Pet Tips
Cat & Canine Compatible Cultivation
Spring is here at last and many of you are dreaming of glorious gardens and lawns but can this dream coexist with dirt-digging dogs and
plant munching cats? It can if you borrow some of these ideas:
If you have a fence, leave about a 2 foot strip unplanted along the inside of the fence so that your dog can do his daily patrol of the
perimeter without trampling plantings. Leave the areas around your trees unplanted because, well, we all know how dogs love trees!
Add touches that mask street noise to curtail barking such as fountains and wind chimes.
Plant dog sturdy plants like creeping phlox, verbena, coneflower, black-eyed Susan, shasta daisy, Russian sage and Mexican sage.
Avoid toxic plants like lilies (highly toxic to cats), azaleas, oleander, sago palm, and castor bean. And be sure to use a non-toxic
fertilizer, like Pet Friendly Fertilizer, www.petfriendlyfertilizer.com, 713-263-1682.
To prevent dogs from digging, try creating a special digging area by surrounding an area with rocks or logs and partially bury a few of
your dog’s toys and some dog biscuits and help your dog uncover the treasures. Fill in old holes by burying some of her feces near the
top as most dogs don’t enjoy digging up their own feces.
For more tips on dog-friendly gardening check out the book, “Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs” by Cheryl Smith which combines
garden design with dog training.
Perfect Puppies
If a new puppy’s in your plans now that warm weather has arrived, remember that the Association of Pet Dog Trainers recommends that a
puppy should meet 100 different people, of both genders, all ages, sizes, ethnicities, with and without facial hair, etc. by 16 weeks of age
to promote confidence and sociability. Just be sure that the introductions take place in a disease-free environment until the puppies
immune system is fully developed.
And to make your puppy and dog walks a “pull-free” zone try this – When your dog pulls on the leash, stand still, otherwise he’ll get
the idea that pulling gets him to where he wants to be. Bring him back to your side and give a treat. Then as you start to walk,
give a small treat with every step. If he moves ahead, turn and go the other way. If the leash tightens, stop until he looks back and
give a treat when he returns to your side.
Pet Safe Travel
If your dog likes to enjoy the warm weather with his noggin hanging out of your car window, remember that bugs and road debris can cause eye,
ear and nose damage. A safer alternative is to let your dog enjoy the smorgasbord of outdoor scents through the car vents. Even better,
keep poochie in the back seat if you have air bags. Because dogs 4-legged structure causes them to sit about fifteen inches closer to the
air bag than would a human, in an accident an air bag will hit the dog before it’s fully deployed, resulting in serious neck and spine injuries
or death. And in an accident, a dog can be thrown around the vehicle injuring itself or other occupants or may escape onto the road.
So for your dog’s safety, forget letting him ride shotgun. Secure him with a pet restraint to the middle of the back seat.
If you’re traveling far away on vacation with your pet, be sure to prepare for unexpected illnesses or injury
by researching veterinary options at your vacation destination before you leave. Find the nearest local vet and emergency clinic or
contact the local humane society or animal shelter for recommendations. And ALWAYS have a current tag on your pet with a telephone number
where someone can be reached at home and where you’re vacationing. A temporary, jiffy tag works well for this purpose in addition to the
permanent tags and license.
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