Have you ever wondered if leaving a dog outside for an extended period of time is okay? While your pet may love being outdoors and is well-trained, it doesn’t mean he will be safe. There are many dangers that your dog will experience when he’s left alone outside, such as weather conditions, poisonous plants or chemicals, or attack by other animals. Your dog may also become lonely or bored being left outside.
Consider your dog’s emotions before leaving him outside for an extended period. Dogs are pack animals, and your human family is their new pack. They want to be close to you, and you enjoy their company as well. Allow your dog to explore the outdoors, but always keep your door open for him to return inside.
Speaking of the outdoors, the idea of wildlife encounters while out and about is something of an “urban” myth. But depending on where you live, it may be more than plausible and a matter of when, not if.
The good news is that wildlife encounters aren’t a reason to avoid the great outdoors. On the contrary, as with all things, being prepared is half the battle. While coyotes, mountain lions, and other wildlife do happen, there are quite a few things you can do to minimize encounters or reduce them entirely. To avoid surprising wildlife or other potentially threatening animals, the best thing you can do is make noise.
Aside from being a humane & easy training device to help turn your dog’s behavior around, The Doggie Don’t Device can also be used to harmlessly chase away threats. It can help keep you and your pet safe without hurting the other animal as it emits a sound they do not like.
While out and about, consider whether your dog tends towards being more independent or likes to stick close by to you when you’re out in the yard, on long-leash walks, or at the dog park. This can give you an idea of how likely they are to stay close to you if you ever let them off leash. You can encourage check-ins by teaching your dog name recognition and cueing them to look at you. Take advantage of a training method called “capturing” by saying yes and giving them a treat whenever they turn to look at you without being asked on walks.
Being off leash for a dog means they can meander and wander away from you. They naturally walk faster than us and tend not to stick to any straight path. For safety’s sake, it’s important to keep them within your line of sight so you can call them back if needed. Having a dog who tends to stay close by and check-in with you intermittently makes off-leash time much easier for all.
Let’s make sure we do our parts doing all we can to keep our dogs safe and other people and pets comfortable too.
