Furry Skurry fundraiser
Walk your dogs with the best of them during the Humane Society’s 23rd annual Furry Skurry 5K walk/run on Saturday, May 10, at the National Composite Center inside the Kettering Business Park. This family-friendly event is a great way to dust off those sneakers, grab the leash and get outside to enjoy the fresh air with your favorite pet all while supporting the homeless pets at the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. To register, call (937) 262-5920 or visit www.hsdayton.org/furryskurry.
Spring is here and with it comes the chance to get out, enjoy the fresh air and go for a nice walk with your four-legged friend. Want your walk to be enjoyable? Follow these tips to walk your dog like a pro, and soon you and your pooch will both be excited to venture out into your neighborhood.
You are in control. Walk in front of your dog. This lets your dog know that you are the one in control. When exiting the house, you should be the first one out the door and during your walk your dog should be beside you or behind you.
Use a leash. No matter how much you trust your dog, walking them on a leash will protect your dog, but it will also be safer for others. If your dog tends to chew on the leash, then make sure and purchase a heavy duty one so there are no problems in the middle of your walk. Try to also walk with a relaxed leash. If you are constantly pulling on or have tension in the leash, then you are projecting this stress onto your dog. This will make the dog stressed and anxious on the walk rather than calm and relaxed.
Be prepared. Make sure and always put a bag or two in your pocket so that if your dog goes No. 2 you can clean up after him. In addition, depending on how long of a walk you are taking, you may want to bring some water and a collapsible dog dish with you so Fido can take a break and rehydrate.
Stay off of lawns. When walking your dog, you will want to keep them off of the lawns in your neighborhood. This is actually for your dog's protection. On other people's property, you can't always be sure of the chemicals and treatments happening to the yard. If harsh or dangerous chemicals are being used, it could harm your pooch. In addition, they may have flowers in their landscaping that can be poisonous to your dog. This is why it is best to stick to the sidewalk.
Microchip your pet. Even the safest person may experience a dog getting loose on a walk. This is why it is so important to not only microchip your pet, but also have ID tags on your pet with your name and phone number. This way if your dog does become lost, you can easily be notified and reunited with your pet. If your pet isn't microchipped, come to the Humane Society and get it done. It just takes a few minutes to do, and no appointments are needed. It is the fastest way to ensure your pet stays safe.
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