Walk Fido

Ruff for Ruff

If you've been reading our blog for the past five years (five!), you know we're all about real gear for real dogs rather than fashionable gear for trendy dogs. We walk dogs every day and have tested every leash, every toy, nearly every brand of every thing that's out there. If it interests us at all, it has all the hallmarks of a product that will go the distance instead of disintegrating moments after your dog wears/chews/touches it.

So - we're thrilled to see that Ruff Wear, makers of some of the toughest gear our dogs have ever seen and some of the only toys that are still alive and kicking years after purchase, have a new line of dog collars. Reminiscent of climbing rope, these collars look tough and up to the challenge of multiple daily walks over many months.

They may not have cute mushrooms or flowers or birds on them, but we're digging the laid back style and the obvious utility. We'll be road-testing these soon. What do you think?

More Dogs in Downtown LA Not the Problem

The LA Times has a new piece on the growing number of dogs in downtown LA and arrives at the conclusion that the "overpopulation" of dogs is a problem. We disagree. The dogs are not the problem - irresponsible dog owners are the problem. On our daily dog walks all over downtown, we see everything. We see owners who refuse to spay/neuter their dogs. We see owners who don't believe they need to follow basic leash laws (as in, have your dog on one) & we see owners who have their dogs so far ahead of them on extendi-leashes that dog fights are bound to occur. We see dog owners so afraid of other dogs, they freak their own dogs out and create conflict and the potential for dog scuffles. We see owners who allow their dogs to bark and snarl at other dogs without correction. We see dog owners who simply cannot handle their dogs, which is scary for everyone. We see dog owners who let their dogs pee on buildings, on car tires, on sidewalks. We see dog owners who cannot be bothered to pick up poop. None of these issues - none of them - spell a dog problem. They spell a dog owner problem.

In a city that has one of the largest shelter overpopulation problems in the country, it's a wonderful thing to see many new dog owners adopting dogs from shelters and giving them a go at a great life. We respect these folks and know that many downtown dog owners take the job seriously and are just as frustrated as we are by how terribly many other dog owners behave downtown. As the LAT article makes clear, their bad behavior gives a bad name to all downtown dog owners, unwarranted or not.

While some may deem the Downtown Center Business Improvement District's marketing campaign of doggie do's & don'ts (which we covered previously) ineffective, we applaud it. It is a step in the right direction. The challenge that this marketing effort faces is that the dog owners who need to heed this information are the ones oblivious and arrogant enough to assume the rules don't apply to them. 

We've spent a lot of time walking all over downtown in the past five years and we've seen the changes. We are working closely with building management teams and HOA's to help educate residents on the basics of downtown doggie etiquette (elevators, for example, can create a host of problems for the uninitiated) to keep downtown's dogs and residents safe & to keep downtown a vibrant, livable (read: clean!) place. Just like every other neighborhood in Los Angeles, there are dog owners who feel they are above it all. To make the changes needed, it will take every dog owner having the tough conversations with other dog owners. It will take every dog service in downtown having the tough conversations with their dog owner clients. If we want a community that we love, it will take the community coming together to make it so. Are you up for it? We are.

Why Do Dogs Bite Children?

As part of Dog Bite Prevention Week, we took a look at some important tips to keep in mind when managing your own dog and when approaching unknown dogs. Today we'd like to delve a bit further into the most talked-about issues surrounding dog bites: children.

According to the AVMA, young children are by far the most common dog bite victims and most dog bites occur while they are interacting with dogs that are familiar to them.  To better understand some of the reasons a dog may bite a young child, we've turned to Doggone Safe - a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention and dog bite victim support. They are a fantastic resource and they've put together an excellent set of things to keep in mind:

Why Dogs Bite Children

• The dog is protecting a possession, food or water dish or puppies.
• The dog is protecting a resting place.
• The dog is protecting its owner or the owner's property.
• The child has done something to provoke or frighten the dog (e.g., hugging the dog, moving into the dog's space, leaning or stepping over the dog, trying to take something from the dog).
• The dog is old and grumpy and having a bad day and has no patience for the actions of a child.
• The dog is injured.
• The child has hurt or startled it by stepping on it, poking it or pulling its fur, tail or ears.
• The dog has not learned bite inhibition and bites hard by accident when the child offers food or a toy to the dog.
• The child and dog are engaging in rough play and the dog gets overly excited.
• The dog views the child as a prey item because the child is running and/or screaming near the dog or riding a bicycle or otherwise moving past the dog.

How Dogs Warn Children They Might Bite

• The dog gets up and moves away from the child.
• The dog turns his head away from the child.
• The dog looks at you with a pleading expression.
• You can see the "whites" of the dogs eyes, in a half moon shape.
• The dog yawns while the child approaches or is interacting with him.
• The dog licks his chops while the child approaches or is interacting with him.
• The dog suddenly starts scratching, biting or licking himself.
• The dog does a big "wet dog shake" after the child stops touching him.

Doggone Safe provides several visual examples that illustrate the difference between happy, calm dogs and dogs that are sending warning signals. Highly recommended visuals to look at with your children to help them (and you!) better understand how to interact with dogs to stay safe. 

Overall, we find that being aware of warning signals is vital to safety. It's so easy to assume that your dog or a friend's dog is enjoying your child's company or play, but things can quickly switch from light-hearted to more serious play and dogs are not always best at recognizing that shift in time...so it's up to us to be aware of these shifts at all times.

How to Avoid a Dog Bite

Did you know that it's National Dog Bite Prevention Week? We didn't either! But...if ever there was a good reason for a week dedicated to awareness of something, we think preventing dog bites is infinitely worthy. We'll look at a few different aspects of dog biting throughout the week. Our first installment? The basics of dog bite prevention.

We work with all kinds of dogs and have seen it all - fearful dogs, aggressive dogs and just plain lovely dogs. What breaks our hearts most about all the news headlines that focus on the bite victims and not what led up to the bite incident is that it doesn't provide a chance for the public to truly understand how easy it is to avoid dog bites with a few simple tips.

These tips from the American Veterinary Medical Association are easy to follow and demonstrate how important it is to be sure your children are aware of how best to interact with dogs so they remain safe:

Dog Owners - Managing Your Own Dog

• Carefully select your pet. Puppies should not be obtained on impulse.
• Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
• Don't put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased.
• Train your dog. The basic commands "sit," "stay," "no," and "come" help dogs understand what is expected of them and can be incorporated into fun activities that build a bond of trust between pets and people.
• Walk and exercise your dog regularly to keep it healthy and provide mental stimulation.
• Avoid highly excitable games like wrestling or tug-of-war.
• Use a leash in public to ensure you are able to control your dog.
• Keep your dog healthy. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and preventable infectious diseases. Parasite control and other health care are important because how your dog feels affects how it behaves.
• Neuter your pet.
• If you have a fenced yard, make sure the gates are secure.

Strange Dogs - Managing the Situation

• Be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your own pet with respect. Because children are the most common victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should:
• NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
• Be alert for potentially dangerous situations.
• Teach their children – including toddlers – to be careful around pets. Children must learn not to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences. Teach children to ask permission from the dog's owner before petting the dog.

The AVMA provides a range of other resources about dog bites, prevention & treatment so do check out their site and their links for more information.

Tomorrow we'll take a look at the reasons why dogs bite so following the tips above will be even easier!

Dog-Friendly Hikes in Southern California

We love taking advantage of the many hiking trails and incredible views that LA has to offer & we're always pleased when we can find a way to tire out our energetic dogs as often as possible. So we were beyond thrilled to see this fantastic LA Times interactive guide to dog-friendly hikes in Southern California.

 

In addition to including detailed maps & info on nearly 20 trails, the interactive guide also includes common doggie dangers to keep in mind as you explore. From foxtails & ticks to snakes & poison oak, the guide gives you great tips on what to be aware of and what to do should your fido get into trouble.

Our favorite part of this handy interactive guide, however, is the perfectly illustrated Hiking Tips section section:

We know quite a few fidos that have that exact same bowl and those very same booties! These pre-hike & during the hike tips along with the trail maps are an excellent resource for anyone looking to break out of their usual fido walking routine. Downtown residents in particular could certainly use a break from our concrete haven & take respite among the trails and trees. See you and your fido out there?