Keeping your dogs safe…

Keeping our dogs safe
Increasingly, dogs are being stolen throughout the UK. You need only to take a look at Facebook to see distraught owners looking for help.  Of course, some dogs are found but most aren’t.  I, of course, feel for the owners who have ‘lost’ their dogs. However, prevention is always better than a cure.  There are a number of things to consider when thinking about the security and safety of our canine companions.

For instance, is it sensible to leave your dog outside in the garden, unattended for long (or any) periods of time? I would suggest this is making it very easy for a stranger to steal your dog with ease. I see a dog, who is always in the garden with no humans about; the house in on a quiet lane – it would be very simple for me to take this dog if I had a mind to. So here are a few specific suggestions:

  1. Do not put names on your dog, either on a tag, collar or a harness. This makes it simple for a stranger to use the dogs’ name to entice it away.

  2. Do not leave dogs unattended in the street, no matter for how short a period. This, again, is an invitation for someone to take your dog. (I once saw a dog in an open hatch of a car, in an unlocked cage, just left while the owner went shopping).

  3. Train your dog in the recall. This is essential. A dog with no recall is going to get lost; it is inevitable.
  4. Do not leave your dog unattended in the garden, particularly the front garden.
  5. Vary your dog walks. Keeping to a familiar pattern can make it easier for someone to take advantage of the situation.

I could go on but, you get the picture. By being a little more vigilant and thoughtful we can keep our dogs safer.

It can be, of course, a little inconvenient for us to change our habits in relation to our dogs. But, surely, it is worth it to keep our dogs safe?