Wednesday, December 24, 2008

A Christmas Puppy? Maybe Not.

A Christmas Puppy? Maybe Not.

So you are thinking of getting a puppy for Christmas? Think twice. The idea of giving a puppy to a child for the holiday comes from the right place. You imagine the child’s reaction: an excited shriek, followed by cooing and exclamations of joy and appreciation.
Unfortunately, the scene you envision is exactly the reason that I do not recommend giving a puppy as a gift.
There is a lot involved in pet ownership that not everybody thinks of when they have intentions on getting a pet for Christmas. Who will be taking care of this pet? Are they willing to exercise their pet daily (walks)? How much time are they going to be spending with it? Where are they going to keep it when they are at work or school? Are they planning on taking the time or expense grooming their pet? Are they going to have them spayed or neutered? Are they going to have them properly vaccinated? Finally, what would they do if the pet had behavior problems? What are they planning to do if there was a medical situation that involved major, expensive medical treatment? If you can answer that you are dedicated in caring and being financially responsible for that dog, than by all means, get one.
But there is a lot of responsibility involved in caring for one that should never be taken lightly. I see so many people that have dogs that pay absolutely no attention to them. I have a client with I believe, five dogs. Two are very aggressive dogs that she cannot handle. And she is thinking about getting a Golden Retriever for her son for Christmas because he is afraid of the aggressive dogs.
I have three dogs myself. I take the time to be with them through most of the day and love them all. I have taught my ten year old daughter responsibility from the time she was a toddler and still would never consider giving her a pet at Christmas. Our animals are part of the family, but in no way can she ever be trusted to be responsible or accountable for them alone. A child cannot take all mentioned above and decide, Yes, I really want a pet. Most kids cannot be responsible for themselves, much less a pet. Do they make enough money to feed and care for them? No, you will. Buying a pet for our kids for Christmas without proper consideration is a gift that might well turn into a nightmare. Realistically and sadly, Christmas puppies tend to be older puppies at the pound a few months later, or that nearly year old dog getting euthanized because someone bought a dog as a "toy" for a child that has no legitimate responsibility for that animal and loses interest. Also some people have no clue that dogs grow and get bigger also will require training and they bring them to me at arm’s length saying, “Fix my dog!”
Still have your heart set on the idea? Consider gift wrapping an I.O.U. in the form of a book on dog care, a greeting card picturing a puppy, a photo of the dog you're considering, or even an ID tag.
Then, after the excitement of the offer has passed, you can discuss logistics. Is this really what they want? Is he or she really willing to make lifetime commitment to the dog?
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works. He specializes in canine aggression and behavior problems. He can be reached via his website at www.DenverDogWorks.com

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Holiday Pet Safety

Holiday Pet Safety
By Robert Forto, PhD

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I am asked all the time about holiday dos and don’ts from pet owners. While I always offer an article right around Christmas about training Christmas puppies I thought it would be wise to offer some tips to pet owners on holiday safety before the season’s festivities reaches a crescendo. While most of this is common sense, it is the little things that we overlook during this busy time of the year that can turn a joyous season into a nightmare for your pet if you do not take some steps to ensure their safety.

The holiday season can get pretty hectic, and with the decorations and extra goodies around the house, there is a lot your pet can find to get into. Here are a few safety tips to help keep your pets safe and happy during the festivities:

Christmas trees
Firmly secure the tree in its stand and consider wire or twine ties attached to the wall to help secure the tree. You’ll want to make sure the tree doesn’t topple over if, or more likely when, kitty tries to climb the tree.

Dogs and cats will often try to drink water from the reservoir in the stand. The sap from the tree itself may irritate your pet's stomach, and preservatives added to the water may be toxic. Devise a cover to fit around the base of the tree—even a towel wrapped around the trunk covering the stand will do.

Research also shows that the chemicals used in producing artificial trees contain chemicals that can be harmful or even fatal if ingested by your pet. While there are many pros and cons to having a natural versus an artificial Christmas tree, this fact alone should make the decision a little easier.

Ornamentation is very attractive, especially to kittens, cats and puppies, but may be deadly. The tinsel, ribbon and glitter can cause intestinal blockages. Protect your pet by placing these items high enough to be out of reach. Packages under the tree may offer the same threat—the ribbons are just too hard to resist, and your pet may end up chewing on them while playing.

Those wonderful goodies
Holidays are the time for lots of baking, and receiving of baked gifts. These items smell just wonderful to your pet. Your dog may help himself to the candy, cookies, or part of the holiday meal if you are not looking. Eating people food may lead to indigestion, diarrhea, or worse. Remember, items containing chocolate and/or raisins can poison a dog, even if it is a small amount.

Remains of the holiday meal left on countertops, tables, and even in the garbage will entice your pets. If there is a way to get to it, be assured your dog will certainly try. Bones from turkey, a roast, or ham may splinter if eaten. Older garbage may even contain enough bacteria to poison a pet. Be careful where the trash is held while waiting to be disposed of.

And of course I don’t need to remind you that begging at that table can cause major behavior problems in the future…

Other Decorations
Plants, especially poinsettias, are often used for decoration in November and December. Some of these plants contain toxins that can irritate your pet’s gastrointestinal tract if chewed on or eaten. Eating enough of some plants may poison your dog or cat. In some cases it may be the leaves, in others the stem, berries, or roots. Your veterinarian or behaviorist can help guide you, or you can do a bit of research at the library or online to see if any of your holiday plants may be harmful to your pets.

Toys
On Christmas morning when all of those toys are being played with (and soon forgotten, I might add) they contain many hazards for pets. Small toys, balls, marbles, board game pieces, BB’s from the Red Rider BB gun with the compass in the stock, and electric cords are all dangerous to your cat or dog.

Taking a few minutes to set some family guidelines and spot potential safety hazards could keep this holiday season from having serious consequences for your four-footed family member.

In the coming weeks Dr. Forto will be publishing and article on training Christmas puppies. His position is that you should never give a puppy for a Christmas present but thousands are given as gifts each year. In this article Dr. Forto will discuss when to train your dog, how to properly care for him and who should be in charge. Just remember that shelters are full of dogs that were once bundles of Christmas morning joy that grew up too fast and were not trained. Dr. Forto and his certified trainers at Denver Dog Works are here to help.

This article is provided as a general overview of the topic. Always consult your veterinarian or behaviorist for specific information related to diseases or medical care for pets.
________________________Dr. Robert Forto is a canine behaviorist and the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado. He can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com