AVOID CONFRONTATION WALKING DOGS

Posted on by Regina D.F. Burdett
By being on the defensive, you can avoid confrontations when you walk your dog
To avoid confrontations when walking your dog, be on the defensive

Be On The Defensive…Not The Offensive

What makes a good driver and a good dog walker? Someone who is cautious. It requires taking appropriate action to avoid confrontation walking dogs just like being defensive when driving a vehicle. 

Without exception, it is always better to stay clear of what could turn out be a conflictive situation that ends in an accident. The priority is safety. And, most importantly, human intervention will keep people and their companion animals out of danger.

To Share Or Not To Share…The Sidewalk

Naturally, you have the right to walk your dog on the sidewalk. Nevertheless, it is your responsibility as a pet parent to teach him to walk properly on the leash. This means eliminating the urge to pull, lunge, bark, growl and become ferocious. 

Likewise, it is the responsibility of other pet parents, who you are certain to come across on your outdoor trips, to do exactly the same. But, this is not a perfect world. 

Dodging Conflict Dog Walking

As most of you are aware, some dogs are hard to train and others have never been trained. Then there are those that have acquired certain negative behaviors as a result of previously being abandoned, injured, or abused.

If your dog knows another dog really well and they are both friendly towards each other, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t interact and rub noses. However, when this is not the case, and this is most of the time, the best advice I can give is…be on the defensive.

What I Do 

When I see a dog walking towards me, I cross over to the other side. Doing this will avoid coming face to face in case a direct confrontation occurs.

Sometimes, the other person walking the dog will act first and cross before you attempt to do so. Occasionally, they will actually turn around and back track to find another route to walk along. Now that is one smart, responsible human!

To Sum Up

Do your best to avoid confrontation when you walk your dog. Always err on the side of caution. It just makes sense to do everything you can to prevent a potential incident. And, as I said at the outset, defensive walking is like defensive driving.

Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!  

More must-read articles in this category:

How to take your cat for a walk http://petpeevesunmasked.com/walking-cats-provides-enrichment

Dog walking safely means being focused http://petpeevesunmasked.com/distracted-dog-walkers

Behavior awareness tips for dog parks http://petpeevesunmasked.com/dog-park-safety-precautions

Daily physical activity for good health http://petpeevesunmasked.com/dog-exercise-consistency-is-key


DOG HERO MOE SAVES DROWNING MAN

Posted on by Regina D.F. Burdett
This pet hero helped save a man from drowning in Northern California
Moe, the Golden Retriever, watching all that goes on at the marina

It’s all thanks to dog hero Moe that a drowning man was saved. Because if it hadn’t been for a very alert Golden Retriever who was in the right place at the right time, and raised the alarm, this incident could easily have ended in tragedy.

Just in case you haven’t seen it yet, a few weeks ago I launched a special section on this site about pet heroism. What you see here now is the second such article about the heroic actions of both dogs, and cats. And, we look forward to sharing with all of you, a lot more inspiring stories about our pets. So much more than simply furry companions, they are sentient beings with a greater purpose.

FROM OUR SERIES ON PET HERO STORIES

Drowning Man Saved By Heroic Dog Moe, Senses Danger

In January this year, an elderly man was taking an early morning stroll along a marina in Northern California. To be precise, the location was Pittsburg, which is some 40 miles northeast of San Francisco. However, his walk stopped abruptly when he slipped and fell into the water.

Fortunately, though, Moe happened to see the incident and began barking profusely. At the time his owner was still asleep but the noise woke him up and he immediately knew that something was wrong. The “Golden’s” Dad rushed outside, saw the senior struggling in the water, and managed to help bring him to safety.

Pittsburg PD Meets The Hometown Hero

Moe, the heroic Golden Retriever, was happy to receive treats of gratitude from local law enforcement
Moe, the pet hero, was personally thanked with treats by officers of the Pittsburg (CA) Police Department

Always ready to recognize acts of valor carried out by members of the community, the Pittsburg Police Department paid a visit to Moe and his human family later that day. K9 Officer Morris and Sergeant Law were able to thank Moe personally for his lifesaving act and give him some treats. They also said this to him, “Good job, Moe! We are proud to say you really are a hometown hero!”

Subsequently, the PPD published a Facebook post about what had happened. They wanted to make sure that everyone in the area could read this great story with a happy ending. How dog hero Moe had saved a drowning man!

To Sum Up

This article is just one example of the intelligence, loyalty and compassion that companion animals show towards other animals and humans. They are so very worthy of our admiration and respect. Stay tuned for more dog and cat hero stories in the coming weeks.

Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!  

Another must read article in this category:

Pit bull rescue pup detects a child’s health crisis, https://petpeevesunmasked.com/heroic-pet-alerts-boys-medical-emergency

LAP DOGS CAUSE DRIVING ACCIDENTS

Posted on by Regina D.F. Burdett

Avoid Getting A Ticket

Be responsible and don’t let lap dogs cause driving accidents
Be responsible and don’t let lap dogs cause driving accidents

Doing this is actually considered irresponsible, so please take note. Lap dogs cause driving accidents. In fact, if you are in the habit of sitting at the wheel of a vehicle while it is in motion, and you have a pet on your lap, you may get a ticket.

Owners Fined For Transporting Unrestrained Pets

Most drivers and passengers don’t think twice about buckling up themselves and strapping in a baby, infant, or child, Yet, why does it never occur to them to secure their companion animals while on the move? Clearly the answer is poor judgement. 

So, it’s worth remembering that in the USA, some states are stricter than others. Nevertheless, you definitely run the risk of being fined.

This Can Happen

It’s important to note that unrestrained pets can easily become injured. Furthermore, if they’re allowed to move around freely, that can also become a hazard for the driver as well as the passengers.

A driver must be in control of the vehicle at all times. And when dogs are allowed to be lap dogs, they will cause a driving accident sooner or later. It’s also important not to forget that other people who become involved in an incident or accident may well be affected in some way themselves.

Now, let’s consider the fact that if people can die because someone was texting while driving, imagine what else could occur when someone interacts with their pet. Others can also just as easily die because someone turned to stroke their cat or feed their dog a treat!

Some U.S. State Laws

In Tennessee

Back in May 2011, Tennessee House Bill 212 was passed and became law on July 1st that year. It’s a measure that helps keep pets safe by making it a Class C misdemeanor to allow a dog to ride unrestrained in the front seat of a vehicle. It restricts the movement of pets traveling in a vehicle to the following:

* it must be held by someone either in the front passenger seat or the rear seat, or else

* it must be harnessed, crated or otherwise contained

In New Jersey

New Jersey police officers have been known to stop drivers for improperly transporting an animal and issue fines as much as $1,000 per pet. Examples of citations range from dogs hanging their head out of a window, unleashed dogs traveling in the bed of a pickup truck (deemed animal cruelty), cats resting on the dashboard, and even someone driving with a bird perched on their shoulder.

In Other States

Fines are issued to motorists who drive with pets in their laps in these states: Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois and Maine.

Do You Know The Law?

If this topic interests you, could you please send me a comment. I’d like to know three things…

1. Had you heard about this law before reading this blog?

2. Do laws like these exist in your state?

3. If not, do you think they should because they’ll help to save pets’ lives?

Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!  

Here’s another article you might like, this time about flying with your pet: https://petpeevesunmasked.com/flying-with-pets-as-cargo-involves-risks/


AKC EXPANDS BREED RECOGNITION 2018

Posted on by Regina D.F. Burdett

Two European Dogs Join The List 

As the list of dogs keeps growing, the prestigious AKC expands its breed recognition in 2018. Generally known by its full name, the American Kennel Club recently took the decision to allow two more breeds to join their ranks. Both of these newcomers hail from Europe and one in particular has a name that most of us will be challenged to pronounce. Let me give you an introduction.

THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB LIST GROWS BY TWO

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje from The Netherlands was recognized as a Sporting breed dog by the American Kennel Club in 2018
The American Kennel Club list grows as Dutch sporting dog, Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, becomes an officially recognized breed

The first breed to be added to the American Kennel Club’s growing list is the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. Pronounced Coy-ker-hund-tsje, you may have already guessed from the name, it originated in The Netherlands. And, no, it’s not a new breed at all. In fact, it has been popular in that country for centuries. And even depicted in paintings by Dutch masters such as Rembrandt. 

Ducks In The DNA

Since it was bred for duck hunting, it enters the AKC’s Sporting Dogs category. The name actually means “little cage dog,”which indicates what it was trained to do. Interestingly, it uses its long fluffy tail as a tool to lure ducks into cage traps. Quite ingenious, don’t you agree!

A Happy Home

Surprisingly, this sporting breed doesn’t have to be in the countryside. Experts tell us that it can live quite happily in an apartment as long as it gets regular exercise. However, one important factor is this. Because it is very sensitive to sound, it doesn’t do at all well around small children that make a lot of noise. Apart from that, it is intelligent, loves to please and makes a great companion.

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen from France was recognized as a Hound breed dog by the American Kennel Club in 2018
The AKC expands breed recognition in 2018 by adding Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen from France to the Hound category

Now let’s meet the second canine to be selected as the AKC expands the breeds it recognizes in 2018. This one comes from France and falls into the Hound category. It is the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen and the larger relative of the already recognized Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen.

Traits And Demeanor 

This particular breed used to hunt wolves and deer but, at the same time, also tracked smaller game such as rabbits and hares. Now, as you might expect, the GBGV is a high-drive dog that requires plenty of mental stimulation and lots of space to exercise. In addition, because they would typically hunt in a pack, this breed thrives on being part of a group and staying very active.

Friendly And Cute 

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the GBGV is friendly and looks really cute. It has the typical Griffon wire coat but its short legs and droopy ears are what gives it a most endearing appearance. It is friendly and mostly low-maintenance, except for the fact that it needs a lot of space to run and express its hunting instincts.

To Sum Up

Winning the Best in Show trophy at the renowned Westminster Dog Show may not happen just yet. Nevertheless, it won’t be too long before both these latest AKC-recognized European breeds gain popularity among dog lovers in the USA. And, when that happens, we’ll all have to learn how to pronounce their names correctly!

Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!  

You might also like to read about the beautiful Burmilla cat that was created by accident, https://petpeevesunmasked.com/burmilla-cats-became-another-oops-breed/