dogs and this time of year

Go Dogs wrote:
"For the candy I work on 'leave it' constantly with our dogs. I have used treats on the ground, steak on my plate in my lap, dropping cheese right next to them sleeping. I worry about the people in the house leaving something out or dropping meds. So them having a good leave it really helps ease my mind."

I also teach the dogs, 'leave it', with everything. Food, pills, toys, TV remote, etc. They won't touch it, if they think it 'belongs' to me. I can leave the house and not worry about the trash, the TV remote, shoes, etc. It wasn't that hard to teach them. When they were pups, if they ever started to chew a no-no, (I left things around on purpose) they got a 'NO!', and I gave them a suitable toy. No shocking, beating, screaming, etc. Just left them know what I expected of them.

Glad I'm not the only toughie out there :) I'm working hard on things that are for their protection - leave it, stay and their recall :)

They are even getting to understand 'the look' :D

"For the candy I work on 'leave it' constantly with our dogs. I have used treats on the ground, steak on my plate in my lap, dropping cheese right next to them sleeping. I worry about the people in the house leaving something out or dropping meds. So them having a good leave it really helps ease my mind."
I also teach the dogs, 'leave it', with everything. Food, pills, toys, TV remote, etc. They won't touch it, if they think it 'belongs' to me. I can leave the house and not worry about the trash, the TV remote, shoes, etc. It wasn't that hard to teach them. When they were pups, if they ever started to chew a no-no, (I left things around on purpose) they got a 'NO!', and I gave them a suitable toy. No shocking, beating, screaming, etc. Just left them know what I expected of them.

Deb and Ed M wrote:
I must be the Halloween Grinch - but I keep my dogs away from the festivities and I don't walk them down our street for many days after Halloween, after watching how fast Jack scarfed down dropped candies, wrapper and all, many years ago.

I just figure a bunch of sugar-crazed kids tearing around in weird costumes, is not a good place for my dogs to be; Jack is too protective and the other two will just be scared. I sit out front, doling out candy - and my dogs have no clue what is going on.

Our GSD is our 14 yr old's 4-H dog. She has been at the county fair twice and state fair once and she's not even 2 yet. For us getting her out into odd situations is part of her training and learning good manners :)

And yes, she does need to learn to wear a costume as the kids have costume class at the fair. Boy the Samoyed was not impressed when we made him into an Oreo cookie, but he sure did look cute :)

For the candy I work on 'leave it' constantly with our dogs. I have used treats on the ground, steak on my plate in my lap, dropping cheese right next to them sleeping. I worry about the people in the house leaving something out or dropping meds. So them having a good leave it really helps ease my mind.

~ Dori ~

Certain temperaments are well suited to it....others not so much.

I must be the Halloween Grinch - but I keep my dogs away from the festivities and I don't walk them down our street for many days after Halloween, after watching how fast Jack scarfed down dropped candies, wrapper and all, many years ago.

I just figure a bunch of sugar-crazed kids tearing around in weird costumes, is not a good place for my dogs to be; Jack is too protective and the other two will just be scared. I sit out front, doling out candy - and my dogs have no clue what is going on.

We have "trunk or treat" where I live now.... too spread out for decent trick-or-treating here. I didn't take any of the dogs this year as I'd never been before and wasn't sure what to expect. But a couple of people had their dogs there in costume strutting around, and I'll probably take Zig or Hal next year. Ziggy being the more willing to dress up.

CA POPPY wrote:
I thought this post would be about what to do when the doorbell rings 400 times. Oh, good grief, our girls never accept that the UPS man is not camped out on our doorstep harassing us. Rescue Remedy, here we come! And even then, we have to keep the brats locked up at one end of the house until the horror stops.

Our Samoyeds love Halloween, they love seeing all the kids and getting extra love from them :)

Now the GSD, we are still working on teaching her that Halloween is a fun holiday ;)

Dori

We don't get Trick or Treaters so there is no worries here.

Dernhelm wrote:
Thanks for the reminder! I can't tell you how many times I tell my friends, "I'll give that to him at home, thanks!" If it's not identifiable, or not "Made in USA" then my dog doesn't eat it.

We took our fur kids to a Halloween function sponsored to benefit an animal shelter. Someone at one of the booths asked if they could have a biscuit. I thanked them for the offer, but tried to politely decline. I said that they have sensitive stomachs and are on a restricted diet.

People mean well, and I don't want to appear rude when declining an offer of a treat. But in the same breath, I don't want them getting something that will make them sick.

I thought this post would be about what to do when the doorbell rings 400 times. Oh, good grief, our girls never accept that the UPS man is not camped out on our doorstep harassing us. Rescue Remedy, here we come! And even then, we have to keep the brats locked up at one end of the house until the horror stops.