TulsaPets Magazine May 2023

12 TulsaPets • May / June 2023 Stormy Weather — and More Preparation and Practice Aid Canines and Owners by Mary Green CPDT-KA: Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed, CDBC: Certified Dog Behavior Counselor CNWI: Certified Nose Work Instructor K9 Manners & More, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma S torm season in Oklahoma can be a real challenge for animals. When you take cover and your stress level is high, your pets sense danger. Couple that with a storm-phobic dog, and you can imagine how stressful that would be for the pup. Being prepared is not just for storms, though. We recommend preparation and practice for lots of challenges your pets might experience throughout their life- times. There are changes from puppyhood to adulthood and even more changes for senior dogs. There is much to be said for “Practice makes perfect,” but I would say, “Practice makes perfect sense.” Here are some tips for your prepara- tions. Storm Preparation Practice going to your safe space in a storm shelter or wherever you take cover. If there are stairs going to the space, practice going up and down so the dog is familiar with the process. If your safe space has a door that closes, practice hanging out there. Have supplies for your pets handy. You should quickly be able to grab leashes, medication, and other items you might need while sheltering. Take a picture of your pets’ vaccination records so that you have them in your phone. (I’m pretty sure all of us take our phones to our safe zones.) Dogs might pant excessively when stressed, so be sure to have enough water for humans and pets in your safe space. Wellness, Injury, and Illness Preparation Many pets see their veterinarians only for routine exams — until there is an emergency. Your vet hospital should be open to “happy visits” when your pet just goes in to say “Hi” and maybe steps on the scale and gets some treats. If your pup experiences anxiety when going to the vet clinic and you have not made happy visits, it would be a good idea to ask your vet about a previsit medication. Muzzles and cones can often be traumatic when your pet is already stressed. It’s easy to train your dog to accept wearing a muzzle or cone when he doesn’t need to. We like to teach our dogs to willingly put their heads into their muzzles or cones. World-re- nowned animal trainer Chirag Patel of Domesticated Manners (www.Domesti- catedmanners.com) has lots of wonderful training videos on his website and You- Tube channel. This is one of my favorite methods of muzzle training: https://you- tu.be/1FABgZTFvHo . Travel Preparation Many aspects of travel can be upsetting to your pets, even if the trip ends with a fun adventure. If you are traveling by automobile, your dog is probably safest when confined to a crate. Ruffland and Impact kennels are top rated for safety, but research the safest dog crates for travel, and you will find many options. If crating your dog is not possible because of space, you will need to look for the safest dog seat belts. Does your dog do his business only at home? If so, you will need to practice taking him to potty on a leash in different places. And you must carry poop bags with you and pick up any waste. GPS collars are becoming more available. Fi Smart Dog Collars have GPS tracking, activity monitoring, and escape alerts. Another option is an AirTag on your dog’s collar, but you must be sure that he won’t chew it off. Be certain that your pet is microchipped and that the chip is registered with your information. And have IDs on your dog at all times when traveling. If you ever plan to leave your dogs in your vehicle, whether or not it is running, you should have a temperature monitor in place. The Waggle pet monitoring system is popular among dog sports enthu- siasts. The device monitors the temperature inside your vehicle and sends you text alerts of changes. Confinement Preparation Crate or kennel training is another practicable skill. Even if your dog isn’t crated at home, there might be instances when he needs to be confined. That could be while you are traveling, at the groomer or veterinary hospital, or at home when activity is restricted. Make the crate a happy place to be rather than a punishment. You should also practice feeding your dog in the crate because that might be important in a boarding situation. If you do any dog sports or trialing with your dog, he will need to learn to be crated and not be aggressive to other dogs passing by. TRAINING TIP