Dec 19 2008
Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan Offers Canine Christmas Tips
During the busy festive season, it is important to be be on the look out for all the Christmas canine calamities that can occur. Here are some seasonal tips from the Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan:
1. Exercise your dog before taking him to visit, or receiving, holiday
guests. Holiday visits may involve more excited energy than usual. Your
dog is more likely to behave if it has just had a nice long walk.
2. Don’t forget rules, boundaries, and limitations just because it’s the
holidays! Holidays bring many new temptations in the form of smells
(freshly baked cookies and a tree in the house), sights (bright lights
and visiting relatives), and sounds (Christmas carols and sleigh
bells). Use this opportunity to reinforce the household rules.
3. Protect your dog from the cold. Many breeds are not built for cold
weather. Check out your local pet store for suggestions, such as doggy
boots or paw waxes, to help your dog handle the elements.
4. Stick to your dog’s normal diet! It can be tempting to share those
tasty table scraps with your dog, but too many rich foods (like turkey
and sauces) can lead to serious inflammation of the pancreas, which can
be life-threatening.
5. Beware of hazardous holiday items. Ingested poinsettia plants cause
dogs to vomit; chocolate is poisonous to dogs; and tinsel has sent many
a dog to the emergency room. Keep fragile ornaments toward the top of
the Christmas tree; only place sturdy ones near the bottom.
6. Do your holiday boarding research in advance! You want to feel
confident that your pet will be safe and comfortable while you are
away. Start by getting recommendations. Find two or three facilities
that meet your requirements, and investigate further.
7. I don’t recommend giving a puppy as a holiday gift. I strongly believe
that the whole family needs to have basic knowledge about the
commitment and responsibility of pet ownership before receiving an
animal.
8. Include your dog in your New Year’s Resolutions! Make a commitment to
be a pack leader 365 days a year, practice calm-assertive energy in all
aspects of your life, and work toward achieving calm submission from
your dog.
Source: K9 News
Excellent blog! And I agree with your mention that pets should not be given as Christmas presents. I rescued my jack russel mix from the humane society, who was a “Christmas present” that a family decided to surrender a few months after Christmas because they were not willing to put in the commitment of time and training. As a result, I have decided to give you a Lemonade Award meant to promote blogs of interest and share links. Congrats!
mythicalphoenix
http://www.worklifebalance.today.com