admin     2015年6月30日 11:31

20 TIPS TO AVOID LOSING YOUR DOG

1.       A good collar that fits well is your best line of defense for two reasons: it keeps your dog from slipping out of it and getting loose; and it provides an easy way to ID your dog and makes your contact information available so you can get her back. Identify your dog with a collar with your phone number, name and address tag at all times. Tags can be purchased on Taobao, at Pet Shops or Vet Clinics in Shanghai. The brand “RED DINGO”, available in many shops, makes reliable tags for a few dozen RMB. Buy more than one, just in case.

2.       Make phone tags of places your dog stays, such as the neighbor who cares for your dog when you go away. Hanging tags are a visible message to anyone seeing your dog that your lost dog will be easy to reunite with the caring owner.

3.       Buy two light colored collars with phone tags, so you can always have one on your dog, even after a bath. If your dog has a thick neck and a little head, she might be able to back out of a regular collar. Use a limited choke collar, also known as a greyhound collar, martingale collar, or premier collar.

4.       Use a permanent marker to write your phone numbers on the outside of the collars, in case the tags are lost from the collar.

5.       Spay or neuter your dog. Hormonal urges will cause even well trained dogs to wander and/or attract other dogs towards your home. Most pets found hit-by-cars and dead along roads were not spayed or neutered.

6.       ALWAYS walk your dog on a leash in Shanghai. Stay outside with your dog when he is outside. Dogs cannot understand the dangers of cars, cruel humans, the fact of over-burdened shelters and pounds, etc. Don’t let your dog roam. If you let your dog wander the neighborhood, you won’t know when your dog has been “picked up” or wandered into unfamiliar territory and become lost.

7.       Do NOT leave your pet unattended outside a convenient store or restaurant if you cannot see him while you are in, even for a few minutes. He can escape quickly, or be taken by dog-nappers.

8.       Provide your dog freedom and exercise AND still keep her safe from becoming lost, being struck by a car, trespassing of other's property, or coming into conflict with humans, other dogs, cats, or wild animals by using a long leash. A $5.00 leash can prevent thousands of dollars in medical expenses, legal fees, advertising, punitive fines, and untold pain and suffering.

9.       Exercise your dog physically, emotionally, and mentally by taking walks, hikes or visiting a dog park. A happily tired dog is a good dog that won’t need to “take walks by himself”.

10.    Crate train your dog, so it can be safely contained during your absence, when traveling, or when staying with family, friends, at the vet’s or boarding kennel. We never know when we might become incapacitated or unable to personally take care of our pets. Giving your dog the gift of “security when alone” can be a great blessing for everyone if you become unable to care for your dog, even for a short time.

11.    Use the best quality crates and fences available. Do not allow your dog to LEARN how to escape over or through flimsy fencing or to knock down gates. Some dogs may become addicted to escaping.

12.    Train your dog. A good dog school or an in-home trainer will do wonders for your dog and you. A well-behaved dog is more likely to stay home.

13.    Teach your dog the LIFESAVING words “come” and “stay”.

14.    Reward your dog when it comes to you, or your catch her, no exceptions!

15.    Never say to another caregiver, “My dog will stay with you, he doesn’t need a leash,” because a dog can be unpredictable, especially when you are away, or in strange places. Insist that anyone providing care for your dog use a leash at all times, no exceptions!

16.    Be especially careful during holidays with fireworks, times of change in family life, and weather extremes: a dog that is normally relaxed may become very stressed by loud noises or distressed when a family member arrives or leaves. Visitors might leave a gate open. High winds might cause a door to blow open.

17.    Have your dog microchipped and tattooed, for permanent identification. Register your dog with the police, and keep the info handy and updated.

18.    Provide your dog with a license as required by the Shanghai law. This is not expensive (Downtown（within inner cicle highway)：250 RMB/year if your dog is neutered or spayed, 500RMB/year if he is not. Outside Inner circle, the cost is reduced to 300, and suburb at 100, fixing your pet always get a discount of half the license cost).

19.    Understand that a well-cared for dog usually does not run away but any dog can become lost just as an angry frustrated teenager may run away.

20.    Bond with your dog. This will help prevent them from running away or getting lost because if your dog is well loved, they'll want to stay by your side all the time and not run away.