How to Deal With Your Dog During New Year’s Eve Fireworks
The annual New Year’s festivities are a great and fun time for most people. However, this event has evidently proven to be pretty stressful for dogs. With all the loud noises, fireworks and laughter, your dog may start feeling restless and anxious.
If you’re already dreading New Year’s Eve festivities because of your dog’s restlessness, don’t fret too much as you can always drop off your dog at the dog daycare Chapel Hill. Here are a few tips to help your dog remain calm and composed during the festivities.
Divert Your Dog with Calming Sounds
Noise can be pretty stressful for any dog, which makes New Year’s Eve a pretty big challenge for dog owners. Fireworks often go out at various times during the evening. The best way to keep your dog calm is to distract it with calming noises. For instance, calm music is said to relieve pet anxiety.
You can also turn on the TV or radio and play things your dog likes to listen to at a volume that’s higher than usual to cover the sound of the fireworks.
Give Your Dog Something Else to Concentrate on
You can also engage your dog in some activities so that it remains calm during the fireworks. You can offer it some cool chew toys and play games with it. This can really go a long way in keeping your canine companion calm since it’ll be more bothered by the noises if it has nothing else to do. You can also take your pet out for a walk to tire it out before the festivities commence.
Drop Your Pet at the Dog Boarding Chapel Hill NC located in Hillsborough
Oftentimes, firework displays and other popular events happening nearby are publicized in advance. If you’re aware that your dog gets stressed out by these things, you should plan for them accordingly to avoid any troubles. You can send your dog to a Chapel Hill pet resort or the doggy daycare in Durham for the night so that your pet doesn’t stress out.
If the New Year’s Eve party is at your home, you can drop off your pet at a Chapel Hill kennel for the night after spending the day with your dog or send it for dog grooming in Durham, NC, for the duration of the party.
Keep Your Home Calm
Honestly, it’s better to avoid having any New Year’s festivities at your place altogether. Since this might elicit a negative reaction from your pet, it’s just better to avoid inviting any friends or family over. In case you can’t avoid doing that, set up a quiet and calm room where your dog can relax when it wants to.
That means there will be plenty of parties, dinners, gift exchanges and get-togethers. Whether you will be hosting one of these events or packing up the family and pets to visit family and friends, know before you go how you are going to keep everyone calm and comfortable, so that everyone has a good time.
Managing Holiday Stress with Dogs and Visitors
If you are expecting visitors for the holidays, you will want to do a little preparation before the guests arrive. Many of us consider our pets to be members of the family, and we enjoy having them with us as we celebrate good times.
But when our pets are not used to having more than a few people around, they can get overly excited, and things can stop being fun. If your dog is jumping, begging for food or barking, it can lead to some embarrassing situations, and can even frighten guests who are not accustomed to having animals around.
In the weeks before the event, take some time to work on your pet’s manners and to reinforce dog obedience training. You might try having small gatherings with some pet-friendly people who can help reinforce your pet’s manners, so that when the bigger party night comes, your pet will already be prepared.
Setting Up a Dog-Friendly Room
If, on the other hand, you know that your pup will not be able to hold back his exuberance, or you are afraid a guest will let them outside, set aside a safe room where pets can stay for the duration of the event.
Make the space comfortable with a comfy, large dog bed, water, dog toys, and maybe some dog treats. Close this area off to the guests so that you can be sure that your pet and your guests are safe. Remember to either tell your guests that your pet should be left alone or tape a sign to the door saying “do not open” so that people know to keep out. The last thing you want is for a very excited pet to dash through the house, and possibly out the door.
Traveling with Your Dog
Leaving the familiarity of home can cause anxiety in people and animals. If you are traveling by car, be sure to bring along some of your pet’s favorite toys, the pet’s blanket or bed, and his regular dog food. If your dog is used to sleeping in a crate, bring it along so he can sleep in his familiar space.
Keep pets in a travel-safe crate so that the animal is not able to move freely throughout the car. This covers a few bases. It prevents them from getting underfoot or on your lap while you are driving—an obvious hazard; it prevents them from being thrown from the car should an accident occur; and it prevents them from getting free/running away at rest stops or after minor accidents. If you cannot fit a crate into your car, you can use a dog seat belt, dog car seat, pet carrier or car barrier to keep your pet safe.
If your pet will be flying with you, keeping them in a carrier is required. Make sure your pet is comfortable in that space before bringing them on a plane. Bring extra dog potty pads in case your pet has an accident.
Even though your pet won’t have the opportunity to urinate, do NOT restrict their water before a flight. Dehydration can make pets very sick, not to mention uncomfortable and irritable when they arrive at your destination.
On that note, make sure your pet is wearing identification at all times, and pack an emergency dog first aid kit in case of an emergency. Don’t forget to take frequent breaks to allow for rest and relief.
Like the policemen and policewomen who train and handle them, K9 officers are on duty 24/7 to make your community a safer place. To honor their service, Top Dog Training and Resort is once again partnering with local Police and K9 Officers this holiday season to host its second annual K9 Angel Tree.
You can help celebrate the K9 Officers in your community, while contributing to local animal shelters that depend upon your donations to help them continue to care for the many animals that come in each year.
Check Out Boarding Facilities
Before choosing a boarding facility for your pet, take a quick tour of the facility to check out the accommodations. You will want to be sure that it is clean and well kept, and that there is ample space given for the animals to exercise daily.
Have your questions ready before you go. Things you may want to know are: how many animals are kept together in one space; can you bring your pet’s food so that his digestive system will not be upset by an abrupt change in food; will you be able to bring along toys and other familiar comfort objects from home?
If you do not feel comfortable with a boarding facility, whether for your pet’s emotional comfort or because of health concerns, and you do not have the option of taking your pet along with you, give yourself plenty of time to ask around the neighborhood for someone to pet sit in your home or theirs.
Stick with the Usual Routine
One of the best things you can do throughout it all is to stick to a familiar schedule. This means taking walks at the same time that you always do and feeding at the same time as usual. It might help to set an alarm or reminder on your phone to remind you of daily pet tasks (like giving medications) during hectic holidays. Remember that it is important to take time to play with your pets and show affection, so that they aren’t thrown off-balance by all of the activity and distractions.
If needed, you may board your dog or take advantage of our doggy daycare service this holiday season. Call soon, our dog boarding services book fast, click here if you’re a new member or click here if you’re an existing member! Our kennels are clean and well maintained. Also, don’t forget we offer grooming service as well. Need a little dog training, we can help! We do service Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and the Durham areas.
Be apart of Top Dog’s Second Annual K9 Angel Tree.
K9 officers are killed in the line of duty every month in this country,” said Jennie Fuller, owner of Top Dog Training and Resort. “The K9 Angel tree is our way to honor their sacrifice and service.” While the needs of K9 Officers are taken care of by their individual departments, Fuller added, the donations to the K9 Angel Tree, made in honor of the individual k9s, are a great way of sharing with their fellow animals in need this holiday season.
Choosing a K9 Officer as your K9 Angel is also a great way for the community to get to know the police dogs that serve their community, Fuller added. “It’s important for K9 Officers to make that connection with their community. Police Dogs aren’t something to be afraid of, unless you’re doing something wrong. They are heroes that dedicate their lives to helping others in need and deserve a generous ‘thanks’ for the work they do.”
Like the policemen and policewomen who train and handle them, K9 officers are on duty 24/7 to make your community a safer place. To honor their service, Top Dog Training and Resort is once again partnering with local Police and K9 Officers this holiday season to host its second annual K9 Angel Tree.
You can help celebrate the K9 Officers in your community, while contributing to local animal shelters that depend upon your donations to help them continue to care for the many animals that come in each year.
The ornaments on the K9 Angel tree, located in the Top Dog Training and Resort lobby, give donors a chance to choose which K9 Officer they want to honor. For example, there’s Jett, a 2-year-old German Shepherd that is currently certified in detecting narcotics. and patrolling the streets to keep the bad guys off of them. Jett’s Christmas Wish is for donations to be made to the Orange County Animal Shelter to help his fellow K9s in need. As a special holiday treat, each donor who comes in to Top Dog Training and Resort to be part of the program will be able to take home a special K9 Angel Tree ornament featuring a picture and description of their K9 of choice.
All donations for this year’s K9 Angel Tree are being collected at Top Dog Training and Resort, 2112 Orange Grove Road Hillsborough, during regular business hours (Mon-Sat, 7 Am to 7 PM and Sunday 1 to 7 PM). Local Police Officers, along with the K9 Officers and Top Dog employees, will drop off the donations to the Orange County Animal Shelter the week before Christmas.
It’s Thanksgiving, what to do with your lovable, furry family member.
Thanksgiving is when many people express gratitude for the blessings in life. For many of us, even Top Dog employees, our pets are included in our thoughts of appreciation. Although you may consider your dog as a part of the family, there are many reasons why he/she should not join you at the dinner table for the traditional holiday feast.
It may be tempting to offer your pets special treats during the holiday, but fatty foods should definitely be avoided. Fatty foods can upset your pet’s stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, it may even progress into something serious, requiring a hospital stay. “The more different the food is from your pet’s regular diet, the more likely they will have digestive upset,” Eckman said. “Vomiting and diarrhea secondary to table food ingestion are the most common reasons we see pets in the emergency room or veterinary hospital after the holidays.”
Raw dessert batter is also unsafe for your pet this holiday. Be sure to keep Fido’s nose out of the mixing bowl to prevent any consumption of eggs, which are sometimes contaminated with salmonella. If you are planning on making homemade bread, raw yeast bread dough can also pose a threat to your pet. If consumed, the yeast will continue to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol, resulting in a bloated, drunken pet. This can be a life-threatening situation that can require hospitalization. Raisins and grapes, which can cause kidney damage, and chocolate, which can be fatal for dogs, should also be kept out of your pet’s reach.
If you absolutely must provide a special holiday treat for your pet, there are safe options that will still leave Fido begging for more. Try sticking as close to your pet’s normal diet as possible by offering them a bowl of their usual food mixed with lean, boneless and skinless pieces of turkey and a small amount of gravy. If you have fresh vegetables available, such as green beans or sweet potatoes, they will make an excellent addition to your pet’s healthy Thanksgiving feast.
To ensure your pet’s safety this Thanksgiving, be sure to keep them away from any harmful food products. In the spirit of the holiday season, your pet will be forever grateful for keeping them healthy during Thanksgiving dinner.
If needed, you may board your dog or take advantage of our doggy daycare service this holiday season. Call soon, our dog boarding services book fast, click here if you’re a new member or click here if you’re an existing member! Our kennels are clean and well maintained. Also, don’t forget we offer grooming service as well. Need a little dog training, we can help! We do service Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and the Durham areas.
Turkey is often the main course of a Thanksgiving meal. If you decide to treat your pet to a piece of turkey, be sure it is boneless and thoroughly cooked to prevent salmonella poisoning. In addition, avoid letting your pet chew on any sort of leftover bones, as they can be problematic to the digestive tract.
Dog grooming is much more than just a canine pampering session. It’s important for your pet’s health, appearance, as well as, social wellbeing. Without regular grooming, an unattended coat may become matted and uncomfortable. Serious health issues may also arise if lumps or wounds on the skin are ignored.
Therefore, it’s absolutely necessary to follow a grooming routine for your furry family members so that they stay healthy, energetic, and playful.
Keep reading to find out about the benefits of regular dog grooming.
Regular Brushing of the Coat Will Keep Matting at Bay Matted hair is a tangled mass that pulls the skin of the dog resulting in a very uncomfortable condition. Dogs with thick curly or fine coats are even more prone to getting them. Over time these mats will turn into sores and may even attract fleas and ticks as they make good hiding spots for them. Regular dog grooming ensures that the coat stays mat-free.
Hassle-Free Nail Trimming One important aspect of dog grooming is getting their nails trimmed regularly. Long nails can be very problematic for your dogs as they hamper their walk. As a result, they start walking in an abnormal manner that affects their bones and joints. To keep your dogs from developing any health conditions, a nail trim is necessary at least once a month. Most dogs are not fond of the nail trimming process, making it difficult for the owners to do it regularly. Professional dog groomers, however, are experts with nail trimming as they know how to make your dog comfortable. Also, they will cut your dog’s nails to the appropriate length.
Any Diseases or Parasites Will Be Detected in a Timely Manner Regular dog grooming allows you to spot any lumps, wounds, bumps on the skin, as well as their ears, eyes, nose, and paws. This means you’re in a better position to identify any health issues early enough before they end up becoming serious or possibly fatal.
Grooming sessions also make for a great time to bond with your pets. To sum up, regular dog grooming is definitely a worthy investment. If you’re looking for professional dog groomers in NC, head straight to Top Dog Grooming Service. We are experts in giving VIP dog grooming sessions so that your dogs stay healthy and walk-in style.
