Small dog safety tips
72For really tiny pooches
Today on my way to the café I came upon two of the cutest dogs I've ever seen. Man, they were adorable. They were Miniature Pinschers (which is a breed actually not related to the Doberman), and they were not quite a year old. They were on their tiny leashes outside a beauty salon, and they were both quite friendly, jumping up with licking. Why did this worry me?
My first concern was that they were not being watched closely enough. It is far too easy to snip the tiny leashes and make off with these precious dogs, and dog-napping is an epidemic in many part of the country today.
I was also concerned that a busy, preoccupied person rushing in from parking might not even see these little sweeties and trip on the leashes as they jumped for attention, taking a fall and potentially injuring the dogs.
Toy breeds are extremely fragile. They may seem absolutely resilient as they run and jump around the house but they are highly breakable. When they are puppies, they should never be left alone more than four hours. They can easil become dehydrated. Bringing them to work is also not a great idea, as their immune systems need time to develop and they are prone to infections. Noisy workplaces are very hard on new puppies.
Once your toy breed is older, there are great harnesses which can help keep them safe in the car. Made of fabric, these go on like a shirt and hold the dog safely even if you have to make a hard stop. Never tie your dog's leash to a seat belt or anything else in the car. If you stop suddenly, your dog will be jerked hard around the neck - this is especially dangerous for toy breeds who have delicate throat structures. An injury in this area can cause a lifetime of trouble for your dog.
Another interesting possibility if you walk your dog often at night is a "pet blinker," which is a blinking light which attaches to the collar. These look a little heavy to me for the toy breeds, but they're worth looking into. If your dog ducked into the bushes, you'd easily be able to find him with his little flasher on!
Toy breeds have very special nutritional needs. They don't do well with the hard, crunch dry food. Be sure and read up about your particular breed, and then go to some online forums which can bring you up to date about other owners' experiences with their toy breeds.
I can't wait to explore my very own!
Blair Sorrel 12 months ago
Greetings! Please see the international dog shock incidents on StreetZaps; please disseminate this vital public service to preclude more injuries or tragedies. Many thanks for all your commendable work and stay safe!
Best,
Blair
Just so you know, I confer with Con Edison's Stray Voltage and Public Affairs Units and contribute to Wet Nose Guide and New York Dog Chat.
HOW TO SLAY AN INVISIBLE DANGER.
Blair Sorrel, Founder
http://www.StreetZaps.com
Contact voltage is a chronic hidden hazard that can readily victimize an unsuspecting dog, walker, or both. No dog lover could possibly observe a more horrifying scene than witnessing his beloved pet instantaneously maimed or tragically electrocuted. When you exercise your pooch, please exercise greater prudence. Common outdoor electrical and metal fixtures may shock or even kill your vulnerable dog. And depending upon the current, the walker will be bitten and like poor Aric Roman, suffer permanently. But you can, indeed, self-protect.
Just start to adopt this simple strategy — EYEBALL THE BLOCK, AND AVOID A SHOCK. Take a few seconds and make your trajectory toward generally safer, free standing, non-conductive surfaces, ie., plastic, wood, cardboard. Intuit your dog’s cues and if it’s resistant, change directions. Work site perimeters may be live so try to elude them. If necessary, switch sides of the street or your hands when leading to skirt hazards. If you traverse the same route, you may memorize locations of potential dangers. Carry your pooch when in doubt. Consider indoor restroom products like PottyPark when external conditions are chancy or RopeNGo’s hardware-free leash and harness. And don’t rely on dog booties as a palliative as they will actually put your pet ateven greater risk since the dog can’t tell you they’re leaking! To learn to more, please see StreetZaps. A safer walk is yours year round if you are willing to open to your eyes and mind to it.