Keeping your dog safe is similar to keeping a child safe, you
need to constantly be on alert. There are certain dangers a dog
faces, especially in urban and suburban settings where the risk
of running away and getting hit by a car poses a serious threat.
Keeping your pooch protected on your property even when you’re
not there to supervise, or keeping your dog from running off and
becoming injured when playing around off leash, is reason enough
to look for practical solutions. Below are three products that
can help you and your companion enjoy some freedom while being
safe!
Water Alarm
This product is designed to alert you should your dog enter the
pool. Now I’m sure you’re thinking, my dog’s a great swimmer.
And I’m sure he is. But the reality is dogs drown in swimming
pools, simply because they can’t find the stairs. To keep your
pooch safe this summer, look into the Safety Turtle Water Safety
Alarm, or a similar product. This particular product works by
attaching the Turtle to your pet’s collar: an alarm will sound
at a base station in the house the moment he jumps in.
Fencing
There are numerous wireless pet fence manufacturers to choose
from: Innotek and Petsafe are 2 very good brands. This form of
containment makes it possible for you to create invisible
boundaries on your property, so that your dog doesn’t run off.
How does it work?
A transmitter (usually housed in the garage or basement) sends a
radio signal through a concealed wire buried along the perimeter
of the "fenced in" area. Your dog wears a special collar with a
receiver that alerts him with a warning tone when he’s
approaching the edge of the safe area, followed by a minor shock
if he gets too close. Additional training, usually 7 – 14 days,
is necessary to assist your dog in understanding and learning
the boundaries of the fence.
It is important to note that while invisible fences work well
with most dogs, they are not 100 % effective, especially if your
dog is older, stubborn and not well trained. If you think this
might be the case with your pet and you want to try this
product, make sure you are on guard for a reasonable trial
period to make sure your dog doesn’t figure out he can ‘jump’
the fence and run off.
You also need to check up on the fence once it is installed to
make sure the perimeter wire is in tact, the batteries in your
dog’s collar still work and if your dog has a heavy coat, the
area where the collar makes contact is shaven. Also, check with
the manufacturer about the radio frequency whether is it FM or
AM. FM is preferable as AM tends to pick up stray signals that
may give your dog a correction even when he is not near the
perimeter of the fence.
Another disadvantage to this type of fence is that it does not
keep other animals out. For this reason people often use this
type of fence in conjunction with a standard fence to keep the
dog out of a garden or pool.
Safety Light collars and vests
Safety collars and vests with flashers in general are
constructed with reflective fabrics and have a flashing lights
attached to them. Some, such asPolyBrite™ collar and leash do
more than just reflect light, they generate their own. Both the
collar and leash and give off a bright red glow and can also be
set to flash. They use a replaceable watch battery that last up
to 250 hours, are light weight, and above all – water resistant.
You can also find a range of clip on flashing lights, from the
more durable and water proof for larger dogs to something very
small and light such as the Pet Blinker. The clip on flashing
lights can also be attached to a child’s coat or belt if needed.
Safety vests are a must for the working dog or if you take your
dog jogging in poorly lit areas. Also essential for hunting
dogs. Besides being constructed of reflective material higher
end safety vests generate light and may have a flashing light
for added visibility.
Summer is a fun time and a great time to get out and run or
swim with your pets. Even though you’ve taken safety
precautions, should the unexpected happen to your pets it is
always advisable to have pet insurance should you find yourself
in the emergency room. (see:
http://www.a1-dogs.com/pet-insurance.htm ). Whatever you do,
have a great time this season.
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