On Sunday, we had a very traumatic experience at my house.  One of my boarders attacked another dog and wouldn’t let go.  In my five years of boarding dogs, I’ve never seen a dog fight that vicious and last that long.  Let me tell you, it was very freighting.   The two dogs in question were a Yellow Lab and an American Bulldog – both females.

Cocoa Bean the American Bulldog

Guess which one was the aggressor?  The Yellow Lab.  Bailey was an otherwise sweet,  obedient lab that according to her owner has never showed aggression before.  For some reason, she didn’t like Cocoa Bean.

Needless to say, this incident was very traumatic for me and my family and of course the owners of both dogs.  It’s not easy to learn that your dog attacked a dog and it’s difficult to see your dog with puncture wounds and abrasions.  Don’t worry, I took her to the vet and she is doing just fine.

This incident drives home the point that it isn’t the breed, but how the dogs relate to each other.   Who knows why Cocoa Bean brought out this behavior in Bailey.  We all love our dogs like they were part of the family, but we must always remember that they are animals with animal instincts.

Usually when there’s a scuffle between two dogs, I can break it up with vocal commands or squirting water in their face, but this time was different.  I tried everything to get the dog off, but nothing helped, so I have to admit, I was at a loss.

So, I thought I’d do some research and find out what I could have done in this situation and pass that information along to you.

How to break up a dog fight

Of course it’s always best to avoid them getting into a fight in the first place.  Their body language plays a big part in deciphering their behavior.

According to Cherie Langlois, here’s some clues to know when a fight might break out:

“A hard, unwavering, targeted stare.
Dominance posturing, such as mounting.
Stiff body movements.
Extreme body language: the tail held stiffly up or down, lips pulled tight against the teeth”.

I can say from experience that Bailey did exhibit this kind of behavior.  I’ve seen this behavior before and nothing ever came from it.  One piece of advice –  please don’t antagonize the dogs – STAY CALM and try to diffuse the situation calmly.  They’re already on a trigger hair at this point and you don’t want to make it worse.  If a fight does break out, please do not try to pull them apart by their collars.  Don’t put your hands anywhere near their mouths.  You will most likely get bit yourself!

If they are already fighting, you can try:

Bailey the Yellow Lab

Spraying water in their faces

Some has said that Citronella Spray helps.  It’s a safer alternative to Pepper Spray.

Cattle Prods and Shock Collars, however this can put them in more of a fight mode and try to attack the prod or think that the other dog is hurting them and want to fight more.  You can condition them to the collars and prods, but not in the middle of a fight.  Work with them beforehand.

The most effective and safe way to stop a fight requires  two people:  Leerburg Training explains it this way,  “Each person grabs the back feet of one of the dogs. The dogs back feet are then picked up like a wheelbarrow. With the legs up, both dogs are then pulled apart.

Once the dog fight is broken up and the dogs pulled apart , it is critical that the people do not release the dogs or the dog fight will begin again. The two people need to start turning in a circle, or slowly swinging the dogs in a circle while they back away from the other dog. This stops the dog from curling and coming back and biting the person holding their legs.

By circling the dog has to sidestep with its front feet or it will fall on its chin. As long as you slowly continue to back and circle, the dog cannot do any damage to you. To insure that the fight will not begin all over again when you release the dogs, one of the dogs needs to be dragged into an enclosure (i.e. a kennel, the garage, another room) before the dog is released. If you do not do this, the dogs will often charge back and start fighting again or if you release the dog to quickly the dog will turn and attack the person who had his feet.”

Do you have effective ways of breaking up a dog fight?  I’d love to hear your stories.

School’s almost out and everyone’s gearing up for their Summer vacation!  For me, I’ll be here watching your dogs while your on the beach having a great time.  Don’t worry, we still get our vacation too. Besides I love what I do and I love that I can help my clients have a stress free vacation.

My family on vacation in Montana a couple of years ago

What about those pets that can’t board and need  a pet sitter to visit them at their house? Having a plan will save the pet sitter a lot time which gives them more time to have fun with your pets.

Here’s  a few suggestions that can help you prepare your pets and your home.  Most of these topics should be covered in the pet sitting forms you filled out

Planning for your pooch and other creatures

Call your vet ahead of time and leave a credit card number with them just in case of an emergency.  Most reputable pet sitters will have a Vet Release form for you to sign.  The pet sitter will bring this form to the Vet if something should happen to one of your pets.  The Release informs the vet that the sitter has authorization to care for your pets.

Let your pet sitter know where all the shut off valves are for gas, water etc.  If you have a water pipe burst, at least they can shut it off and reduce the damage.

Give the sitter a list of important phone numbers. For instances, a neighbor  – leaving a key with the neighbor is also a good idea, Vet ( this should be with the paperwork), maybe a name of a handyman or electrician, locksmith, and the name of your “emergency contact” should the sitter not be able to get a hold of you.  This too, should be in the paperwork.

Have their favorite toys handy

Provide towels or rags to wipe dirty paws

If your pets are crated, have extra bedding or blankets in case they have an accident.

Put lights on a timer and please leave the front light on. Reptile lights should be on a timer.  The most important light for your sitter is the front porch light.  This is a must for a few reasons:  1) Safety of the sitter.  It makes it harder for “would be” criminals to hide, 2) so the sitter can see the keyhole and not have to fumble with the keys, and 3) it’s really scary to go up to a dark house!  I’ve been freaked out a couple of times.

Leave supplies in one general area. Your kitchen counter is a good place to leave your supplies. This can include a leash, medications (unless they have to be refrigerated), any additional notes, mailbox key, can opener, food and treats, etc.

Have extra supplies on hand.  Sometimes flights are delayed or canceled.  There’s a million reasons why you  may not be able to return when expected.  Always have enough food for the entire service and then a little more.  Same goes for treats and medications.

Make sure the extra key works. Usually when a pet sitter comes to your home, you need to give them a  key to get in.  You don’t want the sitter going to your home and finding out that they can’t get in and the dogs can’t get out!    That’s why you leave a number of a good locksmith – preferably one that works 24/7.

Have caged pet supplies nearby.  If you have a hamster, guinea pig, mouse, bird or any other pet that needs to have their cages cleaned, please have all the bedding, scoops and waste bags near their cage.

Leave cleaning supplies in plain sight.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve searched high and low for either a vacuum cleaner, broom or dust pan.  Please put them where your sitter can easily find them.  If you’re hiring a professional pet sitter all this should be covered in the paperwork.

Notify your alarm company and tell them your pet sitter’s name and the duration they’ll be coming to your home.  Also let your sitter know the password in case the alarm goes off.  The alarm company will call your home to ask for a password to reset the system.  I know this because it’s happened to me.

Make sure your outside sprinklers are properly adjusted and on a timer. If you want your sitter to water potted plants, put them in one area so that the sitter doesn’t have to go around the yard watering.  Remember, this is all time taken away from your pets.

Make sure your pets are wearing all their identification. If you’re using a Citronella bark collar or an electronic collar, make sure they have fresh batteries.

Secure all outside gates and fences. If your pets have access to the backyard, they might get itchy to escape.  Check your fences for holes and make sure the gates are closed and secured properly.

Other little extra tips for your home

Adjust your thermostat to a comfortable temperature for your pets.

Empty all your indoor trash and put in the outside bins.  Your pet sitter should put out the bins on the appropriate trash pickup days.

Put your toilet lids down.  Just saying.

Close all the doors to rooms that are off limits.  It’s also a good idea to close cabinet doors.

Empty out your refrigerator of food that will spoil

If you’re going away for a long period of time, have the Post Office hold the mail for you.  However your pet sitter can get the mail if you chose not to put it on hold.

Have checks ready for your sitter, housekeeper and/or gardener if appropriate.

Close and lock doors and windows

Clean your house and mow the lawn.  I love coming home to a clean home.  A good pet sitter will clean up after herself and pick up your “doggies presents” before she leaves.

I’m sure there are a thousand other things that could be done, but I think this is a good start.  Now that you have a plan, you can have a stress and worry free vacation!

You’d never know it judging by Northern California’s weather lately, but Summer is coming and it’s time to revisit how the hot weather can impact our pets.

If you’ve had dogs all your life, you may know some of these hot weather tips, but if you’re a new dog owner, I hope they help you to keep your pets safe this summer.

Here’s a video of my dog boarders having fun in the pool!

Pool Play

Here at Waggy’s Pet Sitting, the first of our dog boarders have christened the pool and are enjoying playing in the water. Before I started boarding dogs, we had taken the fence down and were enjoying how our yard looked without the obstruction of the black mesh fence.

It didn’t take long for us to put it back up after we started taking in dog boarders. It was so stressful thinking that one would fall in, panic and not remember where the stairs are and drown. I’ve even had very agile dogs fall due to running around the yard and getting too close to the edge.

So, being worry free had to win out over the beauty of the yard. Remember to always supervise pets while they’re in the pool.

Never leave your dog in the car!

Whenever I can, I bring my dog boarders with me when I do errands. That all stops once the weather starts to get warm. The temperature in the car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes and can be fatal.

Get out the sunscreen and insect repellent.

The sun does not discriminate between humans or animals. They can burn and get skin cancer just like we do. Make sure to get their noses including inside their nostrils, exposed lips, tips of the ears if they have ears that stand up. Your light colored dogs are even more susceptible to burns. Be careful not to get the sunscreen in their eyes. I’ve done that to myself and it burns and stings. If your in a high insect area, purchase insect repellent made for animals.

Make sure they have plenty of water.

Leave an extra bowl or water chiller outside with fresh cool water for all your pets. If your outside water bowl is left out too long, bacteria can form and possibly make your dog sick, not to mention all the bugs that float in, but don’t get out. When walking your dog, have a water device so you can give your dog frequent water breaks.

You may have to change your exercise and walking routine.

Where I live in Northern California, it get over 100 degrees on many of our Summer days. Therefore, I have to adjust the walking schedule of my dogs. If we haven’t walked by at most 8am, it will be too hot and we’ll have to wait until the sun goes down. Always bring water with you on the walk or jog and give to your dog if you see that he’s panting excessively. Always check for signs of heat stroke.

I lived in Arizona for a couple of years and not only did you have to walk them at the crack of dawn or night, but their paws can burn on the concrete or street. If your dog will wear them, dog booties will keep their paws from burning.

Play indoors more.

I often throw a ball down my hallway for the dogs. You can even run them up and down the stairs, or play with their favorite dog toy with them. I’m used to dogs playing in my house and I realize this may not be the case for everyone.

Water play

Keep them cool even if they don’t have a pool to swim in. One of my sitters gets a couple of plastic play pools and the dogs have a great time. Sometimes I cool them down with the hose, but not for too long. I don’t want to waste precious water.

Keep uneaten food up.

We get a ton of flies in the Summer. Uneaten food especially wet food, can get inundated with flies and/or ants. If your dog or cat likes to nibble, take the food off the floor and put it in the refrigerator. You can offer it to him in a little while. However, if they don’t eat their breakfast, it’s best to throw it away and start with a fresh bowl for dinner due to bacteria getting into the food.

Go to a Pet First Aid Class.

Pet first aid classes are a must for any pet owner and/or pet sitter. They teach you the basics of pet first aid including knowing the signs of Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion. The American Red Cross has classes and leaves you with a full color Pet First Aid reference book. You can read my prior post on Heat Stroke here.

Keep your pets coat trimmed down.

More frequent trips to the pet groomer may be in order especially for long, thick coats. Be sure to check with your groomer if this is right for your pet. Grooming certain kinds of dogs may not be the best option as their coat may help keep them cool in hot weather. Shave down to about an inch long for extra protection from the sun.

Watch human outdoor play.

Hot weather brings out the gardener and BBQ king in all of us. Be aware of the lawn fertilizers, pesticides and sprays that your using. Use pet friendly options whenever possible. My dog used to stand by my husband waiting for scraps or juice to drop from the BBQ! When having friends over for Summer fun, please ask that they don’t give your pets table scraps as some may be toxic or just plain bad for them.

Watch out for snakes.

I recently wrote a post on Venomous Snakes and how to prevent you and your pets from getting bitten.

Visit your Veterinarian

Visit your vet and stock up on flea, tick and heart worm meds. Make sure your pet is tested for heart worms in you aren’t on a year round routine.

Do you have hot weather tips that I didn’t mention? I’d love to hear them.

Yesterday I did my first telephone interview with Marilyn Tokach.  She’s an animal communicator and dog Trainer.  Marilyn has  been all around this country training other people how to communicate with their animals.  She comes with over 20+ years of experience and is very active with animal related issues and rescue shelters.

I’m always fascinated by alternative ways of doing things and believe that’s it’s all possible.  You need to keep an open mind and use your own intuitive powers to hone in on the messages you may be getting from your animals.

Marilyn can not only help with dogs, but with all your animals.  She also becomes another layer for Veterinarians and helps them put the pieces together for a more clear diagnosis.  She does not diagnose diseases herself and always recommends that you listen to the advice of your Veterinarian.

Helping with end of life issues is a very popular request from pet owners.  I just went through that last August and I wish I would have known about her then.  It would have made the transition so much easier.  As you will hear, Marilyn can also speak to your animals spirit after they are gone.  I think I’m going to take her up on that.  My dog was very special to me and I’d love to hear what she has to say.

So, if your having behavior problems, health problems or just want to know what your pet is thinking, please take a listen and hear how she got started communicating with animals and how she knows what they are feeling.

You can find Marilyn’s website at Pure-Spirit and from there, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening.  You can listen to my interview with Marilyn Tokach here.

In my world, everyday is Be Kind to Animals week.  As a pet sitter it’s my job – that’s why I became a pet sitter.  I’ve always had a special relationship with dogs and feel that we need them as much as they need us.

Annie and Tommy

Be Kind to Animals Week was started in 1915 by American Humane to celebrate the relationship we have with our pets and to educated people on how to treat them with kindness and love.  I couldn’t image a world without pets. The joy and love they bring to our lives everyday can’t be measured.  It’s constant and so complete.  You can always count on a dog to lift your spirits and fill your heart with so much love that you think it’s going to burst!

It’s only right that we help other people who may not feel the same way to treat our furry friends with kindness.

As my part for this week, I devoted my ezine to adopting or getting a new dog.  If you want to do your part, here’s what American Humane suggests.  They also instruct you on how to accomplish these suggestions when you click on the learn more button.

Speak out for the animals:  This can be done through legislation, reporting animal abuse (see my prior post about animal abuse) or just speaking out on animal issues that you’re passionate about.  They have an Action Alert if your interested in knowing more about policies and legislation.

Respect wildlife in your own backyard: I know there are lots of pests that eat gardens and plants such as rabbits and deer, but there are humane ways to deter them from your door.  The American Humane has lots of suggestion how to humanely get rid of unwanted animals in your yard.  Or, how about starting a butterfly garden or have bird houses so they have a safe place to live.

Rescue of pet from a shelter: In my opinion, this should always be your first choice when getting a new pet.  Not only are you being kind, but in some cases, you’re saving their life.  All they want is someone to take them home and give them the love they deserve.  It’s a win-win situation. 

Taking care of your pet: Once you get your pet from the shelter, you have to give them the very best.  Number one on that list is nutritional pet food.  This is the foundation of their health and you can avoid costly vet bills if they are getting the proper nutrition.  Get a soft, warm pet bed, brush their teeth on a regular basis, give their coat a good brushing, bathe them, take them on daily walks, provide them with adequate shelter, shade and water, make sure they have their identification including getting them micro chipped and get them the vaccinations they need to keep them healthy and happy.

Most of all love them with all your heart and the love they give back to you is nothing short of miraculous.

Chris L Wagner