Your puppy deserves to be treated as a child

Anything less can land you in trouble

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Auckland, December 14, 2017

With soaring temperatures Auckland Council’s Animal Management team is encouraging dog owners to keep their furry friends cool in the heat.

Be mindful when out and about in the car that it only takes only minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heatstroke and suffocation.

On a day when it is 20°C outside, the temperature in a car parked in the shade with the windows down can reach over 39°C within 10 minutes and can rise to a deadly 49°C in less than half an hour.

Important Signs

Signs of heat exhaustion include restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, dark tongue, rapid pulse, fever, vomiting, glazed eyes, dizziness, or lack of coordination.

To lower body temperature gradually, if the dog is conscious and able to drink, give cool or cold water, place a cold towel or covered ice pack (frozen vegetable works) on the head, neck and chest, or immerse the dog in cool (not cold) water.

You should call a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Carry a bag

If you are heading off to the beach with your favourite four-legged pal, make sure that you fill a bag with these essentials: (1) Water and a bowl (and if your dog is prone to getting sand in their muzzle and eyes, bring extra water for washing their face) (2) Leash – a retractable leash lets them wander further while remaining under your control (3) Old towels or a blanket for them to sit on the hot sand and in the car on the drive home (4) Dog-friendly sunscreen (not zinc, which, if ingested, is toxic to dogs) (5) Bags for cleaning up after your dog (6) Frisbees and toys that float are good choices for the beach (tennis balls are popular but get pretty sandy when wet) and (7) Dog treats – keep them in your pocket to help your dog obey commands and come back to you easily.

Having these things at hand will ensure both you and your dog have the best time.

Dogs on holiday

Before you head off to the beach or bach, think about how your dog will cope – whether they are coming with you or staying behind.

If you are going away and taking your dog, remember that it will be in a less familiar environment and may not behave as you might normally expect.

If you leave it in a strange place, your dog may go looking for you, or try to find its way home. Make sure it is registered and microchipped, so that it can be reunited with you if found.

If you are going away and not taking your dog, here are a few points to remember: (a) Make sure that the person looking after your dog is ready for the commitment, understands your dog, and understands their responsibilities while the dog is in their care (b) Make sure that the person looking after your dog has a way to contact you, and leave them with contact numbers for the council’s animal shelters and instructions to contact both you and the Council if the dog goes missing – don’t wait until you are back from holiday (c) Make sure that your dog is registered and microchipped before you go away, so that any council, vet clinic or welfare organisation can help return it safely.

Dogs and children

Christmas is the most sociable time of the year and while most dogs love attention, sometimes it can get too much – especially when there are children around.

Older and hot and bothered dogs may be prone to irritability and high volumes of noise may also increase excitement or irritability, which can lead to bites.

Auckland Council Animal Management advisers say that if your dog turns its head away, walks away from the attention, or looks to you while getting attention from someone else, they may be asking for help.

Animal Management Manager Nikki Marchant-Ludlow said, “While your dog may be friendly and good with people and children most of the time, sometimes it can get too much for them.”

“Even though they appear not to mind being cuddled and petted – or sat on – they are often just trying to be well-behaved, despite being extremely uncomfortable. Dog owners should protect their pets at social functions,” she said.

“Give them a break from children and/or excessive excitement, even though they appear not to mind. Speak to children who may be new to your dog about how they should interact with it, and don’t leave children unattended with a dog,” she said.

Download the App

In New Zealand, there are over 9900 dog bites a year with the most likely victims being children aged between five and nine years. Over 75% of these incidents happen in the home environment, with a dog that is known to the child.

Many incidents happen due to a lack of education around dog safety. However, it is the dog that is often blamed and in many cases, put to sleep.

A Dog’s Story is an interactive adventure app that teaches children dog safety and how to read dog behaviour.

This is a great free resource for those who have dogs, or are visiting someone with a dog over the holidays. This app is easy to use, offers clear lessons about how to approach dogs, and aims to reduce dog-related harm to children.

Download A Dog’s Story for free from the iTunes store.

A Puppy for Christmas

For people planning to surprise family with a cute puppy for Christmas, Auckland Council is advising people to think carefully about the type of dog.

“A dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Be prepared for a 12-year plus commitment, and you are responsible for the dog’s wellbeing throughout its life and various stages of life,” Ms Marchant-Ludlow said.

She said that people considering getting a dog should think carefully about the lifestyle they lead and the sort of dog that will thrive.

“Understanding the needs and exercise requirements will help both dog and owner. Be honest with yourself in terms of the time and energy you will be able to commit to some of the more energetic breeds have significant exercise requirements.

Seven Essential Tips

Here are seven essential tips from the Council’s animal management experts for getting off to a good start as a new dog owner: (1) Register your puppy before it turns three months old (2) Microchip your puppy early. Check with your vet or shelter about getting this done. We see a large number of puppies coming through the doors that have manage to wangle their way out of their new home and go exploring (3) De-sex your puppy. While some vets may still recommend de-sexing at six months, most vets support and encourage early de-sexing. De-sexing prevents unwanted dogs and is responsible dog owner behaviour (4) Socialise your puppy early so that they become easy to take anywhere. Make sure that your puppy is comfortable in as many social situations as possible. This includes meeting dogs, people coming onto your property, children touching it, or perhaps even (kindly) annoying your dog to ensure it will not react badly if someone does accidentally play a bit too rough

(5) Vaccinations are really important, and your puppy needs to be fully vaccinated before being able to fully socialise. Check with your vet as to when your dog can go out and about. Train your puppy from the beginning. The most helpful early commands are “Come” (when you call), an emergency “Stop” or “Down” and to leave something alone instantly if you say so. Many people are tempted to ‘let them be puppies’ while they are small and cute. Just like with children, you cannot wait until they are adolescents to begin training, if you want it to be most effective. Eight-week old pups are perfectly capable of learning basic commands, if they are taught properly and in short stints. In fact, they love being taught and it helps with your bond. (6) Join puppy schools or training clubs, which help with both socialising and training, and are a fun way to bond with your new dog (7) Ensure that all the people who interact with your dog have clear expectations about how to interact with it, especially children. Just because the dog puts up with being handled roughly or having someone’s face in its face, does not mean that it is enjoying it or that it should have to put up with it. It is your job to protect your dog, and to know when it is no longer enjoying attention. This not helps keep your dog safe and your children safe.

Editorial Copy and Photographs supplied by Auckland Council

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