Enjoy Your Summer with Dog Safety in Mind

Staying Safe With Your Dog

Summertime dog safety with your Best Buddy!

Here in Phoenix Arizona, the Valley of the Sun, it gets awfully hot in the summertime. We do what we can to stay cool. A lot of the time we choose to bring our dog along with us. We need to remember a few things to keep them safe. I have a summertime backpack that I use for the dogs. It’s full of essential dog safety products and it’s easy to grab and go with.

What’s in my dog travel pack?

A few bottles of water
Collapsible water dish
Doggie waste bags
Dog treats/kibble
Treat pouch
Dog boots
A cooling mat/pad
Your dog’s toy
Nose sunscreen for dogs
Tweezers

If you have this packed and ready, you won’t be scrambling for what you need when you are heading out the door, especially if you decided to bring your dog along with you at the last minute.

What should I bring with me when I travel with my dog?

Your dog should always have a collar or harness on and have a leash with you when loading up into the car. Whatever your destination is, you are going to want to get those dog boots on your dog before they exit the vehicle. The ground is extremely hot. We humans are wearing shoes and can’t imagine being barefoot on the sidewalk, parking lot or hot gravel, so let’s keep our dogs paws safe too.

Taking your dog swimming

If your trip is going to take you to the lake, or even a pool at a friend’s house; you need to keep your dog water safe.

Ask yourself, can my dog swim? Many dog owners assume that all dogs like water and can swim. This is really not the case. You would be surprised how many dogs need to be gently introduced to the pool and taught how to calmly paddle and swim.

It is also very important thing to show them is how to get out of the pool on their own. A dog that is panicking in the pool will swim straight for the closest side and try to claw their way up and out. You need to show your dog how to get to the steps of a pool to walk out. I use some kind of a marker for them to look for, large potted plants work nicely near the steps as a target for them until they get the idea what direction is the way out.

Taking your dog to the lake or beach

A dog lifejacket is a great dog safety item to have for your dog at the pool and even more so at the lake. You want to keep your dog as safe as possible. You can’t have your eyes on your dog every minute. If they paddle themselves out too far in the lake, a lifejacket would make it much safer for them to get back to shore.

Dogs get tired swimming just like we do. If you are on a boat, they need that lifejacket on them the whole time.

When you are hiking in places that include a shallow creek you and your dog can walk in, your dog might not need their lifejacket but always use your best judgement to keep them safe.

Keep your dog cool in the sun

Shade is very important for both you and your dog. Try not to expose your dog to the intense sun too long. Use sunscreen made for dogs on the nose and hydrate your dog often. If you can bring along a cooling mat to use for your dog to rest on that is a plus. Mine rolls up nicely in my backpack.

Dog Backpack

Along with the backpack you packed for your dog’s daytrip, you can also buy your dog a pack they can wear. Your dog can carry some of the smaller needed essentials in their pack. I bring some first aid items including tweezers. Why tweezers? Your dog can get into things with their face/nose and if you take off those boots when you are resting then can easily get something in their paws. It’s always good to have tweezers on hand for both humans and dogs!

Day trips with my dog

Summertime is fun, we take day trips and sometimes longer vacations. We love to bring our dog along with us. Always check ahead with your destination that your dog will be welcome. There are many dog friendly parks, malls, hotels and restaurant patios across the USA to visit on your travels. Confirm ahead of time that the ones you are going to are truly pet friendly.

Where can I buy these dog safety products?

AZ Dog Sports has many of these essential items I mentioned for you to check out. You can have your dog try them on to insure the proper fit.

Dog Boots
A Dog Lifejacket
Backpack That Your Dog Can Wear
Your Dog’s Own Cooling Bed

Swimming lessons are also offered through AZ Dog Sports.

Contact us at 602-237-6775 to schedule your dog for swim lessons with a trainer.

Stay safe and stay cool this summer with your dog.

Dog of the Month – May 2019

AZ Dog Sports Dog(s) of the month!

We didn’t pick just one…we picked three!

No, you’re not seeing triple. This is Kristi Nolde-Morrissey’s pack of Chocolate Labs: Ziggy, Ozzy and Mojoe.

These three boys have been attending competitive dog sport classes at AZ DOG SPORTS since 2013 with trainer Debby Boehm.

Ziggy (“Class Clown”)

CGCA, BN, CD, RE, TKI

Ziggy is the oldest and wisest of the three. He holds several titles in Obedience, Rally and Tricks. He keeps us laughing because he does everything with unbounded enthusiasm, even when it’s wrong.

Ozzy (“Scent-vant”)

CGCA, SBN

Ozzy is a sweet soul that marches to the beat of his own drummer. After many tries at Obedience, he finally found his calling when he stumbled upon his one talent …. scent work. Ozzy recently earned his Novice Buried Scent Work title with a second-place finish.

Mojoe (“Mr. Sensitive”)

CGC, RA, BN, TKN

Mojoe’s obedience career has been slow due to his struggles with performance anxiety. After many years of training at AZ Dog Sports, he has made incredible strides and has gained a lot of confidence performing his skills even when “everyone is watching”.

And while all these dogs have distinct personalities, they are deeply bonded and are truly in their element when they are together romping, swimming and enjoying the outdoors. As with most Labs, for instant crazy, just add water.

We are so proud of how far all three of you; Ziggy, Ozzy & Mojoe have come! Three cheers for you!

Therapy Dogs at the Airport

A Day in the Life of Navigator Buddies

~by Julie Brewer

Some of us head to Sky Harbor International Airport to catch our flight, pick others up or return our rental car. Then there are those of us that work at the airport in baggage claims, security, service desk, food court or the shops.

Airport Volunteers

But what about those volunteers at the airport. The volunteers walking around helping others are called Airport Navigators, those are the human volunteers. The four-legged volunteers are Buddies. These dogs have a handler guiding them and together they are called Navigator Buddies Teams.

How to become a Navigator Buddy

To become Navigator Buddies, you first must apply to be a Navigator volunteer at the airport and be at least 18 years old and be a full time AZ Resident.

Then for your canine buddy, they must be 1 year or older and a registered Therapy Dog with Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Pet Partners or another pre-approved pet therapy organization.

You need to be able to commit to one shift per week and each shift is about 2 hours long.

There is also an FBI screening background check that you need to pass and qualify for an airport security badge.

Navigator Buddies at work

Once all that paperwork, processing and informative airport training sessions are done you are ready to get started. Now you and your canine companion are officially a Navigator Buddies team. You will be visiting passengers in both Terminal 3 and 4 from baggage claim, all the way through security check points. Everyone will be able to spot you as a therapy team because you will be wearing a bright purple vest and your dog will be clearly identified with “Pet Me” on their matching vest. It will be your job to roam through the passenger pick up area, the baggage claim, the security check point lines and the gates awaiting flights as they come and go.

So many people are nervous when they fly. The airport can be an unsettling experience to them. Seeing Navigator Buddies roam the airport can be a comforting and welcome distraction to the upcoming flight. As a team, you are there to give all the guests that visit the airport a positive and welcoming experience. You will stop and chat with individuals and families that want to pet your canine buddy.

Navigator Buddies Cheyanne with her therapy dog Sophie have been volunteering at Sky Harbor for a year now. They really enjoy their visits mingling with all the passengers and airport guests each week.

Navigator Buddies attract a lot of attention. It’s not just the kids that want to come hurrying over to see the dogs either, it’s also the adults. Most of them just want to pet them and see that fantastic smile that the dogs will flash to them when they make eye contact. Some of the passengers drop down to the ground to get some needed cuddle time in before having to rush to their gate and make their flight.

The pilots and flight attendants also give the Navigator Buddies the thumbs up too. They think it makes for calmer passengers before boarding flights to get visited by therapy dogs out in the gate areas.

What do the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) Workers at the airport think?

They like the fact that the therapy dogs can relieve them from their daily stress too!

Navigator Buddies Tracy with her therapy dog Evelyn have been volunteering at Sky Harbor for 15 months. Both look forward to their weekly shift of meeting and greeting the visitors to the Terminals.

Next time you are at Sky Harbor International Airport, look around for the volunteers with the purple vests on! They will be holding a leash and at the end of that leash will be a furry buddy just waiting to see you. Couldn’t we all use a little Pet Therapy while we’re at the airport?

Can I be a Navigator Buddy Team?

If you have the desire to be an airport volunteer and you have a wonderful canine companion that you think would make for a nice therapy dog, you could be future Navigator Buddies!

AZ Dog Sports has 3 different classes to help you get on your way to becoming a registered Pet Therapy Team.

Therapy Dog Level 1 – This class for those just getting started learning about what Pet Therapy is and how to begin to train your dog for therapy work.
Therapy Dog Level 2 – This class is more advanced and focuses on specific kinds of therapy work such as; medical facilities; schools; libraries; and airports.
Pet Etiquette/Therapy Dog in Public – This class is hands-on, in the field and meets at a different location each week. You will be practicing your public pet manners and meet-n-greets with individuals.

Julie Brewer is a Tester with Alliance of Therapy Dogs and will be able to test you once you are ready to move forward with your Therapy Dog Certification test and on to becoming a Registered Pet Therapy Team. Teams are not required to take any particular classes, they just need to be able to pass the Therapy Dog test in order to get certified.

Contact AZ Dog Sports to discuss the right Therapy Dog class and get started this week! 602-237-6775

AZ Dog Sports Dog of the Month – April 2019

Dog of the Month for April 2019

This month we would like to share the story of Edric & Gigi, star Basset Hounds from AZ Dog Sports. Here is their story as told by their mom, Sherry.

GCH Chikumanos Jp’s Happybarnyard Edric RE BN SWN SBA SCA SIA CGCU CGCA TKN, aka Edric, was born in Japan out of a Japanese dam and an American sire. He came to the US when he was nine months old to begin his show career. He is a retired Grand Champion and has been with the Moore family about three and a half years. He and his dog companion GiGi lived together before retiring to Arizona. Thanks to the wonderful trainers at AZ Dog Sports, together we have put all those initials after his name. He is a busy boy, and we have a lot of fun together.

He’s two years younger than GiGi. GiGi’s sire is Edric’s grandsire, a dog who had a wonderful show career, winning the BHCA Nationals. Edric could not be more different from GiGi in personality. Both are loving Bassets, and share many things, but Edric needs a job! (Hence all the classes.) He is rarely still, and is usually found wherever I am, as he’s a real mama’s boy.

GiGi is much more independent, but that also is girl vs. boy, I think. Anyway, he absolutely loves being in class and in the ring. We are having a ball going to class and trials. Stay tuned, as he needs one more leg in Novice Obedience for his CD; we’ll be entering Rally Master this fall; working on finishing up that Scent Work Exterior Advanced to complete the whole Advanced level; AND he’ll be going back in the Conformation ring at our Nationals in October in the Veterans class.

Hailey’s Story – Abandoned to Amazing

Julie Brewer & Amazing Aussie, Hailey

Julie met Hailey for the first time while being a foster mom for Amazing Aussies Lethal White Rescue of Arizona. This rescue takes in blind and/or deaf Australian Shepherds to find them forever homes. Julie was already familiar with training these dogs having 1 blind and 2 deaf Aussies of her own. Although, hearing Hailey’s hard knock life story made Julie think; maybe this one needs her forever home right now and should just stay put with her.

Julie made Hailey’s adoption final in just one day.

Hailey had a very hard life in the beginning. As a puppy she was adopted out and then returned several times in just one short year. This meant in and out of shelters from San Diego to Sacramento. At the age of one she ended up with a family in Visalia, CA. Hailey was neglected so badly that the city was called in for what they thought would be a deceased dog pick up from the front yard. But this little girl was not gone yet! She was a fighter. She fought to live. It was then that Hailey made her fateful trip to Amazing Aussies Lethal White Rescue of AZ.

Julie recognized that Hailey was a shy girl, not used to playing, very sensitive and unsure of anything around her. She also did not have any of her foundation learning skills and very little hand signals for deaf dogs. Julie worked with Hailey on all the basics but knew it was time for Hailey to go to school and work on her social skills and obedience outside of the comfort of her own home.

Hailey was enrolled at AZ Dog Sports where they were familiar with training a deaf dog and she quickly earned her Canine Good Citizen title. She loved going to class at AZ Dog Sports! She actually found that being around other unfamiliar dogs was not a bad thing.

Hailey became quite the social girl!

She transformed so much that Hailey was able to test and become certified with Alliance of Therapy Dogs. As a Therapy Dog she visited with Veterans, Schools and Assisted Living Homes spreading her incredible smile. She then earned her Therapy Dog Novice AKC title. Hailey’s confidence continued to soar in her AZ Dog Sports classes and she also earned her Trick Dog Novice title after taking Trick Dog class.

Julie is so thankful for AZ Dog Sports being open to special needs dogs and helping them to excel and thrive like they did with Hailey! Special needs dogs aren’t always as different as you think. Does it matter if they can hear? Hailey might be deaf, but she can feel vibrations. She has an excellent sense of smell, and she can see you! You can communicate with Hailey and ask her to do anything just like any other dog; the only difference is, you use your hands to talk to her.

Hailey was a thankful girl, she knew she was rescued and given a new lease on life. I think she found a way to give back by helping others in a big way, as a Therapy Dog.

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