LATCH KEY DOGS

 

Central Idea: There are many ways to make the days easier on both dogs and their owners when the dogs are left at home alone all day.

 

Introduction

 

For many dog owners, the hardest part of each day is leaving for work.

In many households, the family dog is left home alone all day.

Many people leave for work worrying about their dog.

  • They worry about their dog getting bored.
  • They worry their dog will get in trouble.
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    Fortunately, there are many ways to make the days easier on both the owners and their dogs.

    I would like to give you a few suggestions to keep your dog happy and out of trouble.

    (Transition: First, you should make sure the dog can’t hurt itself.)

    Make sure your dog is safe in its environment.

    For outside dogs, it is important to make sure they can’t escape and cannot hurt themselves.

    A sturdy fence is a must.

  • It should be high enough so the dog can’t jump or climb it.
  • Boards or stones can be placed at the bottom if the dog likes to dig under it.
  • A safety check of the yard should be done to eliminate potential hazards.
  • Hazards include broken glass, poisonous plants and discarded wire.
  • I do not recommend leaving a dog chained up while you are gone.
  • There is too great of a chance of the dog choking itself on its tether.
  • Many dogs can chew through their tether if it is anything but a heavy chain.
  • For inside dogs, protect them as well as your house.
  • Eliminate dangerous things the dog may chew or eat
  • Keep trash, food and electrical wires out of access to the dog.
  • Barricading the dog in one room reduces the amount of things the dog can get into.
  • The kitchen or a bathroom are recommended rooms to keep the dog in.
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    (Now that you can feel confident that your dog is safe, you can help keep its mind off getting in trouble by giving it something to do during the day.)

     

    Keep the dog occupied while it is alone.

    Make sure it has plenty of toys and chewies to play with.

    If the dog has many toys, only allow it to play with a few every day and hold back the rest; give it a few "new" toys each day and take back the old ones.The dog will think its getting new toys every day.

    Make sure all toys and chewies are safe and the dog can’t choke on them.

    If your dog stays inside, play the radio while you are gone.

    The dog won’t feel so alone if it hears voices.

    (Finally, keep your dog from feeling unwanted by making sure you spend a lot of time playing with it when you get home.)

     

    Spend a little extra time with your dog when you get home.

    Take it for a long walk.

    Enroll the dog in an obedience class.

     

    Conclusion