Author: Guest Author

Creating a dog-friendly backyard brings many benefits such as the dog’s safety, prevention of boredom and attendant misbehaviors, exercise, and enjoyment of nature. Remember, though, that while letting your dog have a free romp in your yard keeps him exercised, active and happy, the yard should be used only as a temporary retreat. Nothing can replace the time you spend with your furry pal to enhance your relationship and seal your special bond.

Dogs kept in a bland backyard all day are far more likely to misbehave with chewing, digging, excessive barking, pacing along the fence, or fence fighting with other dogs. Adapting your yard to make it more comfortable and appealing to your dog will go a long way toward making for a more contented, relaxed canine companion.

Poisonous Ingestibles

Dogs which are bored or hungry will be tempted to eat anything they find in your yard, including plants or flowers. Dogs can become extremely ill or even die from eating poisonous plants. Ask your vet for a list of plants to avoid. To help prevent your dog from eating plants, don’t garden with him present — otherwise he may conclude that playing with plants and digging are acceptable activities.

Mulch can also be problematic. Many types of mulch are toxic, especially cocoa bean mulch. Large-size wood mulch can harm your dog if he chews on it, creating wood splinters that could lodge in his mouth or stomach.

Don’t leave out any products meant for outdoor use where your pet can get into them. This includes lawn chemicals like fertilizers and weed killers, antifreeze, pesticides, and outdoor grilling supplies like charcoal and lighter fluid.

Chewing

Dogs chew for various reasons, such as stress, boredom, teething or diet deficiency. There are different things you can try to prevent this behavior, depending on your dog and what he is chewing. The easiest way to stop your dog from chewing is to have the item itself give the correction by applying a foul-tasting product such as Bitter Apple spray, citronella or hot chili sauce to it. However, since dogs’ tastes vary, you’ll need to experiment to see what works best.

Keep your dog entertained by providing high-quality puzzle toys that reward him with treats, such as the Buster Cube® and KONG®. Every few days, rotate what toys are available to him, so that he has something new and fun to hold his interest.

Never give your dog old shoes or clothing items to chew, as he may not distinguish between these old items and new ones. Also be aware that plastic drink bottles may inadvertently teach your dog that plastic is okay to chew, which means plastic planters, hoses and garden furniture become likely targets for his teeth.

Water

Water is always essential to your pooch, so be sure the yard includes a large water bowl filled with fresh water in all seasons.

If you choose to incorporate a water feature such as a small pond, be sure to use the kind which circulates water to help avoid mosquitoes. Still-water ponds need chemical additives to kill the larvae that will grow there, and is unhealthy for household pets.

If you have a swimming pool, consider constructing a barrier to prevent accidents. Or, teach your dog to swim and show him where to exit the pool.

Shade

While being outside can make for a happy dog, being stuck in the blazing sun is unhealthy. Create a cool spot for your pooch by scraping an indented area in a shady place where he can relax in comfort. Without such a place, your dog may create his own spot in an area not of your choosing.

Digging

Digging is a normal behavior for dogs. They dig in search of food, to investigate sounds and smells, to improve their shelter, or to escape. Digging can be triggered by boredom, separation anxiety, chasing rodents or bugs, and/or a nutritional deficiency. The reason for the digging must be determined before a possible training solution can be tried. A qualified dog behavioral therapist such as a Bark Busters trainer can help you with this tricky behavioral issue.

Scratching at Back Door

A dog will scratch at the back door because all the good, fun stuff is kept inside – including you. Give your dog a bone or scatter food (see below) when you put him outside. Whether he is outside or inside, he must know that he is always in safe territory with an abundance of food.

Scatter food appeals to a dog’s natural instinct to forage. Dogs enjoy looking for food on the ground and will literally spend hours doing so. Scatter a variety of foods — bits of raw vegetables, dog kibble, and other foods that won’t attract wasps — around the yard when you leave. Try hiding a few treats so your dog spends extra time looking for them.

If your dog scratches at the door and cries to come in, ignore him. Let him in only when he stops. If he begins to stress, correct him from inside the house. Do not go out.

Fences and Gates

A fence helps to keep your dog safely on your property and out of harm’s way. If your yard has a traditional fence (chain link or wood), be sure all gates latch correctly each time they are closed. Check the fence for holes or other openings. If there are gaps, place bricks or large stones in front of the holes, otherwise your pet might find a way out of the yard.

Because some homeowner’s associations do not allow traditional fences, a popular alternative is the electronic or “invisible” dog fence. Choosing this type of barrier has many benefits – it keeps the landscape tidy — as well as drawbacks — while the fence may keep your pet in, it doesn’t keep other animals or people out.

Maintaining the Yard

Maintain the yard’s cleanliness by regularly picking up after your dog. Some dogs can be trained to use one area for toileting. While the nitrogen in dog urine can be very hard on lawns, watering the area after the dog has urinated can help to minimize damage.

Keep your dog (and anyone else) off the lawn after any yard treatments — fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides – until the chemicals have dried completely.

Also, be careful of metal lawn edging. Metal edging invites great risk of your dog stepping on it and seriously cutting his paw.

Dog Houses

If your dog is kept outside, make sure he has shelter in which to get out of the weather. Dogs are more relaxed when they are covered and in familiar surroundings. Place the dog house next to your family’s house so that your dog feels like it is an extension of the larger “den.” Provide a blanket or other comfy bedding, and be sure he has access to fresh water.

Choose a house made of a naturally rot-resistant material such as plastic or red cedar, but do not use pressure-treated wood, which can contain arsenic. Use rust-proof galvanized nails and screws.

The house should be raised from the ground to insulate the dog from moisture and chills, and should be large enough for him to comfortably turn around but small enough to retain his body heat. In colder climates, your dog may appreciate a heated dog house, whether created by a dog house heater or a solar panel.

Training Your Dog Can Save Your Yard Too!

Training your dog correctly and regularly will keep him mentally stimulated and help to decrease his overall level of stress. Remember, you can correct your dog for digging, barking, scratching at the door, etc., only if you catch him in the act; correcting after the event is pointless.

A qualified dog behavioral therapist such as a Bark Busters trainer can help you discover the source of the reasons for your dog’s outdoor misbehaviors and can provide ways to correct the problems. Your dog and your family will be happier for it!

Liam Crowe is the CEO and grand master dog behavioral therapist of Bark Busters USA (www.BarkBusters.com), the world’s largest dog training company. Since inception, over 500,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using Bark Busters’ dog-friendly, natural methods, which focus on fostering a positive relationship between owner and dog to establish a lasting emotional bond based on respect and trust.

Find a Dog Trainer – http://www.barkbusters.com/page.cfm/ID/50/FetchATrainer
Dog Behavior Quiz – http://www.barkbusters.com/page.cfm/ID/3/BehaviorialQuiz

I’ll never forget the first time I had to take care of a dog for an extended period of time. My younger brother suffered from bad allergies, so we never had one growing up, and thus I never had the chance to learn about proper pet care. Sure I’d read a few Web sites and had received some tips from friends, but there’s no substitute for real experience. I’ve never been more nervous than I was on that first walk, especially after realizing that my new buddy Porter liked to growl and bark at every other dog he saw on the street. Apparently he liked to assert his dominance.

It was a long month, but by the end of it I was sad to give Porter back to his owners. After taking the time to read up on proper pet care and soliciting even more advice and tips from my dog-loving friends, I was finally starting to feel comfortable and truly enjoy spending time with the big guy. Since then I’ve pet-sat many times for a variety of different dogs, cats, fish and what have you. But I’ve never forgotten some of the important tips I learned that first month – especially in regards to keeping your pet safe from the hot summer sun.

Below are some of the most important tips I learned about proper summer pet care, all of which I still follow today.

• Keep them hydrated. Just as water is important for you and me in the hot summer sun, it’s also vital for your pets. Make sure they have access to fresh water – both inside and out. Keeping them hydrated will not only help to cool them down, it can also help to prevent heat-related problems, including heat exhaustion and even the more serious heat stroke.
• Take frequent, shorter walks. Rather than one long walk every day, take your pet on several shorter walks on hot days. This allows them to still get the proper exercise they need while also making sure they don’t overheat in the sun. Overexertion is one of the biggest causes f heat-related illnesses in pets. Shorter, more frequent walks will help prevent this, and can also help to keep you fresh as well. If possible, try to time your walks for early morning or evening hours when the sun is less intense.
• Don’t leave your pet in the car. We’ve all been tempted to take our dogs along with us on an errand or two, but you should never leave your pet alone in the car on a hot summer day. Even with the windows down, the inside of your car can reach a scorching 120 degrees. You wouldn’t leave your pet in the oven – at least not while it’s on – so don’t leave them in your car.
• Watch for heat-related issues. Just like you, your pet can suffer from both heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Keep an eye out for the different symptoms of exhaustion and heat stroke so you can be ready in case of an emergency. The most common signs include panting, staring, anxiety, rapid pulse, vomiting and collapsing. If you think your pet might be suffering from a serious heat-related illness, contact a veterinarian immediately. You should also attempt to lower your pet’s body temperature by applying cool – but not cold – towels to the chest and neck area.
• Be aware in crowded areas. While it might seem fun and harmless at first, it is usually not a good idea to take your pet with you to a crowded summer party or event. This can include concerts, Fourth of July parties and fireworks shows. Loud noises and stress associated with the large crowds can be dangerous for your pets when combined with the summer heat. If you do take your pets with you, keep an eye on them and make sure they are tagged and leashed at all times.

Mike Tennant is a freelance writer, columnist and dog lover from Orange County. Mike currently works with Air Conditioner Home as a content developer to help consumers make the right decision when looking for the best portable air conditioner.

This is a guest post, from The Doggie Den in Northborough, MA. If you’ve adopted a dog in need of a forever home, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve done a wonderful thing. Adopted dogs come from all kinds of backgrounds, sometimes with limited “social skills” development. Foster homes may have provided the opportunity to play with a permanent canine family member, your new pet may have occasionally romped in a dog park, or your pup may have been crated or caged a good percentage of the time. None of those situations allows a pup to meet other dogs and new people under the skilled supervision of dog professionals.

In fact, dogs often acquire dangerous habits when left to play unsupervised, like getting what they want through dominance or aggression. It’s a bit like a school yard: if there are no adults around some kids turn into bullies. Similarly, dogs with limited social skills tend to jump up when meeting a new person and to try to monopolize that person for themselves.

The role of a dog play attendant is to interrupt behaviors that aren’t acceptable, just like on a kids’ playground. With dogs, though, the line between excitement and aggression is quite thin. Rambunctious play easily explodes into a fight – it’s just the nature of the beast. In the wild, dogs use play to practice their hunting skills, and there’s some of that predatory instinct left in pet dogs. But trained dog attendants know when to step in between pups who are overly excited before any aggression shows up. The pups get affectionate praise for turning down the intensity of their play, and are separated (and possibly temporarily crated) if they insist on being rough with each other.

The best environment for your dog to play safely with other dogs and to meet new people is a doggie daycare. Good doggie daycares hire and train employees with a view to creating just the right environment for maximum fun and minimum risk. There are rules for meeting a new person, like not jumping up on him or her. Dogs learn to say hello by wagging their tail and looking at the new person with a doggie “smile”. Pushing or scaring other dogs away in order to be first in line for attention leads to a “time out” rather than to affectionate attention; as does mounting another dog, excessive barking or trying to monopolize all of the available toys (this is called “resource guarding”). Appropriate play leads to praise and cuddles and games of fetch with the human supervisor.

So taking your adopted pet to a good daycare a couple of times a week has the benefit of improving his or her social skills, which makes him/ her lots of fun to have around. Because the dog has a life outside your home, he/ she will also acquire self confidence. Pup will feel fine about being away from family for the day; and even better about being picked up at night! And the big plus for us owners is that after a hard day at work, we have an exhausted pup who just wants to curl up next to you in the evening. Of course, it’s important to check out a daycare before leaving your dog there. Get references from people who are or have been longtime customers. Ask around to see if dog owners have heard of the establishment. Your vet may also be a good source of information about local daycares. Look for one where the employees have lots of dog experience, and the canine guests get to play, and not be crated for much of the day.

For an example of a good daycare, check out The Doggie Den!