No doubt you will have your own tradition! Our dogs are an integral part of our family, so of course we want them to be included in the festivities. Follow these simple tips to keep your pooches safe and happy on Australia Day!
Australia is known for its great BBQing culture and it is a great way to spend a relaxing time with family and friends. Our dogs are part of the family, so they will be right there amongst the action!
Of course this has nothing to do with all these delicious smells usually coming from the BBQ…Those aromas will get them drooling and overwhelm them so much, that they totally forget about safety!
- BBQ food often has a lot of seasonings including garlic, salt and onion, which are sadly all toxic to dogs. Keep people food and drinks out of reach at all times and tell your guests not to feed your pets! For more information on people foods toxic to dogs, check out our recent post.
- With guests coming and going, it’s a good idea to supervise your dogs regularly. Be sure that all gates and doors are closed securely when someone is entering and leaving.
- Do not leave dogs alone with potential hazards. The smells of your hot BBQ plate, juicy kebabs and plastic plates may be tempting enough to warrant a good sniff and some licks but they are also a potential danger!
Vegemite sangas, snags, lamingtons or pavlovas may be your food of choice on the 26th of January but they should not get anywhere near your dog’s mouth. The salt and sugar content in these foods will not go well in their stomachs and some ingredients like chocolate are deadly.
Instead why not treat your furry friend to a dog-friendly recipe like one of our easy Cool Summer Treats.
Some people go a little crazy on Australia Day, dressing up in blue-red-white or green and gold all over! Some dog owners think it’s a fantastic idea to dress their pooches up too. While most of our four-legged furry friends are suited with being dressed up, others don’t like it and can get distressed.
- Small pieces of costumes and items of clothing including buttons, plastic and zips are all choking hazards.
- Australian flags around the neck must be loose so that they don’t restrict your pet's breathing.
- Avoid using face paints or glitter on dogs' faces because they could cause irritation if they come into contact with eyes/skin and an upset stomach if they are swallowed.
 |
| Furguard UV Rashie - Picture: Surfdog Australia |
You're having a pool or beach party? Lucky you!
However our furkids are just like human children and must be supervised at all times when they are around water. Some dogs are natural born swimmers whereas others are not. Keep an eye on your dog the whole time, especially if they are getting old, are weak swimmers or suffer from a particular health condition.
Dogs may try to drink pool water, which could contain salt or chlorine, so ensure that they have access to a constant supply of fresh drinking water.
There are plenty of dog-friendly beaches and parks everywhere that allow you to take your dogs for a stroll, chase balls or other dogs. However as this will be a busy day at the beach or park, there are a few precautions to be aware of:
You may dutifully slip, slap and slop when you're out in the sun. But what about your dog’s skin? Apply dog sunscreen (especially to dogs with pale skin) to ensure it isn’t damaged by the sun’s UV rays.
Take plenty of drinking water along for your pooches. If you don’t supply them with fresh water, some dogs will try and drink from stagnant puddles or the ocean, which is very unhealthy for them!
Instead take a pop up/collapsible water bowl to fill up easily on the go or the Torus water bowl which cleverly seals the water in its reservoir walls during transport…
For more suggestions on clever items to pack on your next trip, read our story on "Travel Accessories for your dog".
Plenty of fireworks will go off all over Australia and whilst they are enjoyable to (some of) us, they can be very stressful and frightening for dogs. Some dogs suffer from noise phobia in general and will react exactly the same way when confronted with thunderstorms, therefore the same advice applies.
- Ensure all your pets' identification is up-to-date in case they escape from your home in fright.
- Try and take them for some vigorous exercise earlier in the day! Play a game of tug-of-war, chase or fetch at your local offleash park. After a good romp in the park, they are more likely to react calmly during the fireworks...
- Try to keep your dogs safe indoors with access to fresh water and their favourite toys to distract them. Why not keep the radio or TV on to drown out those loud noises?
Have a safe and happy Australia Day!
Share how you plan to include your pooch into this year’s Aussie Day celebrations by posting in the Comments below.
