Potential Holiday Hazards
Pet accidents increase dramatically during the holidays. I don't want to spoil your fun with these cautions, but I really would like to help keep your holidays full of joy and safe.

• With having guest entering and leaving your home please make sure that you protect your pet with resources like www.helpmefindmypet.com, the international Lost Pet Alert System, if your pet becomes lost it sends a Alert in up to fifty miles. The alert is sent to Shelters, Rescues, Municipalities, Veterinarians, Kennels, and members.). Make sure your pet has their Microchip information updated, and always have a visual I.D Tag on your pets collar.

• Prevent exposure to electrical wires, which could cause dangerous burns or electrocution. Conceal them or use pet-proof covers. Otherwise, your pet may mistake them for a chew toy.
  

• Prevent access to holiday plants. Never allow your pet unsupervised access to poinsettia, holly (leaves and berries), mistletoe, or other plants commonly used to decorate during the holidays.
  

• A decorated tree poses many hazards. Tinsel, garland, flocking, and artificial snow can be dangerous. The tree may also be coated with potentially harmful fire retardant, fertilizer, or insecticide. Larger decorating lights can become hot and cause burns. Low hanging lights and ornaments can be especially attracting.
  

• Many of the foods we set out during the holidays can be toxic to pets, including chocolate (bakers, semi sweet, milk, dark), sugary cookies, salty snacks, and other favorites left out for nibbling and, of course, alcoholic drinks.

• Perfumes, potpourri, adhesives, glues, aerosol sprays, and cleaning products can all be toxic.

• Open flames are dangerous. Stoves, candles, and fireplaces always pose a serious threat.

• Tape, ribbons, and the inks and metals used in some gift wraps could cause problems if eaten.

• Visitors, especially children, may not understand how to care for and handle your small pet. It is best to lay some ground rules such as who can and cannot take the pet out; what – if anything – they can feed it and how often; and when the pet should be allowed to sleep undisturbed.
  

• Discourage guests from bringing their own dog or other pet into your home. If they do, understand that your pet and theirs are sure to be anxious. Keep them separated and do not relax your vigilance.

If you follow some of these helpful tips you and your pet will have a stress free and joyful holiday season. If any one has any other suggestions or stories please send me a comment or email. The best way to learn about protecting your pets is from the experiences and stories of others. I look forward to hearing about everyone's stories and tips for a safer holiday.

Stop Dog Aggression Early

Roll Over Exercise

For puppies 14 weeks and under.

This correction is used to curb aggression in puppies, and shows them all humans are the boss of them. This is the only correction in puppy hood where the human is the correction. In nature, canines are the only species that instinctively understand they must submit, or they die.

• Begin by placing puppy in your lap on it’s back, head toward your abdomen.
  Your hand should be up high on the puppy, on the sternum.
  
• When the puppy begins struggling to get up, give your hand a little shake and use a very stern “No”.
  
• The puppy should startle, then relax.
  
• If puppy tries to get up again, or struggles, repeat the hand shake and stern “No”
  Once puppy is calm, give gentle praise
  
• Begin desensitizing process so puppy is used to the handling of the Vet, Groomer, children, and anything else.
  Touch feet
  Look in eyes
  Look in ears
  Play between toes
  Rub belly
  Look in mouth
  
• Introduce nail clippers.Begin by tapping clippers on each toe nail until puppy is used to seeing and hearing the clippers
  
• Once the pup is used to that, clip nails
  
• Introduce hair brushes. Begin by tapping or stroking the back side of the brush on the dog
  Once pup is used to that, turn brush around and gently begin brushing.

Once puppy is relaxed, and the can be touched in spots mentioned above, the desensitizing is done. This exercise should be used throughout puppy hood, to help curb unwanted behavior. Remeber when a puppy is in the wild it learns what is appropiate behavior from their pack, this is a way to help speak to them in a language they understand.

I am always looking for other training excerices and tools to help develop a round training program. If anyone has any other suggestions please reply.

Best,

Rachel