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New year's goals for pet parents
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Public Service Announcement from ACE
It’s that time of year when we look back on the previous 12 months and resolve to do better in the coming year. As pet parents, instead of making a list of resolutions, we should make a list of goals with keeping our pets healthy, happy and well adjusted as the objective. Here are some suggestions: 1. Help an animal in need. We are in tough economic times, but there are plenty of ways to help that don’t involve writing a check. Most rescue groups are always in need of foster homes. Open up your home to a dog in need while he's waiting for a forever home. Volunteers are always needed at local shelters too. Offer to walk , play with, or bathe the dogs that need it. You could even ask to scoop poop! I'm sure you wouldn't be turned away! 2. Play with your dog daily. Who needs a gym? Like the American Council on Exercise PSA suggests, having a dog is like having a built-in exercise program! When you play with your dog, not only will it help keep both of you lean, but it's a great way to get in that precious quality time with each other. 3. Groom your own pet. It’s fine to leave the clipping and styling to the professional groomers, but every dog parent should know how to do the basics like bathing, nail clipping, ear cleaning and teeth brushing. If you don’t know how, ask your veterinarian, groomer or trainer to show you. Grooming your own dog will not only save you money, it will also help deepen your bond. 4. Teach your dog something new. Ever wonder why dogs seem to learn tricks quicker than they learn obedience and manners? The reason is simple. We make teaching tricks fun! Pick any new behavior you’d like to teach your dog and do it in the same way you’d teach him a trick. I guarantee he will master it in no time. 5. Read a dog behavior book. My personal favorite right now is “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. Other good titles to consider are “Merle’s Door,” by Ted Karasote, “Oh Behave,” by Jean Donaldson, and anything by Patricia McConnell and Ian Dunbar. A great source for dog behavior books is Dogwise.com and of course Amazon.com 6. Organize your pet’s things. Where are all of Frisky’s collars and leashes? Do you know where Buffy’s rabies certificate and shot records are? You never know when you might need access to your pet’s things on a whim. If you organize and label Sparky’s things, that might motivate you to do the same for your own! 7. Take your pet with you whenever you can. Unfortunately some dogs never get out of the house except for trips to the veterinarian’s office. Some of the best-behaved dogs I see are the ones that go a lot of places with their humans. Take your dog on short trips to the bank, the post office, or even to a restaurant with outdoor seating. Not only will it help him get used to riding in a car, it will also help wiht socialization and get him used to sights and sounds around him. 8. Give your dog a box. One of the best learning tools you will ever give your dog is a box. That’s right, just an ordinary cardboard box of any size. Cut the sides down to about three inches, and put the box on the floor and let your dog explore it. Every time he goes near it, praise and treat him. Hide the treats in the box and under the box so your dog is encouraged to push and move the box around with his nose or his paw. Put the box at a distance and praise and treat your dog for running over to the box. Within minutes you will have taught your dog to touch, move and run to an object without any frustration. An ordinary box will have been forever transformed into a treasure chest and your dog will never forget it. 9. Convince a friend or family member to spay or neuter his dog. The pet overpopulation continues to be a serious problem. Help dispel the myths that still exist such as a female dog should experience motherhood before getting spayed, or neutering a male dog will stunt his growth or make him sad, etc. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! The fact is there are more dogs being born than there are homes for them. Millions are euthanized yearly. 10. Put together a disaster preparedness plan. No one likes to think about it, but no matter where we live, we can all be affected by disasters. Be prepared by putting together a disaster plan that includes provisions for pets. This should include copies of immunization records in your vehicle's glove compartment, accessible storage of medications, food, and emergency telephone numbers. Post notices near all entrances and exits in your home to alert emergency personnel of where your pets might be located and the number of pets in your home, etc. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Technically I believe 2007 was the "Year of the Dog," according to the Chinese New Year calendar, but don't let technicalities get in the way. If you share your life with a dog, every year should be his year when it comes to providing the best care that you can.
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