We wanted to provide you with the best resource on canine safety for 2020!
This is a long post divided into 8 categories with different canine safety tips such as travel, hot weather, camping, hiking and more. You can use the links below to jump ahead to each section.
We hope you’ll share this post if it will help someone you know, and please leave your own canine safety tips in the comments!
*To get this post emailed to you as a pdf, click here. read it later at your convenience.
Dog safety tips Table of Contents:
1: canine travel Safety
Safety tips for traveling in the car or truck with your dog.
2: cold weather safety for Dogs
How to safely walk and hike with your canine in the winter.
3: hot weather safety for Dogs
Keep your canine safe in the summer months and prevent him from overheating.
4: camping and Hiking safety for Dogs
Safety tips for dogs on all your hiking and camping adventures.
5: common household Poisons for Dogs
Common items both inside and outside that are poisonous to dogs such as certain foods, household items and yard hazards.
6: first aid for Dogs
In an emergency it could take 20 minutes or more to get to the vet. This is why it’s essential to know at least the basics of pet CPR and first aid.
7: safety When Introducing 2 Dogs
Most dogs are able to greet other dogs without issues, but sometimes people can unintentionally set their good dogs up for failure. learn what kinds of mistakes to avoid.
8: canine safety products – top Picks
Our top picks for canine safety products such as a canine first aid kit, a canine seat belt and a canine GPS collar.
Dog travel Safety
Most of us love to travel with our dogs whenever possible, so let’s start with some basic travel safety tips:
Make sure your dog’s ID tag and microchip are up to date!
Use a well-fitted collar or harness to prevent slipping out
Keep photos of your canine in your phone to show in case your canine gets lost (I know you have hundreds!)
Bring a water bowl for your canine + water
Bring a coat or blanket for your canine in cold weather, in case of car trouble
Pack your dog’s medications and a canine first aid kit
Dog safety belt for the car
When traveling with your dog, we highly recommend using a canine safety belt. This is not only to keep your canine secure but to keep him from distracting the driver.
Don’t be that person with a canine in her lap while driving or the person texting with one hand, blocking the canine with the other and still somehow driving!
Benefits of a canine safety belt:
1. No more distracted driving. A canine seat belt keeps your canine to one area instead of jumping from seat to seat or bumping into you!
2. keeps the canine secure. use the safety belt with a harness to keep your canine safe and secure.
3. keeps most dogs calmer. A seat belt prevents them from hopping around in the vehicle from window to window and seat to seat. It actually helps a lot of dogs remain calmer (Remy!)
4. prevents damage to your vehicle. Your canine won’t be able to scratch the center console. Plus, it also keeps the canine hair and dirt to a smaller area.
5. prevents canine from bolting out. Your canine won’t be able to jump out and bolt until you are ready to unclip him.
6. required by law. Some states have proposed laws for requiring dogs to be restrained when riding in vehicles. here is a recent short article on current proposed laws for restraining dogs in cars.
Another option is to keep your canine in a crate while traveling, but that can be cumbersome, for larger dogs. If you prefer a crate, a fold-up wire crate is most convenient.
Visiting rest areas with your dog:
If you’re traveling alone with your canine in hot weather, it helps to pack your own food in a cooler. That way you’re not waiting in line for “fast” food while your canine is locked in a hot car. I pack sandwiches for myself when I travel with my canine in the summer.
Dogs in the back of pickups
We don’t like to see dogs in the open area of pickups for obvious safety reasons. In some areas, such as Minnesota, it is illegal for a canine to ride in the back of a pickup without a suitable crate or other restraint.
While we understand some dogs are used to riding in the truck on rural backroads, we would hate for the canine to jump out of the truck (maybe he wants to chase another dog) or be thrown from the truck.
*To get this post emailed to you as a pdf, click here. read it later at your convenience.
One time I was driving behind a pickup truck in a small farming town. While we were stopped at a railroad crossing, the canine got excited and decided to jump out of the truck! The dog’s owner had to leave his truck and catch his dog! Thankfully the canine was fine.
If your canine must ride in the back of the truck bed, we recommend you use a large, plastic crate that is securely tied down. the best brand for this by far is Gunner Kennels. Their crates are designed forhunting dogs. The company designed it to keep dogs safe even in a crash, and it is designed to keep dogs comfortable in all weather conditions.
For longer rides, it can get too hot for the canine in the open area of the pickup or too cold, so it’s better for the canine to ride in the cab.
This leads us to cold and hot weather safety tips for dogs …
Cold weather safety tips for Dogs
Cold weather is a challenge all canine owners are faced with, and while a brisk walk in the snow or cold can be a lot of fun, we suggest keeping the following safety tips in mind when the temperatures drop:
Use common sense and don’t exercise your canine outside when it’s too cold for yourself.
Play indoor games such as hide & seek instead to keep your canine entertained.
Offer him chew toys/treats or feed his meals in a canine puzzle to challenge him mentally.
Always offer fresh water to eliminate the risk of dehydration, both indoors and outdoors.
Keep your canine at a safe distance from wood burning fireplaces and candles to avoid the risk of his fur catching on fire.
Provide a warm sleeping place for your dog. We recommend the faux fur beds from treat A Dog.
Try using doggie boots when walking your canine on icy or cold surfaces to protect his paw pads. brands we like are Ruffwear and Muttluks. See our Muttluks review here.
Try using a doggie jacket or coat if your canine doesn’t have an insulating undercoat and/or starts shivering quickly when outside in the cold. We like Ruffwear’s Cloud Chaser jackets featuring reflective trimming.
Use ointments for cracked paw pads to keep them soft and in good shape during the cold weather. Coconut oil is a good alternative.
Wash your dog’s paws if you’ve walked him without doggie boots in an area where ice melt products have been used. They can be toxic when ingested.
Use pet-friendly ice melt products on your own home such as green Gobbler Pet safe Ice Melt, natural Rapport Pet and kid friendly Ice Melt, or safe Paw Non-Toxic Ice Melter.
Don’t leave your canine outside unsupervised when the temperatures drop and snow starts to fall to avoid the risk of hypothermia.
Be prepared to cut cold weather walks and hikes shorter than planned if conditions are worse than you thought
What to do when your canine suffers from hypothermia
Symptoms of hypothermia in dogs include:
Shivering and shaking
Lethargy
Pale or blue gums
Slow heart rate and breathing
Dilated pupils
Body temperature below 100°F (a dog’s normal temperature is between 101-102.5°F)
If you notice these symptoms in your dog, bring him inside and wrap him in warm towels or blankets. offer warm liquids such as bone broth, either homemade or store bought, but don’t force any down your dog’s throat.
Monitor his body temperature using a pet thermometer from your doggie first aid kit. Bring him to your vet if his condition stagnates or worsens.
See our post: 6 ways to exercise your canine when you’re stuck indoors
Hot weather safety tips for Dogs
We are big believers in exercising our four legged pals & ourselves year-round, but the canine days of summer (pun intended!) can be a real drag.
That’s because a dog’s only way of cooling himself off is by panting and sweating through his paw pads, but unfortunately neither method is very effective.
This applies to all canine breeds, and is particularly true for short nosed breeds with shortened nasal passages such as Boxers, Pugs, Shih-Tzus, Bulldogs, and many others. These dogs are also known as “brachycephalic.”
How to keep your canine cool in the summer:
Don’t leave your canine outside in the yard unsupervised and please don’t force him to stay inside a canine house. They offer no protection from the sun.
Don’t leave your canine inside the garage either because it heats up quickly. even insulated garages are typically too warm for dogs when it’s hot outside.
Don’t leave your canine alone in a hot car. Cracked windows offer no relief from the heat.
Walk on turf rather than hot pavement & sand, both of which can burn a dog’s paw pads. A good way of testing the heat of a surface is by using the hand test – if it’s too hot for the back of your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paw pads.
Try doggie boots to avoid contact with hot surfaces. brands we like are Ruffwear and Muttluks.
Limit longer walks/exercise sessions to early morning and/or late evening hours when temperatures drop a little.
Keep your canine in the shade as much as possible when you take him outdoors during the day.
Limit games like fetch since some nutty sporting dogs (and certain Boxer mixes…Buzz!) will not quit on their own!
Bring water along on walks and always offer fresh water inside your home.
Offer refreshing treats such as homemade raw goat milk treats and watermelon (without the seeds).
Play water games in the yard by using a kiddie pool and/or a sprinkler.
Consider investing in cooling accessories such as cooling vests to wear and cooling mats to lie on. The latter ones helped me out tremendously when my Jeep’s AC decided to stop working in the middle of an extended summer road trip with Missy. I found the next pet retail store and bought two!
What to do when your canine overheats
Symptoms of an overheated canine include:
Heavy panting
Excessive thirst
Bright or dark red gums and tongue
Body temperature above 103°F (a dog’s normal temperature is between 101-102.5°F)
Stumbling around or collapsing
If you notice any of those signs, remove your canine from any sun exposure and bring him to a cool place, ideally indoors. If possible, have him lie on a cool surface such as tile or hardwood, and wrap cool towels around his belly and paws. offer fresh, cool water, but don’t force any water down your dog’s throat.
Monitor his body temperature using a thermometer from your doggie first aid kit.
If his condition doesn’t improve, take him to your vet to be on the safe side and to avoid heat stroke which is usually fatal.
Camping and hiking safety tips for dogs
As mentioned before, we love spending quality time outdoors with our dogs! The following safety tips are geared towards camping and hiking adventures:
Always bring fresh water along on hikes. If your canine wears his own backpack, he can carry his own water (and yours too!) in the backpack pockets. more weight in the pack helps tire out an active, high-energy canine too!
Consider using doggie boots for ultimate paw protection if you’ll be hiking on rocky terrain. Brands we like are Ruffwear and Muttluks.
Bring a doggie first aid kit along on camping trips and hikes, especially on longer ones. See my tips on how to make a first aid kit for your dog
Bring an extra collar and leash along should the regular collar and/or leash break or get lost.
Carry a loud whistle or bell and a means of self defense on you, such as a clip-on pepper spray, bear spray or a hiking stick.
Depending on where you live, treat your canine with flea and tick preventatives before any hiking and camping adventures, ideally the natural kind as opposed to chemical options. also consider heartworm treatment, but be aware of the potential cons of this type of medication. Your (holistic) vet will be pleased to educate you about different options.
Keep your canine at a safe distance from camp fires to avoid burns.
Make sure that your canine wears legible tags featuring his name and your phone number, and that they’re firmly attached to his collar or hiking gear.
Bring a copy of your dog’s rabies certificate in case he gets injured and requires medical treatment from a veterinarian.
Consider dressing your canine in a bright color such as blaze orange during hunting season.
Consider a GPS collar if you’ll be doing any off-leash hiking or hunting with your dog. Lindsay just started using a Garmin collar for Remy that can track up to 9 miles using GPS (no cell reception required).
Keep your canine on a leash to limit the chances of unpleasant encounters with wildlife, especially venomous snakes, bears, coyotes, and wild cats.
Bring an extra long leash 30 feet or longer if you’re considering letting your canine swim in a lake or river. It’s a good way of keeping him safe and being able to reel him back in if necessary.
Before you head out, know what type of plants are in the area such as poison ivy or poison oak. While most dogs don’t react to these plants (their fur protects them), they can spread the oils to your skin and cause you to have an allergic reaction. (No fun!) more info on these plants here.
Be aware of the potential danger of venomous water snakes in certain areas of the US, especially in the Southeastern coastal states. You may want to reconsider letting your canine swim in those areas as a preventative measure of avoiding snake bites.
Also be aware of rattlesnakes. They are found throughout the US, have diamond-shaped heads, are venomous and can give themselves away by hissing and making a rattling sound with the rattles at the end of their tail. Pay close attention to your surroundings and stay on marked trails.
What to do if your canine gets bitten by a snake:
If yo