10 Tools That Can Change Your Dog's Behavior

Having five dogs and being a natural problem solver, I am always on the lookout for good tools and information on dealing with problem behaviors.

Listed below are several tools I have personally used and recommend:

(1) Pet Corrector - I am listing this one first because it is my favorite. When one barking dog sets off my other four, this tool is great to put an immediate squash on all barking. You simply say "No!" or whatever you want your word to be then push the button and it produces a hissing sound which startles your dog into being quiet. From that point on, all you usually have to do is pick up the can and they all immediately get quiet. This works great on four of my five dogs. Note: Don't overuse for many different behavior problems. Dogs can become desensitized if you overuse it.



(2) Pet Convincer 2 - This was recommended by my trainer. It is a more professional version of the Pet Corrector above. It also emits a hissing sound to help "reset' your dog's brain when barking, being aggressive, jumping, etc. It is rechargeable with C02 cartridges which can be purchased separately.





(3) Doggie Don't Device - This was also recommended by a professional trainer. It is used to "interrupt" the dog's thought to bring their focus back to you. It emits a "zapping" sound which gets your dog's attention very quickly. This is a great tool to stop jumping, barking or leash reactivity. I stick this in my back pocket on every walk.



(4) Dog Dazer II Ultrasonic Dog Deterrent - For whatever reason, my dogs feel the need to scuffle whenever I remove the full garbage bag from the can to take out. This little device stops the fight instantly. You can't hear it because it is ultrasonic, but the dogs jump back like something hit them. The garbage can theatrics are almost a memory now. 

(5) ScatMat - This is a mat that you can place on your couch or anywhere else you do not want your pet. I used mine on the bottom step because I did not want my dogs upstairs. If they put a paw on it, it emits a loud beep and believe me, they back off. One of the many purchase options is a thin, narrow mat you can use in a window sill or on a counter top.


(6) Sentry Calming Collar - I used this collar on three of my dogs. It worked great on two of them and I saw marginal results on the third. If your dog is high strung or fearful, it is worth giving this collar a try. It's a bonus that it makes your dog smell great too. Amazon's cost for a package of three is way below what you will pay in the pet store.


(7) Doberman Security Motion Alarm Detector with Infrared Sensor - This little alarm can be used in so many ways. You can use it to block off any area of your house you do not want your dog in. You can also use it to teach your dog to stay off the counter or furniture. It's also a great way to teach your dog to leave your food alone when you turn your back. I can't tell you how many times I have went to the bathroom to come back to an empty plate. Set them up a couple of times with this sensor and they won't go near it again. If your dog likes to sneak to a certain spot in your house to potty when you aren't looking, you can break that habit with this alarm.

(8) Home Security Camera with two-way audio - I have a camera on my dogs in the living room because that is where they spend 99% of their time when we aren't home. I can listen to them and talk to them through the camera. I have on several occasions logged in to find them howling. When five schnauzers howl, it's quite a little party. I spoke to them through the camera and told them to knock it off and they stopped. However, the camera I have cost eight times as much as this little guy. I'm liking what I see about this camera and may purchase one to expand my viewing area.

(9) Elevated Pet Bed - I now own five of these beds. If you do not teach any other obedience commands, you should definitely consider teaching "Place". It is the best dog obedience command out there. This hammock is great to designate your dog's "Place". We use the command "Place" several times a day now with our dogs: when someone rings the doorbell, when we have company, when I am fixing their meals, or when I just need them to be quiet, still and get out from under my feet. Here is a link to a great YouTube video about how to teach "Place". 

(10) Thundershirt - I have used this on two of my dogs. Abby used it when she was in obedience training to help calm her around other dogs. I use it on Bella when we have thunderstorms because she is terrified of loud noises. It works great for both. If you have a dog who is anxious in the car, this would be great for that too.

I hope you can find a solution for your dog(s)' behavior issues within this post. With five dogs, I am always running into something that needs attention and the above tools have helped out tremendously.

Here's a video of three of the girls going to their "Place":

The Last 10 Things I Purchased for my Dogs

Bella cuddling with granddaughter's doll

My best purchases usually come from recommendations from friends or from online forums. I belong to many schnauzer and dog groups on both Facebook and Google+. I also regularly visit a professional groomers forum. I love being able to research and purchase items from my home, then have it delivered to my door. It saves me from making purchases that I am not happy with.

I thought I would dedicate this blog to the items I have recently purchased for my dogs. If you are interested, you can check them out on Amazon and read their reviews as well. I always read through the positive, the negative and the most recent reviews. You can get a great feel for the product that way. 

*If you buy one of these items by clicking on the pictures below, I will receive a small commission (very small 😏) but it will not change the price for you. 

1. Dog Hair Dryer - I groom my own dogs and thought this high velocity dog dryer might be a little more efficient than my own hair dryer. It had over 600 reviews and four stars. I didn't want to spend much over $50 and this was a good buy.  

I have used this on two of my dogs and both were a little skeptical at the loud noise and the velocity of the air. However, I don't feel it was much, if any, louder than a regular hair dryer. Initially, I held the nozzle a foot away from them when drying until they got used to the feel of the pressure of the air. I am amazed at how fast they were dry with a nice, soft texture to their fur.

Go Pet Club Dog and Cat Pet Grooming Hair Dryer

2. Cordless Clippers - I have a pair of corded clippers and was looking for a pair that was not heavy and one that I didn't constantly have to deal with the cord getting in my way. It makes my dogs nervous when the cord lands on their back or head. The research I did on the professional groomer's forum lead me to this one. The pro's tend to buy clippers in the $400 to $500 range, however, this one got mentioned over and over as a lower cost option.

I have used these and am very happy with them. They are very lightweight in my hand and very quiet. It has a run time of about 90 minutes on one charge and stays cool the whole time. It is called a "5 in 1" because instead of having to change the blade for a different hair length, you can just dial it to the desired length.

I also bought the snap-on stainless steel combs which turned out to be a great investment because I can use these for my schnauzers' legs instead of having to scissor them, which takes me forever. Their legs looked very even and smooth using these combs.

Wahl Bravura Professional Cord/Cordless Pet Clipper Kit

Wahl Professional Animal 5 in1 Stainless Steel Comb Set 

3. Straight grooming scissors - I have several cheap pairs but wanted a good pair of scissors that weren't too long and had a ball tip for safety. This brand recommendation came from the professional groomers' forum. It really does make a big difference using a good pair of scissors.

Geib Gator Ball Tip Straight Shear, 7.5-Inch

4. Dog Cot - My trainer uses these to teach the command "Place". They are a great dog landing spot. I now have three: two small and one medium. I plan to take them with us when we travel this summer to the lake and on vacation. They are up off the ground, therefore not quite as accessible to the fleas and ticks, not to mention dirt and grass. The center of these are mesh and will help keep them cool. They also have a canopy you can buy to shade them from the sun. 

I have found all of my dogs napping here at one time or another. Sometimes two will jump on the medium sized one together.

This cot has almost 1000 reviews and is rated 4-1/2 stars. 

K&H Manufacturing 17 by 22" Original Pet Cot, Small, Chocolate/Mesh

(5) Earthbath All Natural Shampoo - I bought the Aloe & Oatmeal with the vanilla and almond scent. Mmmmm, heavenly smell and leaves their coat soft and silky. All ingredients are natural, biodegradable, and gentle. This product does not contain anything that would harm your pet or the environment: No DEA, parabens, phosphates, synthetic dyes, or perfumes. This shampoo has almost 2000 positive reviews on Amazon.

Earthbath All Natural Shampoo

(6) Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Liquid Tartar Remover - Schnauzers are notorious for having awful teeth and gums so I am trying to give my dogs every dental advantage. I brush their teeth, give them elk antlers and rope toys to gnaw on and add this tartar remover liquid to their water.

It has a nice wintergreen scent that helps with their breath and I have actually noticed less plaque forming on their teeth. I started with a tiny bit and worked up to the full dose so they didn't notice the taste change.

Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Liquid Tartar Remover

(7) Vetoquinol Ear Cleansing Solution - None of my dogs have ever had an ear infection. My groomer uses this on all the dogs that she grooms and suggested I use it when I groom them at home. It cleans, dries, acidifies, and deodorizes the ear canal.

You just squirt some in their ear after a bath, close the ear and gently rub. They will then shake their heads to clear out any excess.

Vetoquinol Ear Cleansing Solution

(8) Musher's Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax - I noticed my dogs paw pads getting really dry and rough this winter. I knew I couldn't put any lotion on them because they would simply lick it off. This stuff is amazing. You massage a little into their paw pads and it not only moisturizes them, it gives them protection from road salt, hot pavement or sand, and ice. It also does a great job giving them more traction if you have slippery floors.

One of my girls also has a consistently dry, rough nose and I use a little on her nose to soften it up.

Musher's Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax

(9) Personalized Dog Collar - I ordered this for my Daisy. I knew if she ever got lost, she wouldn't allow anyone to get close enough to read her tag. I have her name and my cell phone number printed on it. I ordered black with bright pink lettering and it's adorable. 

It is a great quality leather with a metal buckle and still looks new after months of wear. 

Personalized Dog Collar

(10) Leather Flower Dog Collar - This collar is just adorable. I ordered the soft pink with flowers and it looks great on my solid black, salt and pepper or the platinum girls. It is actually a faux leather so it is softer than new leather.

Flower Pet Dog Collars

Just hangin out...

Carly has strange phobias. Like walking past the open crate door???? (Note: She is wearing the cute flowered collar in this video.)

Training is a Wonderful Thing

Daisy tolerating my granddaughter, lol

If this is your first time to my visit my blog, I had promised a follow up on Daisy's training:  

My vet had recommended a local trainer when I talked to her about my concerns with Daisy's aggression. I immediately went to the trainer's website (ourdogtrainer.com) and the questions he posed on his homepage ~embarassed? worried about injury? frustrated? irritated? overwhelmed? upset? afraid?~ described my situation perfectly. 

To say I am pleased with Daisy's training results at this point is definitely an understatement. I can't believe the difference in her behavior. 

Bella & Daisy sharing the "Place"

Our lesson this week was at Home Depot. I was pretty apprehensive about taking Daisy to a place where she would be in close proximity to people and possibly other dogs. The trainer brought his dog too. As you can see from the trainer's link below, she was very relaxed in the down command at the entrance watching people come and go.

Daisy at Home Depot 

We purposely set her up in many different situations that normally would have brought an embarrassing meltdown, but instead she looked to me for calm and guidance. We walked by people pushing carts, kids, loud equipment and men in bright orange vests, lol. 

I worked really hard to stay calm and confident so as to convey to her I was in charge and could handle anything without her help. We had one incident where someone brought in their HUGE unruly dog that had every intention of eating Daisy. (I'm not sure why you would bring a large aggressive dog to Home Depot?) The trainer said Daisy definitely had every right to feel threatened. I was able to calm her with a correction so she could see I wasn't going to let anything happen. I can't believe how much my attitude and demeanor influences hers. 

I am now training Abby too with the methods I am learning.

Although learning obedience commands was an important part of her training (sit, down, place, come, stay, heel, nope), what I considered the most essential was the modification of Daisy's frame of mind. Teaching her self control through the obedience commands helped her in situations where she would come unhinged. 

Another important aspect of the training was teaching me how to communicate clearly, calmly and effectively with Daisy. We had a good relationship before the training, but the mutual respect we now have for each other has brought us to a whole new level. At bedtime, the first thing she does when she comes to bed is snuggle up to my neck and cuddle for a few minutes. She looks to me now anytime she is unsure of how to react. I love this!  When one of the other dogs go to bark at a squirrel out the front window, she looks at me like, "Mom, I'm pretty sure you don't want me to do that!"

One thing that I struggled with at first was not treating my dogs as my children (humanizing them). I love my dogs with a passion but what I didn't realize is they are uncomfortable and confused when we expect them to behave like a little four legged person. I respect their species and try to communicate more clearly in their language. By this I mean using fewer and consistent words and body language to convey my expectations. When I make a rule, such as no jumping, I have to expect the same behavior at all times, no exceptions.

Just hanging out with my sis

I have actually ordered her a pink (of course) vest that I plan to use when we are in public that says "Please Give Me Space". Being the cute, fluffy and little dog she is, everyone assumes she wants to be petted. This vest will at least stop those who quickly move in before I can say No! It is my job to be sure people/dogs do not invade her comfort zone.

I plan to work with each of my dogs to teach them everything Daisy has learned. I have already started working with Abby. It is so nice to put them in their "place" when people visit. It doesn't look like a stampede anymore. I look forward to the day when I can say "place" and all five scramble for their spot.

I am so so so happy that I had the opportunity to learn how to help Daisy become a less reactive, calmer and happier dog. Her training will be a life long pursuit, but she is so worth it. I know that she will never be the cute and friendly dog that loves everybody, but at least I am now confident of how she will react in most situations and know how to handle it correctly. 

If you have any specific questions about her training, please don't hesitate to ask!

My granddaughter loves her some Bella!

8 Signs You Have an Aggressive Puppy (2/6/17 Update on Daisy)

2/6/17 Update on Daisy's Training

Since my post on 1/15/17, Daisy has been evaluated by Scott Borden with Our Dog Trainer and had her first training.  

However, before her first training, the trainer gave me several documents to read and implement. His program foundation is based on "Nothing in Life is Free" and even before her first lesson, I began her "Relationship Reboot Program". 

Basically, you control everything: their food, toys, time, space, and affection. The result of this reboot is your dog will become more relaxed, more affectionate, more tolerant and much happier.

I saw results almost immediately with this reboot. She seemed to mellow a little bit and was much more respectful of me.

The other dogs don't care for the extra attention Daisy seems to be getting.

I like the way the program builds on itself. Her first few lessons will be based on learning basic obedience training to give her self confidence and make me a strong pack leader in her eyes. 

We have been working on three basic obedience skills: 

(1) "Place" which means basically she must stay put where ever I deem is her spot until I release her. I can see this being very handy in many situations.

(2) We also started the "Heel" exercise to teach her to stay aligned with my hip when walking, turning, zig-zagging, etc. 

(3) The last thing we worked on during her first lesson was "Recalls" to teach Daisy that she must always come when I call.

I have been practicing with her for about 30 minutes each day in increments of five to ten minutes. I am very proud of her quick progress. She is a smart girl.

Sharing "Place" with her brother.

Lesson number two is two days away and we are anxious to learn more new things. I know this is going to make my Daisy the sweet girl I know she is. :)

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1/15/17 - Wow, it feels like forever since I've posted. Christmas was fantastic as always - lots of family together time. However, Christmas felt a little different for me this year because I was retired. I was able to slow down and enjoy every moment. I kept thinking, "This is what Christmas is supposed to feel like!"

Now that all the Christmas decorations are lovingly packed and stored and I have spent quite a bit of time cleaning up the house, I was excited about getting back to my blog.

I am going to dedicate this post to Daisy. Daisy is my youngest mini at 1.5 years old. She is my beautiful baby with a Great Dane size attitude! She has displayed this attitude since she was a tiny pup. 

Daisy

Most pups wiggle when you hold them, but Daisy growled, nipped and protested loudly if she wasn't feeling it. Most new puppies are playful and respectful of their older housemates, but Daisy started scuffles with them from day one. 

My hopes were that she would calm down and relax in our multi-dog household and become the sweet mini schnauzer that I knew she could be. Well, that really didn't happen. Her bad behaviors have escalated over time.

I felt she was socialized sufficiently living with four other dogs and spent a lot of time around my five grandchildren and large family. In the summertime, she traveled every weekend with us to the lake and rode in our motorhome to our beach vacations. She was exposed to many different situations.

She barks incessantly and will not respond to the hush command like our other dogs. She tries to intimidate my grandchildren, even chasing and nipping if I don't catch her in time. She gets aggressive and intimidating when people enter our home. 

Taking her for a walk, omg, that is an experience you would have to see to believe. She lunges and barks viciously if we happen to pass a stranger or another dog. It becomes very embarrassing. 

She actually nipped a jogger's leg as we were walking on the beach during last summer's vacation. Thank goodness, he was understanding. It was at that point that I decided she needed some serious intervention and I needed to watch her like a hawk from then on.

I have tried one training facility with limited success. I really couldn't afford their full program, but I paid for a mini version and in retrospect, she obviously needed a lot more training. 

I am going to contact a local trainer next week. His name is Scott Borden from Sellersburg, IN. I have heard many good things about his program, Our Dog Trainer, and his website has a couple of dogs like Daisy who have been rehabilitated. I will update you on her progress over the next few blog updates.

I want to leave you with eight behaviors to watch out for in your puppy that may indicate you need to get professional training asap:

1. Abnormal intense "play" -  Your pup shows signs of excessive aggression, a little more intense than the normal puppy play such as snarling, growling, snapping, and nipping.

2. Fearful behavior - A pup is usually curious and ready to play with everyone. If your pup hides or backs away from new people, this is not typical puppy behavior.

3. Dead eye stare - I have noticed when Daisy locks her eyes on something that is irritating her (usually one of my other dogs), she becomes deaf to my commands. She is going to attack if I don't physically intervene.

4. Aggressive barking - The kind of barking that they refuse to stop with a command.

5. Dog reactivity - When you walk your pup and they act aggressively when approaching other dogs (lunging, growling and/or barking).

6. Possessiveness - Acting aggressively to people or other dogs over a toy, food or even their owner. Daisy thinks I belong exclusively to her and gets nippy with the other dogs when they come close. I do not allow this, but she still gives them a nasty look and would nip at them if I turned my back.

7. Biting - Not normal puppy mouthing, but intent and purposeful biting.

8. Dominance - Showing aggressive dominance over their dog housemates. Daisy likes to pick on our small, elderly dog. If he tries to get to the door first, she will aggressively attack him.

I hope I have helped anyone who has a puppy that doesn't display normal puppy behavior. I wish I had realized sooner this was something she wouldn't outgrow and gotten help sooner. I'm sure the longer you wait to get help, the longer it will take to turn the behavior around.

Stay posted for updates on Daisy's progress!

Here's a video I took of Abby trying to get Daisy to play with her. Abby can be relentless, lol.

5 Things I Am Thankful For

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many of us start to reflect on things that we are thankful for. This has been an awesome year for me. I not only have been able to retire, I am now able to spend so much quality time with my family and my schnauzers. When you work full time, it seems that all you have time to do is run from one chore to the next. Life has slowed down significantly and become much sweeter. I want to reflect a little bit on my five schnauzer sweethearts that I am thankful for every day:

Scooter - Our first schnauzer puppy and our tiniest of the group. He introduced us to the official "schnauzer hug". A true lap dog unless you happen to sneeze and then he runs away like someone is shooting at him. He no longer allows anyone to pick him up other than me or my husband. He's a little quirky because of his age but endearing just the same. His puppy kisses are a little tougher to take because of his old dog breath, but just as sweet.

Bella - The ultimate schnauzer "lady". She is so gentle, sweet and loving, I often think what a great mommy she would have been. She is a cuddle bug and is always ready to keep your lap or thigh warm while you relax on the couch. She is the official pack "licker". The other dogs have learned if you sit directly in front of her, she will give them a great back massage with her tongue. Bella is terrified of storms and loud noises and that includes dad yelling at the TV during ball games. She has really curbed his "enthusiasm" because he can't stand to see her upset.

Abby - We like to call Abby the "sh** stirrer" because she is always nipping and barking at the other dogs trying to lure them into a rough and tumble game. She loves to play and I honestly think she will never outgrow it. Being the tiniest of the girls, she loves nothing better than to curl up on your lap and accept all the petting and kissing you feel like giving. Abby takes a while to warm up to strangers, but when she finally does, you are her best friend for life and she will never leave you alone. She is the pack "face licker". She likes to make sure everyone's face is clean, even if they don't want her to and she will not take no for an answer.

Carly - Carly is our largest and most gentle of the pack. She is timid but loving. She is quirky in some situations like walking in certain areas of the house. She acts as though something may fall on her at any moment when walking down the hall. It has never happened, but you can't convince her differently. Carly sleeps under the covers next to your legs so you never have to worry about cold legs. She is quite the little leg warmer. My husband and I joke about her being not the brightest crayon in the box, but her gentle sweetness more than makes up for it.

Daisy - The baby of our group is definitely the firecracker. She is also the keeper of the doors. If the other dogs have the misfortune of coming in the door after her, she has to be sure they know she's the boss by growling and jumping on them. She has been and continues to be our biggest challenge because of her incessant barking and fear aggression with strangers and strange dogs. We won't give up on her though because when she is at home with just us or our grandkids, she is the most loving and sweet dog you could ever want. Her beautiful thick coat makes her the most cuddly and cushy teddy bear.

Some people may call me crazy because I spend so much time caring for, talking about and loving on my pups, but I know there is no other living thing on this earth that is more loyal, loving and accepting. I innately understand them and they understand me.

I have learned a dog can help you appreciate the simple things in life and remind you to be thankful for the important things in life - family, friends and love (and belly scratches).  Scooter, Bella, Abby, Carly, Daisy and I would like to wish you and your family a great Thanksgiving!

Daisy wanted her turkey early....

6 Household Items to Keep Away From Your Dog

Abby getting kisses

I have tried to make a habit of giving my home a good look-over every time I leave the house. I try to see it from a dog's perspective to be sure there is nothing they might mess with that they shouldn't. I have made a list of items that are particularly dangerous to dogs:

1. Foods

Food poisoning in dogs is the most frequently reported poisoning to the Pet Poison Helpline. Keep the candy dish out of reach, especially chocolate. It can cause seizures, irregular heart beat, tremors or even death. Sugarless gum is very dangerous as well. Grapes, raisins and avocados are also poisonous to dogs. 

It is a rule at my house that the dogs do not get any people food. I teach my grandkids this practically from the time they are born.

2. Houseplants

Dogs don't know the difference between the grass that grows outside and your ivy houseplant. They just like to munch on green stuff from time to time. Many varieties of houseplants are poisonous to dogs. Always research the type of plants you plan to have sitting around. Also please be aware of any outside plants that your dog has access to.

3. Medications

I had to learn this lesson the hard way. Unbeknownst to me, two of my pups jumped on my bed where my purse was sitting unzipped. They proceeded to pull things out and found a Ziploc bag with my

Little Scooter

blood pressure pill, diuretic and a couple of Tylenols. When I walked in, they had chewed up the bag and there were no pills anywhere to be seen. I called my vet who told me to give them hydrogen peroxide to make them vomit. They both vomited but I didn't know who, or if either of them, ate the pills. They were both fine, but it could have turned out much worse. 

Dogs can chew through a prescription bottle very quickly. They also love to hang around when you are taking your medication "in case you drop something." I always try to take my medication over the sink just in case something falls.

Common drugs including NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen such as Advil, Aleve and Motrin) can cause serious harm to dogs. When ingested, these medications can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as potential kidney failure. 

Of all prescription medications, antidepressants are the reason for the highest number of calls to Pet Poison Helpline. When ingested, they can cause neurological problems in dogs like sedation, incoordination, agitation, tremors and seizures.

4. Chemicals

Sadly, I have had an experience with this one too. I had a black lab who was the sweetest, most gentle dog you could ever meet. She was up in years and although she normally never left our yard, I believe her failing eyesight allowed her to wander a little farther than our property line on occasion. She would sometimes wonder too far north and cross into a neighbor's yard. This evil woman hated dogs and I suspect she baited my dog using food laced with antifreeze. I remember distinctly that morning seeing a garbage bag laying outside her cans instead of in it, which was very uncharacteristic - she always kept a pristine yard at all times. 

I'll never forget that morning. After realizing my dog was missing, I opened the front door to find her on the front porch struggling to stand. We rushed her to the vet who suspected antifreeze poisoning. Sadly, we could not save her. 

Antifreeze has a sweet taste to a dog who will lap it up readily and will ultimately cause kidney failure. Bleach, ammonia, toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners and lime/calcium removers should also be safely stored and kept out of dogs' reach.

5. Insecticides

The chemicals in rodent poisons all have different active ingredients, making all of them potentially poisonous to dogs. Depending on the poison that was ingested, poisoning can result in severe vomiting and bloat, kidney failure, internal bleeding or brain swelling. A dog could also become ill by eating or chewing on dead rodents who have been poisoned. Roach or mouse traps

Cozy on the couch

can also be a hazard to your dog.

6. Fertilizers

Certain fertilizers that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal and iron may be especially attractive but dangerous to dogs. Ingesting a large amount of these fertilizers can cause severe pancreatitis or can even cause an obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Because dog safety is top priority for all of us, it is important to realize exactly what the dangers are so we can be aware of the potentially dangerous items we have in and around our homes.

Have you had any incidents with your dog getting hold of something that was poison?  Please leave your story in the comments below. Your story may help someone else.

What should I do if I suspect my dog has ingested a poison?

-Remove the poison from your pet’s reach.

-Get the container or substance to be able to take with you to vet or to describe to pet poison helpline.

-Gather a sample if your dog has vomited.

-Know that the sooner you take your dog to the vet or call the poison helpline, the better outcome for your pet. Some treatments only have a small window of time after the ingestion to be effective.

-Even if your dog is not showing any signs, it is still important to take action if you suspect it has ingested a poison.

Who can I call?

1. Your veterinarian

Scooter 

2. Animal Poison Control 

888-426-4435 

($65.00 fee may be charged)

3. Pet Poison Helpline 

800-213-6680 

($49.00 fee will be charged)

Be prepared with this information:

-What and how much was ingested

-Time it was ingested

- Dog's weight

-Dog's medical history and medication list

Here are a couple of great resources to have at home for pet emergencies:

       



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