Top Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe

It can be difficult to know the best ways to keep your precious pooch as safe and secure as possible. Taking steps like keeping doors and windows locked when you’re not home and investing in collars with personalised dog tags can help to keep your pet safe. While it can often be a scary thought to think about losing your pet, sadly it’s something that can happen to anyone.

Taking preventative measures is always the best place to start, but if you’re worried that you aren’t taking the right steps to keep your dog safe, don’t worry. We have created a helpful list of handy tips and tricks to give you some great ideas about how you can keep your four-legged friends safe.

• Have your dog microchipped – In most Australian states, dogs must be microchipped. This will allow your pet to be identified in the event that you do become separated, giving you confidence in the knowledge that your pet will be returned to you
• Always use a lead – If your dog isn’t trained to recall then make sure that they are always on a lead whenever you head out for a walk. The last thing you want is for your dog to run off and not come back!
• Lock windows and doors –  When leaving your dog home alone double check that all of your windows and doors are closed and locked
• Pick collars with personalised dog tags – In the event that your dog does run off and you can’t find them, then a personalised dog tag can ensure that you and your four-legged friend are reunited as quickly as possible
• Never leave your dog alone when out and about – If you and your dog are out and about, never leave them alone, even if you are just popping into the corner shop. It can take thieves only seconds to steal your dog, so it’s better to not give them the chance at all
• Have your dog spayed or neutered – Studies have shown that if a dog isn’t spayed or neutered then there is a greater chance of them running off. Spaying or neutering is said to make dogs calmer and more at ease
• Train your dog for recall – It's always a good idea to spend some time training your dog to come at your command. That way, if your pooch does run off, you can just call them back to you without any additional hassle
• Update your information – Whether your dog is microchipped or wearing a dog tag, make sure that the information you are providing is up-to-date and correct. If you leave older information on the tag it can make it harder to be reunited with your dog should any incidents occur in the future
• Secure your garden – While your garden may have fencing and a gate to keep your dog safe, make sure that there are no gaps between the floor and fencing and that it’s high enough to prevent your dog from jumping over it. Also, make sure that your gate stays locked when not in use
• Never leave your dog in the car – Leaving your dog in the car can not only be dangerous to their health but it also gives dog thieves the perfect opportunity to try and take your pet. Avoid leaving your dog in the car alone to minimise the risks

Fire safety at home

House fires are rare, but pets do occasionally start them, and they can be trapped if they do. A few simple habits help:

• Never leave candles or open flames unattended around pets, and keep them well out of reach of cats and wagging tails. Flameless LED candles are a safe alternative.
• Keep the kitchen pet-free when you're out, or fit covers over hob knobs so an excitable dog can't knock them on.
• Use stainless steel or ceramic water bowls outside, not glass. Glass can focus sunlight onto wooden decking and start a fire.
• Keep pets in one room when they're home alone, ideally near the front door, so they're easy to find in an emergency.
• Consider monitored smoke alarms, which alert you or the emergency services if a fire starts while you're out.
• Keep your dog's collar and ID tag on, so if they escape in the confusion, whoever finds them can contact you.

By following these steps, you should be able to ensure that your four-legged friend is safe both at home and while you're out enjoying your time together. It can be easy to become complacent but it's good practice to regularly check that your safety precautions are up to scratch.