Holiday safety for pets
The holiday season is right around the corner. To prevent your
holidays from becoming disastrous, pet owners need to take some
safety precautions to help prevent tragedy.
Holiday safety for pets
The holiday season is right around the corner. To prevent your holidays from becoming disastrous, pet owners need to take some safety precautions to help prevent tragedy.
1. Don’t feed your pet table scraps, especially chocolate, onions and bones. Ingredients in some holiday foods are toxic to animals. Only give your animal treats especially made for them.
2. The Christmas tree and surrounding area should be off-limits to pets. Dogs and cats may like to chew on tinsel or light strands, which could cause choking or electric shock. Ribbon from gifts can also be hazardous.
3. Have a stress-free space for the animal. The hustle and bustle of relatives and friends coming and going during the holidays can prove stressful to some animals. Make sure the animal’s cage or carrier is away from bright lights or noise that may upset it.
Popular pugs
Pugs are believed to have come from ancient China, where they lounged in the homes of royalty and nobility. Pugs were bred to serve as companions to humans. To this day, this remains their primary function.
Pugs are ideal for active families, singles with extra time and retirees. A pug that is not the center of attention is unhappy and lonely.
Contrary to popular belief, pugs are not naturally chubby. However, they are enthusiastic eaters so monitor their eating habits closely and watch their intake.
Pugs enjoy leisurely daily walks, but these are indoor dogs. Their flat faces make breathing difficult, especially in the heat. They are prone to heat stroke, so keep them inside in air conditioning.
These dogs are sometimes stubborn when it comes to taking direction. Appeal to their sense of fun and culinary desires to assist in the training process. Treat training sessions as if they are a game and keep them down to five to 10 minutes at a time so your dog doesn’t lose interest. Reward your dog with treats or a favorite toy when they do something you want. Work with your pug regularly so it learns what kind of behavior you are looking for.
Pugs snore, snort and sneeze. Consider another breed if these things bother you. Also watch out for pugs’ bulging eyes, which are easily poked. Those excessive facial wrinkles need weekly cleaning. Food, tears and eye discharge lodge in the wrinkles behind the nose and can harbor bacteria or cause rashes and sores. With your thumb, gently pull the forehead’s skin back so you can see down in the wrinkle. With a dampened soft cloth, remove the muck. Then coat the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
Healthy pugs don’t shed excessively, but regular combing to remove dead hair is necessary.
Pugs generally get along with everyone, other pets and children included.
When looking for a pug, check the newspaper for breeders, also check on-line for breeders and look into pug rescue groups. This will be your best bet for looking for a good quality pug. Sometimes local animal shelters will receive pure bred dogs so take a look there as well.
Good luck and for more information on pugs, “Barrons” makes a great Pug book for more in-depth details.
– Remember, be patient with your puppy and every moment he is awake you should be training.
– All dogs need a job to do in life to keep them busy. If not, they become bored and destructive.
– Dogs require aerobic exercise daily and some breeds twice a day. Walks are not always enough. Throw the ball or Frisbee for at least a half an hour.
– Puppies do require some degree of training. If not, the pup will take over the household. Set some ground rules and look for a professional dog trainer for help if needed.
PET CALENDER OF EVENTS
Nov. 5 – Tuesday – Guide Dogs for the Blind Recruitment Night at Paws-
N-Claws from 7:00-8:00 pm. If you’re interested in
Raising a Guide Dog Puppy, please stop by. For
Questions please call (831) 638-9791.
Please feel free to e-mail me your questions, calendar of events or topics to PN******@ao*.com. You can also fax them to (831) 638-9791 attention Pet Corner.
Please always have your dog on a leash and have clean up materials if your dog has an accident.
