Cold Weather Safety Tips for Dogs

The thermometer said 24 degrees this morning, but it felt like 7. Brrrrr! We don’t know about you, but we think SSD Breeze has the right idea. It’s time to curl up in a blanket next to the fire!

Our dogs are working dogs, though, and that means that they (and their handlers) will be spending some time outside when they go out in public. (And of course, all dogs naturally need to go outside a few times day.) Here are some tips so your dog stays safe this winter.

Wipe Your Dog’s Paws, Legs, and Stomach

When you come in from outside, it’s a good idea to wipe your dog’s paws, legs, and stomach to remove any salt or antifreeze that may have gotten on them. Both are poisonous to dogs. The chemicals in salt can also burn your dog’s paws or cause them to crack and bleed. You may want to avoid walking your dog through salt.

Keep Trips Outside Short for Puppies

Young puppies are more sensitive to the cold than older dogs. If you have a puppy, you may want to only take short trips outside.

Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone in the Car

If you can’t take your dog in with you, don’t put them in the car. Your vehicle can reach freezing temperatures very quickly. Even if all you’re going to do is run into the grocery store for a gallon of milk, you shouldn’t leave your dog alone in the car. You never know what’s going to happen once you’re inside the store. Any number of things could keep you inside longer than you expected.

Give Your Dog a Warm Place to Sleep

Just like SSD Breeze, give your dog a nice, warm place to sleep that’s away from drafts. Not all dogs like to be bundled up the way Breeze is, but most dogs like to have a warm, soft place to curl up.

Secure Your Dog’s Tags

Make sure your dog’s tags are secure. The snow can mask scents, and it’s very easy for dogs to lose their way and get lost.

Have Fun in the Snow

Just because it’s cold outside, though, doesn’t mean your dog can’t go outside and play! Our dogs love to romp around, catch snow balls, and bury their faces in the snow!

Do you have any other safety tips for cold weather? Leave them in the comments.

5 Spring Safety Tips for Your Dog

There’s warmer weather in the forecast! Are you looking forward to it as much as we are? With warmer weather, there are some safety tips you need to keep in mind so you and your dog can happily enjoy the spring.

Crack Your Car Windows

If you take your dog with you and need to leave her in the car, remember to crack the windows a few inches. Even if it’s only 40-50 degrees outside, the sun can raise the temperature in the car by several degrees and quickly make it uncomfortable, and even unsafe, for your dog.

Avoid Toxic Plants

Spring is a beautiful time of year, with all of the plants sprouting and flowers blooming. Some of those plants, though, may be poisonous to your dog. When you take your dog outside, watch what he puts in his mouth. If you’re raising an SSD dog, there’s a list of toxic plants near the back of the puppy manual. The ASPCA also has an extensive list of plants that are toxic to animals. 

Groom Your Dog

Grooming your dog not only makes them look good, but it helps prevent skin irritations, fleas, and ticks. A well groom coat also helps dogs regulate their temperature.

Attach ID Tags to Your Dog’s Collar

Whether you’re taking your dog for a walk or are just spending time in the backyard, make sure your dog is wearing their ID tags. When you spend more time outside, there are more chances for your dog to wander off or you may need to drop the leash for some reason. Even if you’re confident that your dog will stay by your side, it’s a good idea for your dog to wear ID tags to make it easier to recover them if they do get away.

Keep Spring Cleaning Supplies Out of Reach

If you’re doing some spring cleaning, be sure to keep your cleaning supplies out of your dog’s reach. The chemicals in many cleaners are poisonous for dogs

We hope you and your dog have a happy and safe spring! Enjoy the warmer weather! 

6 Cold Weather Safety Tips for Dogs

Happy first day of winter! We’ve had mild weather in central Pennsylvania so far, but it’s time to start thinking about cold weather safety for our dogs. Here are 6 tips for having a safe winter with your dog.

Supervise your dog around fireplaces. If you love a toasty fire on a cold winter day, be sure to supervise your dog around the fireplace. Use a screen to protect your dog from flames and soot.

Don’t leave your dog alone in the car. In cold weather, cars can act as giant refrigerators, and it can quickly become dangerous for dogs. If you’re running errands or traveling, and you think you might not be able to take your dog inside with you, it might be better to leave them at home.

Watch for frostbite. Dogs can get frostbite, too. Watch for red, gray, blue, or whitish areas on the nose, ears, and feet. Dogs may have fur coats, but if it’s cold enough that you want to go back inside, it’s probably time for your dog to come in, too. And remember, puppies don’t tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs do.

Be prepared for winter storms. If a winter storm is predicted, make sure you have enough dog food, fresh water, warm bedding, and any meds your dog is taking in case you get snowed in.

Wear collars and ID tags outside. Dogs can easily lose their scent in the snow and ice and may not be able to find their way home if they get away. Every time you take your dog outside, whether it’s on a leash or just in your backyard, make sure your dog is wearing a collar and ID tags.

Wipe dog’s paws, legs, and stomach. After spending time outside in the sleet, snow, and ice, please remember to wipe your dog’s paws, legs, and stomach. This will remove harmful chemicals, like antifreeze and salt. Also be sure to check between your dog’s paw pads for ice balls and remove them.

If you have any other tips, leave them in the comments. Have a safe and happy winter!

Thanksgiving Safety Tips

 

Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie… Who’s ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family? While you’re enjoying the good food and even better company, however, make sure you take a few moments to keep your dog safe this Thanksgiving.

Here are a few tips so that your dog has a fun and safe holiday.

All Good Things in Moderation

Since you’re going to be indulging in foods that you don’t normally eat every day, it’s natural to want to share some of these special treats with your dog. However, while it may be okay to add a few small (boneless, fully cooked) pieces of turkey, sweet potatoes, or green beans to your dog’s dinner, be careful not to give your dog too much. Eating too much unfamiliar food can give your dog an upset stomach. And if you have an SSD dog, remember – no feeding from the table!

A good idea to keep your dog occupied and give them a special holiday treat is to fill a Kong or empty marrow bone with pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling), dog food, small pieces of turkey, sweet potatoes, and frozen green beans. Freeze this for a few hours before giving it to your dog. Not only is it a tasty treat, but it’ll take them a while to eat it.

Just Say No

The following foods can be harmful to your dog. Please don’t feed them to him, or let your dog have access to them.

• Turkey bones
• Onions
• Raisins
• Grapes
• Raw bread dough
• Fatty foods, such as turkey skin
• Chocolate
• Anything in the garbage

A Tired Dog Is a Good Dog

We know you might be busy preparing the Thanksgiving meal, but please take some time to exercise or play with your dog before the festivities start. If your dog is already tired, she’ll be more likely to be calmer when your guests start arriving. Plus, she may even sleep through the meal!

Don’t Forget the ID

Although some dog owners remove their dog’s collar and ID tags when the dog is in the house, it’s a good idea to keep the collar on while guests are coming and going. In all the activity, your dog may slip out of the house, and you want to be sure that the dog can be easily identified and returned to you.

A Little Peace and Quiet

Finally, make sure your dog has a quiet place to go if the festivities get to be too much for him. Our SSD dogs are crate trained, and our dogs will often retreat to their crate or their bed when they need some quiet time.

We wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving!

6 Safety Tips to Enjoy Summer with Your Dog

As the weather warms up, we all like to spend more time outside, and it’s only natural that we want our dogs to enjoy the nice weather, too. But along with the beautiful sunshine and warm weather come several dangers for our canine pals. Here are 6 safety tips so that you and your dog can enjoy summer.

1. Never leave your dog unattended in a car. On a warm day, when the sun is shining, the interior of your car can quickly reach temperatures of over 100 degrees, even if the outside temperature is only 65-70 degrees. Never leave your dog alone in your car, even if you only plan to run inside for a few minutes. You never know when that quick errand is going to turn into a 30 minute shopping trip

2. Always bring lots of fresh water for your dog. When temperatures rise, you dog may need to drink more. Always carry extra water for him. You can also use the water to cool him down if you notice your dog is getting overheated.

3. Find a shady spot. If you’re working in your backyard or if you travel to the beach or some other fun destination, always make sure that there is a shady spot for your dog to rest and get some relief from the sun. If there is no natural shade available, make some! Set up a tarp or tent.

4. Avoid strenuous exercise on hot days. Try to avoid taking your dog outside for playtime or other exercise during the hottest parts of the day. It’s very easy for your dog to overheat. Instead, enjoy the cooler mornings and evenings together. We understand, though, that it may not be possible to completely avoid going out on hot days, especially if you have a working dog. If you must go out, have plenty of water for your dog, try to stick to the shade, and avoid walking on hot pavement.

5. Always supervise your dog while swimming. Many of our labs love to swim, and summer is the perfect time for it! Just be careful to always supervise your dog while he’s swimming. It’s hard work to swim, and you don’t want your dog to overdo it, especially if he loves the water! Also, if you take your dog to the beach, be wary of ocean tides and don’t let your dog drink sea water.

6. Avoid fertilizers and other chemicals. This is the time when many people use fertilizers on their lawn, flowers and gardens. While that might be good for the plants, it is not so good for your dog, especially if he has a tendency to eat grass. If you think your dog may have walked through fertilizer, be sure to wipe his paws so he doesn'’t lick them and ingest it. If you think your dog has eaten fertilizer, call your vet (or the puppy coordinator, if you have an SSD dog in training).

If you have other summer tips, please leave them in the comments. We hope you’re enjoying the warmer weather as much as we are! Have fun and stay safe with your dog!

How To Keep Dogs Safe This Holiday Season

The Eastern Star puppies are going to their puppy raiser families tonight, just in time for the holidays! While raising a puppy is an exciting time, it can also add stress, particularly at this time of year. Here are some holiday safety tips to make sure that you and your dog have a joyful holiday.


Christmas Trees
Be extra careful if you put up a Christmas tree. If dogs eat the tree or ornaments, they can get blockages in their intestines or worse. To keep your puppy from getting to the tree, you can surround it with a baby gate, or if you don't want to do that, put ornaments and tinsel above the dog's reach.

Also, if you have a live tree, do not let your dog drink the tree water. There can be chemicals in it, particularly anti-freeze, which can be deadly to animals.

Other Holiday Plants
Other seasonal holiday plants, such as mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies, can be poisonous to dogs in ingested. Keep them out of reach.

Holiday Lights
The twinkle of holiday lights always brings out the holiday spirit, but be sure to keep cords away from curious puppies. They could chew on them and get an electric shock.

Food, food and more food
The holidays are a wonderful reason to get together with family and friends and eat lots of delicious food. However, while that food might be okay for you, it could be harmful to your dog. Holiday foods are often rich and could give your dog vomiting and diarrhea. SSD dogs should never be fed people food from the table, counters, plates, etc. Part of their service dog training involves learning to chill out at people meal times.

Greeting Guests
If you're having people over to your house, you want to make sure your dog can calmly greet them. This means that the dog keeps all four paws on the floor. No jumping and barking. If you have time, proper greetings are a good thing to practice before any guests arrive. It may be helpful to have your dog on a leash while guests are arriving, and be sure to have the clicker and lots of treats ready. When guests arrive, keep your dog's attention on you by giving him treats, especially if people are petting him. It may also be helpful if you talk to your guests before they arrive to let them know they should ignore the puppy if he jumps on them.

Relaxation
Being around lots of people and activity can be very stressful for dogs. Make sure they have a quiet, calm place to go if all the excitement gets to be too much for them. Watch for the signs of stress, and if your dog starts exhibiting them, remove him from the situation.

When dogs get stressed, they may pant more and will be more thirsty than usual. Give them free access to cool, fresh water.

Also, it's a good idea to stick to your dog's routines as closely as possible. Continue feeding your dog on his normal schedule and take him outside for potty breaks and walks as close to your normal time as possible. And don't forget play time!

Finally, make sure you know what your dogs are doing at all times, especially if you have a young puppy. By keeping an eye on him, you can often prevent him from getting into mischief and make sure that the holidays are safe and happy for everyone.

Happy holidays from all of us here at SSD!

How to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Heat

The Harrisburg area is under an excessive heat warning, and temperatures are breaking 100 degrees. Most people try to stay inside as much as possible, but if you have a dog, you know that you'll have to brave the heat at least two to three times a day. Here at SSD, we're in our last day of summer camp, and although we're trying to keep the campers and dogs in the air conditioning as much as possible, sometimes we just have to be outside.

Here are some tips for keeping your dog safe in the heat:

Give your dog lots of water. When you go outside, always make sure that your dog has access to cool, clean water. Your dog can quickly get dehydrated in this heat, and they'll need lots of water.

Avoid the hottest part of the day. Try not to be outside between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is the hottest part of the day, and your dog's risk of heat-related illness or injury increases. Your dog may still need plenty of exercise, but try to take those walks in the early morning or in the evening. Also, take shorter walks and bring water with you so your dog doesn't get overheated. (And don't forget to take some water for yourself!)

Stay in the shade. When you take your dog outside or for a walk, look for a nice, shady route. Avoid walking on asphalt, which can get extremely hot and burn your dog's paws. Always test the street or sidewalk before starting on your walk. If it's too hot for you to walk in your bare feet, then it's too hot for your dog to walk on it in his bare paws. If you must walk on asphalt, consider getting booties for your dog to protect his paws.

Don't leave your dog in the car. We cannot say this enough. Don't leave your dog alone in a parked vehicle. The inside of the car can get hotter than an oven in a matter of minutes, and your dog could have a heat stroke and could even die. In the hot summer months, it's better to leave your dog at home than to bring them along as you run errands, no matter how short you think it will be.

Be careful while swimming. Swimming can be a great way to cool off in the heat. Many of our dogs in training love the water. Just make sure to always keep an eye on your dog while he's swimming, no matter how good of a swimmer he is. After swimming, rinse your dog with cool, clean water to get rid of the chlorine or salt. Dogs can get sick if they ingest these chemicals.

Try some frozen treats. There's nothing better than an ice cream cone on a hot summer day! Your dog may enjoy some frozen treats, too. While dogs can eat ice cream (except chocolate!), it can upset their stomachs. If you're going to give dogs ice cream or other frozen treats, don't overdo it. The simplest thing to do is to just give your dog some ice cubes. Many of our dogs in training love ice, and some even play with the ice cube before eating it!

Here are a few recipes we've found, if you'd like to make some frozen treats for your dog:

Frosty Paws Dog Ice Cream
Pumpkin Pops
Peanut Butter and Jelly Frozen Pops

While you're busy making sure your pet is safe in the heat, don't forget about yourself! Drink lots of water, take a refreshing dip in the pool, stick to the shade, or relax in the air conditioning during the hottest part of the day.

We hope you and your pets have a safe and fun summer!

Read more about pet safety in the heat.