10 CALMING TIPS FOR DOGS DURING FIREWORKS

The 4th of July is sneaking up on us, and as excited as we are for cook outs with friends and family, parades and of course the fireworks, our canine family members are not! Here are 10 tips to provide a safe and calming atmosphere for your canine household.

1. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day
2. Keep your dogs inside during the firework show, preferably with human companionship
3. Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat such as a crate or bathtub
4. Keep the windows and curtains closed, removing visual stimulation can help calm dogs
5. Make sure your canine friend has his/her tags with a fitted collar, just in case of an escape
6. Leave your dog something fun to do - like a frozen treat or peanut butter kong
7. Sound therapy: Playing calm music well before the fireworks start(a few days), the dog will associate the music with a calm and content manner, so when played during the fireworks, he/she will continue to stay calm and content.
8. Sound therapy combined with Desensitization : The Canine Noise Phobia series (CNP) consists of four CD's that innovate desensitization training and combines three distinctive elements for the treatment and prevention of sound-sensitivities and noise-phobias
9. Tactile: There are two canine wraps on the market that reportedly help sound phobic dogs. The original Anxiety Wrap and the Thundershirt
10. Scent: Canine Calm or Lavender scents are an all natural way to help dogs relax and cope more effectively with loud noises. 

EXHAUSTION IN CANINES

We understand your goal of wanting your dog tired after a day of play with their buddies, but its also important that exhaustion is not the only measure of success when you bring your dog for a play session. Our approach in daycare when having off-leash play is to balance physical exercise, mental activities, and rest periods. Physical exercise is the most obvious benefit of off-leash play and it's what most pet parents think about. But for your dog's health, we also consider it important to provide mental stimulation.

Research studies show that dogs need 12-18 hours of sleep per day. Dogs that require larger amounts of sleep include:

• Puppies
• Senior dogs
• Large breed dogs
• Dogs in active households 
• Dogs that attend daycare multiple days per week
• Dogs participating in sports such as agility, fly ball, or rally-o

OBESITY IN DOGS

Obesity in our canine family members is the number one health threat pets face, and the most important pet health decision owners make each day is what and how much they feed. Statistics show 54% of dogs were overweight or obese in 2015.

Between Orrville Walks Program and The Orrville Pet Spa and Resorts K9 Fit Club, there are plenty of opportunities for you and your pup to start getting back into shape and feeling healthier and happier and live longer lives together.

  

    

Choosing the right daycare for your dog

"In an excellent daycare, supervision will mean physical presence in the room by a fully trained staff member who understand canine body language and who is skilled in using leadership skills to manage the dogs."  - The Dog Gurus

The facility should have a formal staff-training program. Ask your new daycare how they are trained and what continuing education they have in place. Make sure to ask about their knowledge and skills in the areas of Canine body language (can they read dogs?), recognizing stress signals (Do they know lip licking, yawning, shaking off and a closed mouth can be stress signals?), appropriate versus inappropriate dog behaviors during off-leash play (Do they interrupt when dogs pinning, rolling, or bullying other dogs?). Your new daycare should also have staff that is trained and skilled in using benevolent leadership techniques which include positive methods of managing dogs, praising dogs for appropriate behavior and using non-physical corrections to stop inappropriate behavior, and proactive use of tools that help alleviate stress in dogs such as sound therapy or visual barriers.

For more information visit www.thedoggurus.com/supervision-dogs-excellant-daycares/

Bow Wow Bootcamp

K9 Fit Club- Bow Wow Bootcamp

Bow Wow Bootcamp combines strength, agility, and cardio in a medium/high-intensity class that includes circuit training and station work. You can expect some cardio, games, weight training, core training and a little something new each class.

Contact Anne to sign up for your first session

K9FitClub@orrvillepetspa.com

330-683-3335

www.orrvillepetspa.com

SIGNALS OF OVERHEATING & HOW TO PREVENT

We are all enjoying these hot summer days we are currently having, as are our dogs. Unlike humans, canines do not always know their limit on a hot day, and watching for signs of dehydration and overheating is extremely important as a dog parent. There are certain signs to watch for if your furry friend has outside time, and precautions you can take to prevent this from happening. 

Watch for:

• Heavy panting/ deep or rapid breathing
• Excessive thirst
• Dry or pale gums
• Stumbling 
• Excessive drooling

Ways to prevent:

• Do not walk or exercise on hot pavement, this has a tendency to burn dogs paws
• Exercise with your dog in the coolest parts of the day such as early in the morning or after sunset
• Provide plenty of fresh drinking water
• Be careful not to overexert your dog when enjoying the day
• Offer plenty of shade 

                      

In our Doggy Daycare program, you'll notice when having the dogs outside, they are usually always under the pavilion for shade and have access to the ceiling fans, fresh water,where we also use K9 Hydration Tabs to make sure they stay hydrated, and our pool time which serves as another source to keep your pet cool on a hot summer day or just for some fun splashing between canine friends.