Fall Festival Safety Tips

Come out this Sunday, October 20th from 12 – 4 pm and join the celebrations as we host our 3rd annual Tip, Tricks and Tails Fall Festival at Morris K9 Campus! But, before you come out and enjoy the festivities, here are some dos and don’ts to keep everyone, both humans and four-legged friends, safe. 

Do use the right equipment. Getting your dog on the proper no pull equipment can make events, such as the fall festival, easier for both you and your dog. With the correct equipment, you can easily have control over your dog throughout the day. Don’t have a no pull harness, but you’re curious and wanting to try one on your dog? Stop by our no pull station outside at the festival and get your dog fitted by one of our dog trainers!

Don’t come with your pooch on a flexi leash. While flexis can be appropriate in certain situations, the hustle and bustle of the fall festival, as well as the amount of people and dogs, can make flexis dangerous. Make sure you come to the fall festival with your dog on a short leash no longer than 6 feet, in order to insure the safety of everyone and every dog there.

Do keep an eye on your dog when you are looking at vendors or talking to people. As distracting as it can be when you are shopping at one of the many vendors or watching the agility match, make sure you keep a constant eye on your pooch to make sure they aren’t misbehaving. 

Don’t assume just because your dog is friendly and wants to meet everyone, that every other dog is friendly and wants to meet your dog.  Keep an eye on your dog and don’t let your pooch bombard another dog. Always ask before your dog approaches another dog, and make sure you watch your dog’s body language in order to make sure they are enjoying the situation. If you aren’t sure what good dog body language looks like, check out a post we wrote about reading your dog correctly

Do bring treats and reward your dog for good behavior. What a great environment this can be for training! The festival atmosphere can be overwhelming to any dog, so make sure that you are rewarding your dog for doing the right thing.

Don’t get frustrated with your dog. Remember this situation is new, so don’t take any frustration out on your dog. Instead of punishing your dog for poor behavior, change their behavior by asking them for a sit or grabbing their attention with a cookie and reward them for the good behavior. The fall festival is all about fun, so make sure your set your dog up for success and make this festival a great time for them!

Do have fun! Of course there are some easy rules to follow in order to keep the fall festival safe for everyone, but above all, have fun! The fall festival is the perfect place to do some shopping, learn more about our new specialty classes, have your pooch participate in a costume parade, adopt a dog or cat, check out our agility match and much more!

Remember that the festival is FREE but we will be collecting food donations, both dry and canned food, for the local shelters in the area participating in the event. We are looking forward to see you and your pooch on Sunday!

I'm Trapped and I Can't Get Out-What to do when you and your dog are in a confined area

Every dog needs a certain amount of space. This means you need to assess what your dog needs in the moment and take into account any prior history.

When taking your dog in public it’s easy to run into situations where your dog can feel confined and trapped. Whether it be in the waiting room at the vets office or in the lobby of your dogs training school, knowing how to properly deal with the situation is important.

Removing your pooch from the confined situation is always the recommended first option. When in a confined situation, make sure you know where the exits are located to make sure that you are not trapping your dog. It’s your job to provide your dog with the proper space before the problem arises.

Both dogs pictured are wearing Freedom No-Pull Harnesses and short leashes providing more control for their handlers.  While both dogs are alert and aware of each other this situation is going well.

If you know that a certain situation, like waiting in your vet’s office lobby for your appointment or waiting for a daycare attendant to escort your dog into the playroom may cause an issue, prepare and have a plan before you and your dog enter. The proper equipment is an essential tool to help manage this circumstance.  A standard 4 to 6 foot leash will help you better control your dog in a confined situation, so it is better to leave the Flexi leash at home. Do you use a No-Pull Harness or Gentle Leader for training class or walks through the neighborhood?  Then you should absolutely be using them in a situation where you would need more control.  How about treats?  If you can do some focus work before stepping foot in the environment you are on the road to a successful visit.  Are you more worried about other animals versus your own or your dog gets stressed when other dogs are barking?  Use your treats and play some obedience game to get them to focus on you rather than what is causing them discomfort.

A waiting area can be a scary place for a dog and owner

Another important aspect if you see a negative situation forming would be to make sure you do not translate to them through your body language that there is a cause for concern rather communicate to the lobby receptionist that you’ll wait outside until it is your turn or leave your dog in the car (assuming the temperature allows) until the lobby is clear.

It’s important to remember that you are responsible for your dog’s well-being and should not be setting your dog up by putting them in a scary situation. Becoming educated about your dog’s body language and reactions are important as we always want to set up our dogs for success.  If you are not sure what to do or cannot interpret what you are seeing consult a professional for help from your educated Morris K9 Campus staff. Visit our website www.morrisk9campus.com or call us at 973-252-5100 to find out what we can do for you and your pet.