|
|
Keeping your dog safe is
similar to keeping a child safe, you need to constantly be on alert.
There are certain
dangers a dog faces, especially in urban and suburban settings where
the risk of running away and getting hit by a car poses a serious
threat. Keeping your pooch protected on your property even when
you're not there to supervise, or keeping your dog from running off
and becoming injured when playing around off leash, is reason enough
to look for practical solutions. Below are three products that can
help you and your companion enjoy some freedom while being safe!
Water Alarm
This product is designed to alert you should your dog enter the
pool. Now I'm sure you're thinking, my dog's a great swimmer. And
I'm sure he is. But the reality is dogs drown in swimming pools,
simply because they can't find the stairs. To keep your pooch safe
this summer, look into the Safety Turtle Water Safety Alarm, or a
similar product. This particular product works by attaching the
Turtle to your pet's collar: an alarm will sound at a base station
in the house the moment he jumps in.
Fencing
There are numerous wireless pet fence manufacturers to choose from:
Innotek and Petsafe are 2 very good brands. This form of containment
makes it possible for you to create invisible boundaries on your
property, so that your dog doesn't run off. How does it work?
A transmitter (usually housed in the garage or basement) sends a
radio signal through a concealed wire buried along the perimeter of
the "fenced in" area. Your dog wears a special collar with a
receiver that alerts him with a warning tone when he's approaching
the edge of the safe area,
followed by a minor shock if he gets too close. Additional training,
usually 7 - 14 days, is necessary to assist your dog in
understanding and learning the boundaries of the fence.
It is important to note that while invisible fences work well with
most dogs, they are not 100 % effective, especially if your dog is
older, stubborn and not well trained. If you think this might be the
case with your pet and you want to try this product, make sure you
are on guard for a
reasonable trial period to make sure your dog doesn't figure out he
can 'jump' the fence and run off.
You also need to check up on the fence once it is installed to make
sure the perimeter wire is in tact, the batteries in your dog's
collar still work and if your dog has a heavy coat, the area where
the collar makes contact is shaven. Also, check with the
manufacturer about the radio frequency whether is it FM or AM. FM is
preferable as AM tends to pick up stray signals that may give your
dog a correction even when he is not near the perimeter of the
fence.
Another disadvantage to this type of fence is that it does not keep
other animals out. For this reason people often use this type of
fence in conjunction with a standard fence to keep the dog out of a
garden or pool.
Safety Light Collars and Vests
Safety collars and vests with flashers in general are constructed
with reflective fabrics and have a flashing lights attached to them.
Some, such as PolyBrite™ collar and leash do more than just reflect
light, they generate their own. Both the collar and leash and give
off a bright red glow and can also be set to flash. They use a
replaceable watch battery that last up to 250 hours, are light
weight, and above all - water resistant. You can also find a range
of clip on flashing lights, from the more durable and water proof
for larger dogs to something very small and light such as the Pet
Blinker. The clip on flashing lights can also be attached to a
child's coat or belt if needed.
Safety vests are a must for the working dog or if you take your dog
jogging in poorly lit areas. Also essential for hunting dogs.
Besides being constructed of reflective material higher end safety
vests generate light and may have a flashing light for added
visibility.
Summer is a fun time and a great time to get out and run or swim
with your pets. Even though you've taken safety precautions, should
the unexpected happen to your pets it is always advisable to have
pet insurance should you find yourself in the emergency room.
|
Pool
Fence Info.com