by Patti Morgan

Created on: November 06, 2008

We used to have a dog who lived for the outdoors. He very rarely wanted to come inside. We almost lost him one night when we forgot about the fireworks display that was being put on at the beach not far from our house. Petrified of the loud noise and flashes of light, he jumped the fence and took off down the alleyway. It was pitch black and even though we searched for hours, we couldn't find him. The next morning a neighbour came to tell us that he was hiding in their shed, still shaking from being scared the night before.

Dogs don't think the way humans do. If we hear loud fireworks, we look to the sky and either enjoy the sights or cover our ears and go inside. Dogs can startle and run to try to get away from loud noises and flashes of lights. We, as responsible pet owners, need to know when it is time to bring the dog inside. Halloween and New Years eve are good times to keep your dog inside. The firecrackers often lit by youngsters on Halloween can seriously scare a dog. He can even be harmed if he gets to close to fireworks. New Years eve is also a time that some people shoot off guns when the clock strikes twelve. If your dog is not used to gun fire, bringing them inside can keep them from running away.

Our pets rely on us to look after them and keep care of them. If it is hot outside, a dog may not be able to cool off efficiently enough. Heat stroke and dehydration can happen quite quickly. If it is extremely hot outside, bring your dog in and give him access to water and a cool place to lay down. Small periods of exposure to heat is fine, but don't let him get overheated out in the baking sun.

The same can be said for extreme cold. If your dog is outside for long periods of time in winter weather, he can become cold and possibly freeze to death. Depending on the type of dog you have, some can bear the cold weather better then others but no dog should be left outside in extremely cold weather for long periods of time. Make sure you wipe your dog off with a towel if he was out in rain or snow. And remember to take any ice off his fur as well. This can warm him up and keep him comfortable while he is drying.

If you aren't going to be home for a night, you should have someone bring your dog inside to keep him safe. If your dog is not usually in the house at night, you can keep him in the garage instead. Leaving a dog unattended while you are away for the night can be extremely dangerous. He can become caught on something in the yard or he can get lose and run away. He can also be stolen if there is no one around to look after him. By bringing him in he can also guard the house for you while you are gone.

Owning a dog is a big responsibility and keeping your dog safe is an important part of his care. If your dog seems scared or timid of something, bring him inside and keep him safe.

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