Keep Your Dog Or Puppy Safe During The Winter Holidays

Article Title: Keep Your Dog Or Puppy Safe During The Winter
Holidays
Author: Bill Knell

It's the most wonderful time of the year for people, but not
dogs. Thousands of our furry friends end up lost, injured or
sick during the winter holidays. Take a few moments to learn
how you can easily make this holiday season a safe and happy
one for dogs and puppies.

The best way to keep pets safe over the holidays is to think of
them as children. Like children, the dangers to your pet depend
largely on their age, training and ability to follow simple
commands. A new puppy is more at risk because they lack the
training and experience to deal with increased holiday activity
in a household.

Untrained pups tend to 'bolt' out of an open door or gate and
may not be missed for hours. Pups can easily be stepped on
while trying to navigate their way through all the extra feet.
Children can accidentally injure a puppy during rough play if
adults are too busy to monitor them. Prevent injury to your pup
by setting up a playpen or using a child safety gate to create a
safe place for your pet to access food, water and a potty area
away from all the activity.

Dogs of all ages tend to be overfed during the holidays. It's
natural for dogs to 'beg' for food. With all the extra cooking
and eating, people feel guilty and give their pets lots of
human food. This can make them sick and will add to the problem
of obesity in older dogs. Never give chicken or turkey bones to
dogs. They can splinter causing serious throat or internal
damage.

Holiday plants such as mistletoe, poinsettias, lilies and holly
can poison or make your dog very sick. These should be placed in
areas that cannot be reached by dogs or younger children. Most
kids instinctively pluck at plants, taste leaves and petals or
offer them to pets.

Dogs that like to chew will try and make a meal of extension
cords and electrical wires. Help your pet avoid a shocking
experience by purchasing wire and cord protectors. Use
pre-assembled Christmas Tree Light Sets. These easily wrap
around the tree, tuck just inside branches and allow for
connection to electrical sources near the top. This helps
eliminate the danger of dangling light wires or loose extension
cords under the tree.

Pet Owners that prefer traditional light sets should string
their lights from the bottom of the tree up. Connect them to
power sources near the middle or top of the tree. Dogs love to
lay under or behind Christmas Trees. It's easy for them to
become entangled in loose wires causing strangulation, injury
to extremities or worse as they try to get loose. If they pull
hard enough, the tree will probably fall on top of them.

If you decide on a real tree instead of an artificial one, you
will have to pet-proof the area around it. Dogs tend to chew on
or eat pine needles and drink tree water. The needles can cause
internal damage. Freshness treatments contain chemicals or
fertilizer and stale water is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Artificial trees pose a risk because of the decorations we
place on them. Broken Christmas ornaments and light bulbs can
get stuck in a dog's paw or mouth if they are chewed. If eaten,
the sharp pieces will probably cause internal damage. Tinsel can
cause an intestinal blockage.

Creating a safety zone between your dog and a Christmas tree
can be accomplished in several ways. You can cut a real tree
down to fit on a tabletop. Artificial trees assemble in
sections and can be sized to fit on top of a table. Use gifts
to fill in the space below. If you prefer the traditional floor
to ceiling tree, screens or portable fencing can be used to keep
pets and children away from the tree and gifts.

Most holiday pet problems involve strangers. If holiday
visitors are unfamiliar with your pet situation, you cannot
blame them when dogs are accidentally let out, given unhealthy
treats or allowed to do things they shouldn't. If you're going
to allow your dog to mingle, let holiday guests know what is
and isn't allowed when it comes to your pet.

Now let's discuss the B word. Despite the best training in the
world, it's almost impossible to predict how a dog will react
to someone new. A dog BITE can cost you a lot of money and end
up being a death sentence for your pet. Think twice before you
allow your dog or puppy to roam freely in an area filled with
strangers. Apart from biting, young children can be mangled or
clawed by larger dogs that are suddenly frightened.

The holiday season is the time for wishful thinking when it
comes to gifts, not pets. If you're not sure how your dog will
react to seasonal changes in the home, take steps to protect
your pet. As every parent or experienced pet owner knows, you
only get one chance to protect and care for those you love.

Visit http://www.azpuppies.com for free dog health and care
tips, toy dog breed information and puppies ready to be
adopted.

About The Author: Author: Bill Knell Author's Email:
billknell@cox.net Author's Website: http://www.billknell.com
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