 Can you believe the Christmas holidays are already over?! What better way to celebrate then with another long weekend for Australia Day?!
If your pooches aren’t lucky enough to be staying with us at the Resort for the long weekend they may be coming along with you on your holiday! If this is the case always remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that your pet is transported correctly and safely. Making sure they are provided with the essential needs, this includes food, water and protection from the elements whilst still in a safe position in the vehicle. It is against the law for a dog to travel in the boot of a sedan type vehicle, regardless of how short the trip is. The only way for a dog to travel in this sort of car is in the cabin, this is allowed also in an SUV or wagon type vehicle. Dogs are also allowed to travel in wagon and SUV cars in the back behind a cargo barrier. If traveling in the back of a ute or trailer the dog must be correctly and safely tethered or cage. If tethering a dog, make sure you are aware of their behaviour whilst traveling, if they are an anxious or nervous dog this isn’t the safest option for them. Your dog must secure with a lead or chain and have enough length sit and lay down but be short enough that they cannot reach the sides of the car. Long tethers can be more dangerous than nothing at all, with the risk of the dog jumping out and strangling themselves or being dragged beside the car. It is ideal to use a swivel hook when attaching the tether to the vehicle; this will minimize the risk of tangling. The most common injuries caused to dogs whilst traveling in the back of utes are: falling off the back of a moving vehicle, hanging over the side of the vehicle and being struck by passing cars, dogs being dragged along beside a car and attempting to jump from the moving vehicle. Regardless of what section of the car your dog is traveling in they must be provided with adequate ventilation, if traveling in a container it must have multiple ventilation holes, with a minimum in at least 3 sides of the container. Be aware of the temperatures and weather expected for your days of travel, even if open in the back of the vehicle dogs can still suffer heat stroke, if temperatures are expected to be high its best that your dog travels inside the cabin with you with the air conditioner on. If the weather is going to be at the other extreme, wet and rainy be considerate of your pet both inside and outside of the car. If traveling in the cabin and you have the heater on, remember most dogs have a thick coat designed to keep them warm so you want to avoid overheating. Even if your dog enjoys the water, if traveling in the rear tub of a vehicle in the rain be mindful of how your pet may cope. With dogs sensitive hearing rain can actually be uncomforting for them and traveling at high speeds doesn’t help with this. If this is the only option for your dog possibly look at crating them and protecting the crate from the elements. When your dog is traveling inside the car with you, the safest mode of transport is to have them in the back seat restrained or in the boot of a wagon type vehicle behind a cargo barrier. It is in the safety of both humans and the pets traveling in the car that the dog is correctly restrained. An unrestrained dog can cause distraction and in the case of an accident can become a projectile and have some severe damage caused to themselves. It is not safe for a dog to travel with their head hanging out the car window, small particles in the car enter the dog’s eyes, ears and nose and cause injury or infection. If you are planning on your traveling with your pets in the car and have any questions, check out the DPI Website.
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 Hey, Buddy here!
Thank's for checking in on my blog! I thought I'd share with you a little bit about me, I'm a Labrador cross and there's so much about the Labrador that people don't really know... The Labrador Retriever is one of the top picks for family households but did you know....? There are in fact two different types of Labrador, the English and the American. Their general appearance is quite different, with the English bred Labradors being heavier and stockier and the Americans taller and lanky. Both types of Lab’s have a smooth double coat that does not have any waves. Their coat colours come in a solid black, yellow or chocolate. It’s believed there is also a rare mutation of a silver/grey colour which the AKC consider a ‘shade of chocolate’, it’s quite a controversial subject between Labrador breeders and some claim it’s a Weimaraner, Labrador cross, though others say it’s a true mutation. The Labrador is native to the Newfoundland and were once known as the ‘St.John’s Dogs’. It was here they worked side by side with their fisherman and would catch any fish that became loose from the lines. They were trained to jump into the extremely cold waters to help pull in the nets. In the 1800’s some of them were brought over to England on ships coming from Labrador (hence their name). They were cross bred with setters, spaniels and other similar retrievers to improve their instincts as hunters. It didn’t take long for them to become an extremely popular pet and hunting dog and they’ve gradually become one of the most popular breeds throughout the U.S and Australia. The Labrador is a highly intelligent, trainable breed. They are well known today for their work as Seeing Eye Dogs, Guide Dogs and sniffer dogs throughout the police force and airport work. Their loving nature and eagerness to please is the reason they are such a great family pet. Unfortunately, for some people it’s easy to forget that these bouncy bundles of joy are a working dog, meaning they need constant daily stimulation, both psychically and mentally. They can easily put on weight if over fed and under exercised and are prone to hip and elbow displacer. It’s highly important that their weight is kept at a healthy level from the early stages of life to prevent these issues further down the track. An overweight Labrador lives a shorter and unhealthier life then healthy weight Lab. As working dogs their minds are always on the go, for this reason plenty of mental stimulation is a must! Training must be started from a young age to assert that you are the pack leader. Labrador’s can grow into large, solid dogs and while jumping all over everyone may be cute as a pup, as they continue to grow this can become very unwelcoming. A dog jumping on you is also their way of showing dominance and means your dog doesn’t see you as the pack leader. Their natural line of work shines through when it comes to water play, Labradors just love it! They love to be a part of a family and are excellent with children and other dogs. They fit well into any environment as long as they can get plenty of human attention, exercise and stimulation. They are an average shedder and their short, double coat is easy to groom. Brushed regularly and bathed only when needed will help to keep it easily maintained. But really, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how much you do or don't know about about a Labrador, we're just super cute no matter what! Have a great long weekend! Using treats can be a helpful tool when training a young pup or an adult dog, but when is the correct time to be rewarding them with treats?
A lot of people tend to use treats to bribe their dog to do something they may be hesitant to do, for example getting into the car or brushing them. If the treat is not given at the correct time or you reward them with pats and cuddles it can send the wrong message that you are encouraging them for the negative behaviour. Never give a reward for bad behaviour; you should also never praise a dog that is in an anxious, scared or highly excitable state of mind. By giving dogs a reward in this state you are telling them that ‘Yes, this is how you should behave and there is something to be afraid of.’ Remember you are the pack leader and it is your job to show calm and assertive behaviour. A common issue is dogs jumping on new guests or visitors, if they in turn get a pat, cuddles or treats you are showing them that in order to get what they want they need to continue jumping and displaying the unwanted behaviour. If you are using food to bribe your dog, for example to get into the car, and are rewarding them before they get into the car you are telling your dog that in fact there is something to be afraid of and by acting this way they will get treats and cuddles. By rewarding at the wrong time we can actually be responsible for creating an unstable mind for our dogs, this can then lead to further behaviour problems such as separation anxiety, lead aggression, and food aggression, running in circles or barking at shadows. Only reward your dog when they have done something you wanted them to. For example; if you have asked your dog to drop at you only reward them once they have left it for approx. 10 seconds, if they pick the toy up before then take the toy away. If they leave it for the desired amount of time then you can reward them by allowing them to have the toy and lots of praise from you. This way, you are teaching your dog that you are the pack leader, that you are in control and confident of the situation. What is Heat stroke?
Heat stroke or heat stress is a case of extreme hyperthermia that results in thermal injuries to the tissues. It is a very serious condition that can lead to multiple organ damage and even failure, this includes the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, the blood system and the brain - these all can be fatal. What causes this? When the heat generations exceeds the body's natural ability to loose heat, causing the body to overheat. What can add to the risks of Heat Stroke?
Symptoms may vary but can include;
How to lessen the chance of your dog suffering from Heat Stroke; Provide your pets with plenty of cool shaded area that has plenty of ventilation at all times. Adequate air flow is vitally important to allow dogs to cool down via evaporative cooling (panting) Plenty of clean, fresh water and extra in case of spillage. Bring your pets indoors if possible on the hotter, humid days, allowing them access to open windows, air conditioning, shade or fans if able to. If your pet is required to stay outside, move their bedding into the shade, some dogs may continue to lay in their bedding even if in direct sunlight. Don't exercise your pets in hot, humid conditions. Try and walk them as early as possible or later in the afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day. DO NOT leave your dog lock in a vehicle, even when the windows are down it is too easy for a dog to overheat and pass away in a short period of time. How to treat Heat Stroke? Firstly, a vet should be contacted immediately. Given the seriousness of this condition it is a lot safer to get your dog examined before its too late. Initial treatment should begin at home to try to normalise the body's temperature. Apply or spray cool water on the pet’s fur or skin and fan the wet fur. Do not use extremely cold water or ice as this may exacerbate the problem. A great way to keep your pooch entertained as well as cool during the warmer weather is healthy, homemade frozen treats!
A simple way to do this is to use an ice cube tray or, for your larger dogs, paper cupcake liners. You can make so many different flavours and personalise them to your dog’s preference. A number of great things you can add into the treats are; o Fruits and Vegetables. There are many great options out there for dogs when it comes to fruits and veggies but make sure you ALWAYS check if unsure what they can and can’t eat. A few options are carrots, apple (with the seeds removed) bananas and sweet potato. o Meats. You can also add in small cuts of fresh meat as well as livers etc. o Garlic. Garlic is a great natural way to keep fleas away, a small amount mixed in with your icy treats will go almost unnoticed by even the fussiest pooch. o Fish. Most dogs LOVES fish, you can add some canned tuna or salmon! To blend your delicious treats together you can use a number of different liquids. A low salt chicken or beef stock is always a winner or for something different you can use a low fat plain yoghurt. Summer has finally arrived with the current warm weather we are expecting it can be difficult to know how to keep our pooches cool. Here are some excellent tips to help;
It's a New Year and new month so it's time to announce our January 2014 Dog of the Month! And the winner is..... BUDDY!  Buddy is a Labrador cross and a regular guest at Dogs Country Club. Congratulations Buddy, we can't wait to see your adventures during January.
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