. Your puppy should also socialize with humans, getting to know and feel comfortable with children, friends, family, and new people. Finally, your puppy should regularly be introduced to new situations, sights, sounds, smells and tastes in a positive environment.

3. Exercise

Exercise is not merely a way of keeping your dog physically fit and healthy, but is also tremendously important for a balanced temperament and generally happy dog. Breed, age, and health are factors that affect the amount of exercise a dog requires, but even the most indolent of doggies enjoys — and needs — daily physical activity. Exercise is fun for your puppy and gives you an opportunity to bond with the newest member of your family!

4. Obedience Training

Teaching your puppy to obey specific commands such as “sit”, “stay”, and “come” is an integral part of his adolescent education. Obedience training is important not only for safety and practicality, but for strengthening the relationship between owner and puppy; providing your puppy with mental stimulation; and giving your puppy the opportunity to earn praise. New dog owners may want to seek the assistance of a dog training professional.

5. Behavior Training

From a young age puppies must be shown by positive reinforcement and correction what acceptable behavior is — how your puppy is encouraged to behave as a youngster she will continue to behave as a full-grown doggie. This type of training addresses unhealthy or problematic behaviors such as separation anxiety, aggression, fear aggression, shyness, and going to the bathroom in the house. An important part of training your puppy properly is making sure that you understand and interpret her behaviors correctly. Being consistent with behavioral training will also help improve your puppy’s obedience skills.

6. Consistency

When your kid visits grandma and she spoils him with an ice cream sundae before dinner, you explain that grandmas are allowed to make exceptions to the rules. Not so with your puppy. Everybody in your dog’s life — such as your family and dog walker — must be on board, know the rules and be consistent, consistent, consistent. You will be tempted to throw the ball (just this once!) to stop your puppy from barking, but don’t give in!

7. Boundaries

One of the most difficult parts of raising a well-behaved puppy is setting boundaries. This is in large part because owners must fight their instincts to smother their new puppy with affection and dismiss bad or overly-excited behavior as “cute”. Positive reinforcement is an indispensable part of training your puppy, but keep in mind that it is effective because it is reserved for rewarding good behavior. It may pull at your heart strings to wait until your puppy is calm before rewarding him with affection, but remember that this will help him to be a balanced, happy and well-trained dog.

8. Proper Nutrition

Energy and nutrient requirements change throughout the stages of a dog’s life, and can also vary according to the dog’s gender, activity level, and breed. Puppies grow quickly and in general require more calories and more frequent meals than older dogs. In addition, your puppy should have access to fresh, clean water. There are many options to choose from when deciding what to feed your puppy: kibble, canned food, raw meat based diet, and other homemade meals. Kibble and canned food products usually contain the appropriate balance of nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and essential fats, but they are also are highly processed and tend to have more grains as filler, which have virtually no nutritional value for your puppy. If you choose to feed your puppy kibble or canned food, be selective and spend a bit more for a brand that is more balanced. Raw meat based diets are a better choice for many dogs and can be optimally nutritious for your puppy. If you are making the meals yourself, however, you must pay careful attention to the specific nutrient requirements of your dog.

9. Health

It is a good idea to find a veterinarian whom you trust before getting your new puppy. You will need a veterinarian for vaccinations and general check-ups, but you should also be prepared because puppies tend to get sick much more frequently than older dogs. In addition, it is a good idea to buy pet insurance and to learn about 24 hour emergency veterinary clinics in your area.

10. Spay/Neuter

Despite what people may tell you, when and whether to fix your puppy is not an easy decision. Unless you are planning to breed your puppy, and are knowledgeable about the process, having your dog fixed is a good idea for most people. The appropriate time to spay or neuter your puppy is something you should discuss with your veterinarian.

1. Treat your dog with a reliable product that repels ticks.
2. Avoid taking your dog to areas with tall grass or shrubbery, and stay on the trails.
3. Wear long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks. It’s not pretty, but who cares, you are in the woods. I’ve also found that wearing white clothing makes it easy to spot ticks.
4. Spray your skin and clothing with a bug repellent that contains DEET. I use one with 25% DEET, which lasts for the duration of a lengthy hike. A product with 10% DEET will last about 2 hours. Do NOT use on children under 3 years old, and don’t spray on your kids’ hands. Do NOT spray your dog.
5. After your hike, and before you go home, check yourself and your dog carefully for ticks.
6. Spray your dog down with water before you get in the car if you can.
7. Shower yourself immediately when you get home. Ticks take time to attach, and if you rinse your body with water and scrub with a wash cloth, unattached ticks will fall away. Don’t forget your scalp.
8. If you find an attached tick, remove it with tweezers. Pull slowly and steadily, and check to make sure you have removed the head. Ticks release an anaesthetic when they attach so pulling them out will not hurt your dog.

If your dog already has ticks, you might need to treat your house as well. Read more about ticks and how to get rid of them on DogBlogPedia.

Don’t get me wrong – I appreciate bows and bedding, even the occasional designer dog treat shaped like a cupcake. Emma, my lady basset hound, actually seems to be fond of city life. She is happy to lounge around, take walks in the park, and hunt for scraps of pizza and fried chicken on the streets. But she, like most dogs, is happier when provided with regular doses of time in the wilderness. As for Oliver, my dachshund, the city cramps his style, and he would give it all up in an instant for a full-time rural life. Regardless of their varying degrees of tolerance for the city, both of my dogs are transformed the moment they get out of the car in the countryside. First, they spend about twenty minutes running in huge circles — Emma the Basset Blob becomes Emma the Basset Missile, chasing after Oliver. Then they find whatever river, pond, or lake is nearby. Emma wades just up to her chest because she’s no Michael Phelps, and laps up the cool mountain water, ears floating on the surface. After a few minutes her nose kicks into gear, she puts it to the ground and starts tracking little animals while Oliver, my amphibious super-dachshund, swims after dragonflies. He could do that all day, but instead we head to the trails and spend the afternoon hiking, and everybody is smiling.

Ollie swimming in the lake at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

As a city-dweller with a car and an extremely flexible schedule, I have the luxury of taking my dogs and their NYC Doggie friends to the countryside on weekdays when the roads are clear and the parks are empty. One of my favorite dog-friendly excursions is Gedney Park, in Millwood, NY. Wooded trails, a lake, and open spaces to run in make this a perfect place for those who are not keen on breaking leash rules. Here, dogs are permitted to run and swim freely. There are two downsides to this park: first, it is fairly small, so it can be crowded, especially when school gets out; second, it is not a place for rigorous hiking – there is one hill that might make you break a sweat, but only for a few minutes.

For more space, I usually stick to large county parks where I can let the dogs run off-leash without much risk of running into other hikers or park rangers. Two of my favorite places are Ward Pound Ridge Reserve and Blue Mountain Reservation. Blue Mountain Reservation, near Peekskill, NY, has a couple of nice lakes, and great trails for mountain biking if your pup can keep up. Ward Pound Ridge is big enough to get lost in, with some wonderful spots for picnicking and grilling by the river.
top

Important things to remember when taking your dog for a hike:

- bring water for your dog (and yourself), or if clean water is available on the trail, bring a dish or cup for your pup to drink from.
– protect yourself and your dog from ticks. Make sure you have used a reliable tick repellent before taking your dog hiking. See here for more detailed information on ticks.
– make sure your dogs have taken their heartworm medication. Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes will find you on the trails.
– bring bug spray, and spray yourself and your clothing. Do NOT spray your dog or children with bug spray that contains deet.
– leash rules are there for some good reasons, and this article is NOT intended to encourage breaking those rules. However, if you choose to do so, try not to contribute to problems that the rules are designed to avoid.Regardless of whether or not off-leash hiking is permitted, never let your dog off-leash if he or she wanders and does not respond well to “come”. We don’t want dogs running deer, getting lost or disturbing protected wildlife. If your dog is aggressive always keep him or her leashed.
– bring poop bags. Even though you are in nature, nobody wants to step in poo.
– take your garbage out of the park with you.

We are always happy to offer suggestions for parks that are well-suited to your pup’s personality and activity level, so please let us know if you are planning a country excursion. Or, if you’d like to send your darling for a midweek day of fun in the mountains, consider joining our dog hiking club. One day a week we will pick your beloved up in the morning and return him or her to you in the afternoon, a worn out, happy, doggie. That is the good life for a city dog!

To see more photos of our dogs hiking, visit our photo galleries.
top

To recognize when a dog is overheated, watch for the following symptoms:

- profuse and rapid panting
– bright red tongue and skin (watch the inside of his ears and his feet pads)
– pale gums
– thick, drooling saliva
– wide eyes with a glassy look
– a staggering gait
– dizziness and lethargy
– nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

Overheating can result in death, therefore one needs to take action quickly to reduce the dogs’ temperature:

- move the dog to a cooler, shaded environment
– wet your dog’s coat with cool water to lower his body temperature.  If the dog has thick fur, continue to apply water so that the water trapped close to the skin is not warmed by the dog’s body
– use fans to blow air on the dog
– place ice packs or wet towels in the groin area, armpits and neck
– offer sips of cool water if the dog will take it

Brachycephalic dogs such as Bulldogs, Pekingese, Shih Tzus,  Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels require extra care. They feel the effects of warm surroundings and exertion much sooner as they do not pant as efficiently as longer faced dogs.

Here are 10 tips to help your doggie beat the heat and stay healthy:

1. Provide constant access to clean, fresh water. Make sure the toilet lid stays down, or discontinue the use of any type of cleanser or chemical that stays in the tank or bowl. If the dog is crated, try switching to a water bowl that automatically refills. Keep in mind that as the dog drinks more water, he might also need more bathroom brakes.

2. Keep your dog well groomed.   If he has long hair, cut it to about 1 inch long during warmer weather. Do not shave him down completely as it can increase the risk of sunburn. For dogs with fine, short hair, use a sunscreen recommended for use on animals.

3. When walking the dog on the streets, avoid blacktop, manholes and any other metal surface. These surfaces can easily scorch your dog’s foot pads. In general, it’s best to keep street walks to a minimum as the temperature at ground level can be substantially higher than the air temperature.

4. Exercise your dog early in the morning and late in the evening. If you take your dog to the dog run in the afternoon, make sure he has access to water and shade. Even though he might not like it (at first), wet his coat with cool water. He will feel refreshed and energized.

5. Do not leave your dog in the car. Even if it’s for a relatively short amount of time, the car can get very hot and having a window partially opened will not solve this problem.

6. During spring and summer, vegetation will be sprayed with fertilizers or insecticides which are poisonous for your dog. Steer clear of such areas.

7. Take your dog to the vet for his spring/early summer check-up and have him tested for heartworm. Ask your doctor to recommend a safe flea and tick control program.

8. Like humans, when it’s very hot, many dogs may get grumpy. Take extra care with kids and let them know when enough is enough if they tease the dog too much. Read more about it in this very interesting article in Science Daily: Recipe For Dog Bite Injuries: Kids, Dogs And Warm Weather

9. Remove bedding from your dog’s crate. If your dog is crated, he will surely be much more comfortable laying on the cool crate bottom rather than a thick pile of blankets or towels.

10. If your dog’s activity level decreases, make sure you cut down on his food. An overweight dog will have a much harder time coping with hot weather.

If you have more tips on how to make our best friend’s summer days safer and more comfortable, please leave us a comment. Enjoy the summer!