With summer nearly upon us, there will be a lot more folks out and about with their dogs in tow. While we all encounter dogs "in the wild," so to speak, on a daily basis, you will start seeing more and more of them out with their families over the summer months. I mention this only as a reminder to those taking their dogs everywhere with them that you've made sure your dogs are ready for that kind of stimulation. You see, dogs who spend most of the year in their homes and yards, venturing out for neighborhood walks on a somewhat regular basis, aren't necessarily ready for an arduous hike, trip to the beach, street fair, or concert on the green. While you may think that your dog will be happiest being included in these new adventures, that isn't always the case. Let's, once again, look at this from your dog's point of view.
If your dog isn't used to going everywhere with you, just a simple ride in the car can be anything but simple to them. Even if they don't get carsick, a lot of dogs get anxious in the car, pacing back and forth, panting and often barking at things as they go by. While you can control the pacing by harnessing your dog in place with a car safety harness system, they may still pant and bark. Prepare your dog in advance for longer car rides, or more frequent car rides, by taking them in the car for shorter distances, spending time in the car in your driveway, or driving around the block, reinforcing calm, quiet behavior. And it goes without saying that if your dog starts barking frantically when you get to your destination, don't take them out of the car until they calm down. Otherwise, you are just rewarding that frenetic behavior!
Once your dog gets to your destination with you, keep them under your control. If you are visiting an off leash area, don't immediately let them off leash! Keep them on leash or switch to a long line and work with them for at least a few minutes on their recall in this new place. Do not assume that just because your dog has good recall at the dog park, they'll have good recall at the beach or on an off leash trail. There will be different triggers in these new spaces and your off leash dog could be caught unawares if you haven't warmed them up to this new environment. And as I pointed out last week, dogs at the beach or lake should be wearing a life vest and dogs on hiking trails need to be taught to avoid snakes. Keeping your dog on a long line will keep them at a safe distance from the water if you don't have that life vest on and, hopefully, will allow you to call them away from that "nope rope," aka a snake, before they try to pick it up!
While I understand that you and your family are on vacation, so are other people. As dog owners we need to be respectful and mindful of the fact that other people have the right to be at that off leash trail, beach, or outdoor venue even without dogs. And many people use those spaces who don't like dogs or are afraid of dogs. Don't reinforce their belief that dogs are menaces by letting your off leash (or on leash) dog approach random people you encounter. Pleasantly greet them for sure, but keep your dog with you unless someone indicates a desire to interact with your dog. And don't assume that people will have control over their children in these places. If you think off leash dogs are out of control, just picture off leash kids...lol. Kids running around on trails, in parks, and at beaches can be a trigger for many dogs to bark and chase. Don't let your dogs do it and don't blame the kids for running around. It's your job as a dog owner to control your dog. Yes, parents should supervise their kids, but kids have a right to run around without fear of being pursued by a dog, even a friendly dog.
If you are going to have time off, now is a good time to take that obedience class refresher course, sign up for an introduction to agility or another dog-centered sport, etc. These classes will give you the opportunity to get out with your dog in a novel situation and work on their skills. Those skills can only help when you present them with more challenges like family adventures on summer break. And don't feel bad if your dog isn't cut out for family vacations, car travel, and trips to the beach. Despite what the social media influencers are trying to tell you, not every dog is made for that kind of exposure. In fact, even a lot of those social media influencers have trouble with their dogs on those adventures, you just don't see it in their highly curated, online content. Social media is not reality and we all should remember that. Don't put your dog into a risky or frightening situation just for the photo op.
All behavior has consequences. As dog owners, we need to make sure that the consequences of our actions and the actions of our dogs don't negatively impact the experiences of others. And this is no more true that during summer break when we are all headed to the beach, the trails, and the parks.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
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