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Prevent a Litter Month

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National
DepositPhoto | tobkatrina

 

February is National Prevent a Litter Month. Since it’s such an important topic, I’m very glad we have a month to bring it into the spotlight.

Everyone knows that the absolute best way to prevent a litter is to have your pets spayed or neutered. I’m not going to get into the spay/neuter debate as some animals cannot be fixed and current research suggests waiting until maturity to fix giant breeds. So how else can we prevent unnecessary litters?

  1. Understand female heat cycles. A heat cycle lasts anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks. Learn the signs that your dog is going into heat.
  2. NEVER allow a female in heat to be unsupervised outside. Never means never. Not even in your fenced backyard. Males are capable of jumping over, digging under, or chewing through fencing to get to a female in heat.
  3. Check your fencing. People with intact male dogs also need to be vigilant. Can your dog escape your fencing?

For the vast majority of people, fixing your pets is the BEST way to prevent a litter. Having intact pets requires a lot of work, time, and knowledge. If the cost of fixing your pet seems daunting, check your area for a local spay/neuter clinic or talk to your local shelter. Preventing a litter is only one of many benefits to having your pet fixed.

How else do you think we can prevent a litter?

Indoor Activities for Dogs

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DepositPhotos|Lilun_Li
DepositPhotos|Lilun_Li

Just because the fluffies enjoy plenty of outside time in this weather, doesn’t mean that I do. I am a summer loving girl and count down the days until the warm weather returns again. Unfortunately, Montana likes to keep the warm months to a minimum.

If there’s too much snow, too much wind, or the cold just doesn’t agree with your dog, here’s some indoor activities for dogs to keep them stimulated in the winter.

Training

Pyrs aren’t trick dogs, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work on training. Rather than focusing on adorable tricks, we spend a lot of time on impulse control. Training requires a lot of mental attention which can be more exhausting than physical activity. Rubicon Days and ZoePhee are great examples of bonding with your dog through trick training.

Interactive Toys

Do you have a puzzle toy or treat dispenser? The fluffies love when I add some treats to their Kong Wobbler or IQ Treat Ball. Mauja will knock the ball around to get the treats and Atka will follow behind to gobble up the treats she misses. Teamwork. Adding peanut butter, yogurt, wet food, or your dog’s favorite treat to a Kong Genius and popping it in the freezer is also a great time-consuming activity.

Agility

Have a little extra space in your living room? Many agility pieces can be easily broken down and stored when not in use. Look into a basic agility kit or head to your local hardware store to create your own!

Hide and Seek

Does your dog need to brush up on his recall? Why not make it a fun game! Put your dog in a sit/stay while you hide somewhere in your house (keep in mind your dog’s skill level). Call your dog and praise lavishly when he finds you!

Find It

This is another fun game that we used to play with Kaeto all the time. Hide a strong smelling treat and encourage your dog to use his nose to find it. Kaeto loved searching for hot dogs!

Go on an Outing

I like to take the fluffies to stores that allow pets in the winter. It gets them out of the house and we can work on training and improve socialization. Make a stop at Starbucks for a puppuccino as an added treat!

Cuddle

There’s nothing better than some cuddle time with your favorite pooch. Curl up on the couch and take a nap after all your indoor fun!

How do you keep your dog entertained during the winter months?

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