Season's Greetings from Family Disaster Dogs 2021

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What is a Scent Article for a Search Dog?

by FamilyDisasterDogs.com

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Happy Thanksgiving from Family Disaster Dogs 2019

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
from
Family Disaster Dogs

Happy Turkey Day dogs! 

Why Stimulation Is Great For Your Dog

What's the overriding contrast when comparing dogs and cats? Dogs are just way more energetic.

They are incredibly playful, curious and they love to take risks. That’s actually why we love them though, because we can understand their emotions that are much more visibly on display. But let’s not forget they are pets, and sometimes we need to stop them from doing silly nonsensical things. 

Digging up the backyard for no apparent reason being one of them. They get their nose right into the soil and dirt, as well as their paws and coat which just makes for one giant clean up job when they come back in the house. Stimulation is great for your dog, because after all their senses are way more advanced and powerful than our own. Here’s how you can help them enjoy and explore with them but in a sustainable way.

Let them chew

If you come home one day after work and find that your table or sofa has been chewed up, calm down. The only person should blame is you, because this is essentially a cry out for help. Dogs that are locked in the home for the majority of the day will feel trapped and even though they might look calm, certain trigger actions will show their angst. 

So, allow them to chew on other things such as bones, chew toys and give them harder chewy treats. To support their teeth so they can chew to their heart’s content, take them to a low cost dental care for dogs where they can get a clean up done. It's done under general anesthetic and the company also provides post-clean oral products.

Double the fun

Dogs love to run and play, it's when they’re at their most stimulated. However, humans can only play with dogs a certain way. We usually play fetch with them which gets boring not just of the owner but the dog too. So, you should try to arrange a play time with another dog owner so that both your dogs can meet up in the park and run around together. 

Dogs often play fight which just can’t happen between man and beast, so allowing them to play bite, roll around and jump on each other is going to excite them. Fulfilling that need to hone their primal instincts, they will chase each other around and go sniffing places together as well. By doubling the fun, you also get some time to enjoy the park, sit down with a cup of coffee and watch them have at it.

Paying attention

A simple game you can play at home is the three cup treat. It's a easy as it sounds, because you get three paper cups and show the dog a treat in your hand. You put the treat underneath one of the cups and you mix them around. Then allow the dog to guess with their paw and if they get it right they get the treat. It's a memory game but it's keeps them stimulated and it's simple bonding time too.


Dogs need to be stimulated, you can’t just switch them on and off. Give them something to chew on and also some general dental care so their teeth stay in good condition while they gnaw on bones etc. Arrange a double play time with another dog to really set their senses and excitement alight.

Spring 2019 Newsletter

Spring 2019 Newsletter

Happy Spring Everyone!

From author Amber Higgins

Here's an update on what's happening at Family Disaster Dogs.

Centerfold from my new book My Puppy Can Find Me all rights reserved

I'm super excited to let you know that my children's book is available for Pre-order from Waldorf Publishing, yay!

The artwork is by my dear friend, UK Dog Cartoonist Helen "Scotty" King. Check out her dog cartoons, she can do one of your dogs too!

The book will be out in print on Nov 1, 2019 just in time for Christmas gift delivery. By pre-ordering today, you help my book get into major markets, like Walmart, Target and Barns and Noblie.. they like to see if anybody is interested in books before they place large orders from my publisher. I would really appreciate you taking a look at the book and placing an order so all children can learn.



Get your copy click HERE from Waldorf Publishing only $14.99



Here's what this book is about...

“Does your child know what to do if they are lost?”



“Do you know what to do if they are missing?”



My Puppy Can Find Me picture book is your child’s first step on an exciting learning experience that will teach them what to do if they are lost or find themselves alone. By reading this picture book with your children the whole family will learn what to do if they are ever separated or missing and how the family dog can be of assistance during emergencies.



This new concept of dog training teaches search dog skills to family dogs for in-home family rescue and missing person emergencies. Your children will learn valuable lessons by doing these fun exercises that reinforce and teach the pet dog and family to work together during crisis situations to overcome fear and survive.



The whole family learns how to use the family dog to the full advantage regardless of the age, size or breed of the dog. As a family member and part of the pack your dog always knows where each member of the pack is at, this is natural for the dog to know and we as dog owners only need to learn how to take advantage of this natural instinct our dogs possess.

 "My Puppy Can Find Me"

Get your copy click HERE from Waldorf Publishing only $14.99

More exciting news..I am training Mark Elliot and his black Lab, Bella to be a volunteer Search Dog Team that will aid in finding lost and missing persons along the central Oregon coast. They are doing great! This type of training takes 1 to 2 years of a couple days a week working on different scents, surfaces, and people in order to pass testing and certifications qualifying the dog and handler as a team. Follow their progress on our Facebook page Family Disaster Dogs

Check out the video of them training

I am also building an Online Virtual Classroom with Obedience and "Family Disaster Dogs" lessons available so everyone can learn in the comfort of their own homes how to teach your dogs basic obedience and other easy skills so your dog's can help you in emergencies. Next I will build a course from the "Evacuate with Your Dog's Help" book.

Included in each course is a copy of the book, videos, direct contact with me as your instructor, extra tips and tricks based on over 40 years of working with all breeds of dogs as a master all- breed groomer, breeder, trainer and Search dog handler.

   See the Classroom here



 I also have recently published the paperback edition of  "A Squirrel Planted an Acorn" on Amazon. The hardcover is a much nicer edition but also very pricey published in hardback so I made this paperback available at a much lower cost. The e-book is available with a free preview too.

See all my books on Amazon



I hope this finds you and yours doing great!

Feel free to give me shout on social media or email anytime.

Facebook  Page

Have a wonderful safe spring!

Amber Higgins

Bella to the Rescue-Search Dog Training Video

Here is Team Bella in training.

Owner handler Mark is working Bella.

They are training with the author to be certified 

for K9 Search and Rescue (SAR) 

This is Trailing not Tracking! 

Enjoy the show!

Bella is a 3 year old family pet who really enjoys her new job!

Follow Bella's progress on Facebook 

Have a Great Dog Weekend!

Be Careful in the Winter Weather Everyone!

Visit FamilyDisasterDogs.com

Learn how your dog can rescue you!

Disaster Preparedness- the Moment the World Turns Upside Down

Are you prepared with your pets and family for the moment of Disaster?

open source graphic

With hurricanes, floods and fires ravaging the countrysides of both the USA and UK, plus Indonesia and other parts of the world having their share of  weather related events. Its a good time to look at what your family would do in the event of a local disaster.

Disasters come in may forms and are suddenly are upon us or they would not be called disasters.

Most of these events are not in our human control but in Mother Nature's hands. In that moment when disasters hit, we humans have no choice but to attempt to survive. Pray and hold on, run and pray some more or hunker down praying. Each person and pet will do the best they can at that moment.

In that moment, no matter how much forecasters and weather stations have warned us to be ready we really do not know what will happen or what to be ready for until the event is over. Usually within a short time, maybe a few hours or in the daylight when the sun comes will we be able to see what is left in the neighborhood or town we live in. Destruction or a normal day.  

Many storms, tornadoes, fires and floods occur at night often waking people from sleep to find out they have lost the lights or electric. Stumbling around in the dark is no fun when danger is on the doorstep. That is the moment we need to prepare for. 

Evacuation is the last resort to get out of the way and when the authorities announce that it is time to evacuation they mean a serious life changing moment is heading your way and move it..Now ! 

Move over out of the way or get hit full force. 

When we chose not to evacuate we are choosing to face the moment of impact, just like letting somebody punch us in the face with our hands tied behind our back because we cannot fight Mother Nature. We cannot punch a tornado or stand up to a hurricane and the best thing to do is duck the punch. Sidestep and get out of the way.

Ready to go with our belongings copyright A.Higgins

 

What will you do? 

Leave us a comment and share your plan for that moment when the world turns upside down and the lights go out. Somebody may learn something from you that can save a life. 

If you would not evacuate, why not?

Read more about what you can do click the page links below for more articles from Family Disaster Dogs.

See the list of survival supplies a family and pets need to evacuate and live for three days waiting for help to arrive if your home is destroyed.

Learn how your pet dogs can find you and friends or family members who are missing after disasters or wandered from home.  

Emergency Links to Organizations and site about preparing and the aftermath.

Books Recommended Reading

Teach you dog to fetch items by name, find the car keys, bring the first aid kit and get water bottle if you are hurt !

Free lessons show you what to do and to teach your dogs what to do to help you in disasters

Click for a free preview and to buy the paperback edition below

$7.99

Available as a eBook too

Kindle edition Evacuate with Your Dog's help 

A.Higgins copyright

How To Keep Your Home Together When You Own A Dog

https://unsplash.com/photos/-JsZ6o5nIhs

When you’re house proud, there’s often nothing that you love more than to have a home that looks great. If you know that you want a house that is well kept and clean, and incredibly beautiful, you will often do anything and everything to keep it that way. So much so, that you may be put off from owning a dog, because you’re worried about how the dog would fit into your home life. But when your family wants a dog, or you are actually a dog lover, this may be something that actually happens in your life. 

And then, you may worry that your perfect home won’t be so perfect after all. Because maybe you’re concerned that having a dog will mean that your house will get messed up so much more easily! But that doesn’t have to be the case.

Or maybe you aren’t super insanely house proud, but you just want to be able to keep your house together. Maybe you already own a dog and you’re realizing that your house seems so much harder to keep together because of the dog! 

It’s something that happens to a lot of families. But, just because you have a god, it doesn’t mean that your house has to be a mess. Instead, it just means that you need to work harder to make sure that your home looks great. With the right tips and tricks, you’ll be able to make it happen. So let’s take a look at what they are.

Set Boundaries

So the very first thing you need to do, is to make sure that you’re setting the right boundaries in place. And this is non-negotiable when you want a house that you love. If you let your dog run wild all over the house, it’s going to get messed up. Instead, set boundaries on what they can do and where they go. Maybe you want to keep them off of the couches or out of the formal living room to keep it a little more together.

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Create A Cleaning Schedule

The next thing that’s really going to help you here, is to come up with a cleaning schedule. Because if you’re worried that you’re home is getting too messed up, a good routine can help. And if you already have a schedule in place, you may just need to tweak it a little to make sure that your home is just as clean now you have the dog.

Get Your Dog Groomed

It’s also going to help you if you get your dog groomed regularly. Dog grooming can be especially important when you have a dog with a long coat or a coat that tends to malt easily. Because this can minimize the shedding and keep them looking trim and tidy too!

Train Your Dog

Now, a super important thing, is often to train your dog! Because if your dog rules the roost, then you may have absolutely no chance at keeping your home in order. SO make sure that you work on training them as early as you can. Because when you have a well-behaved dog, they aren’t really going to have an impact on your home at all.

Use Super Strong Products

So from here, you’re going to find that using the best products help. Because if you know that your carpet needs more cleaning or that you need to make sure that there’s no smell around the house, take a look for strong but natural products that are pet-safe. That way, you will find that your home stays beautiful more easily.

Get A Cleaner

And, a really simple move, is to get a cleaner! That way, you don’t have to worry about doing things yourself (especially if you’re super busy). Here, even a dog waste removal service could be perfect for you. Even more so when you’re worried about taking care of that yourself. And when you know that your home is being cleaned professionally, it’s going to always look great.

https://unsplash.com/photos/KJDhTtPCveI

Get A Dog-Friendly Vacuum

Next up, you definitely need to make sure that your vacuum is strong enough to pick up all of the dog hair around the home. Even if you have a cleaner, you will want to know that you can run the vacuum around and be able to keep things looking great when you want to. Plus, if you do vacuum daily, it’s so important to make sure that you invest in the best kind of vacuum - and they usually are super strong and pet-hair friendly.

Keep Things Organized

A huge thing for you to focus on is organization here. Because if you’re just all too chaotic with your stuff, it’s going to make your house look messy. And this is definitely the case with your dog-related stuff! So try to find a way of keeping their food and bed and everything else organized, so that they fit into your decor and lovely home, and nothing else.

Choose Durable Pieces

And if you really want to get smart about this, you need to make sure that you’re picking furniture that you know will withstand having a dog around. Don’t pick out pieces that will show dog hair or that can be scratched or marked easily. If you’re being tactical about what you bring into your home, then it will be so much easier for you to keep it looking great.

Let Go A Little

And finally, the last thing that you could think about doing, is just letting go a little bit. Because maybe you’re just being a bit too much of a control freak. And the thing is, when that’s your personality - it can be hard. But if you’re letting things get to you, even though they are beyond your control, you’re only hurting yourself. 

So let go a little. Don’t worry so much if there house isn’t perfect. It’s still clean and tidy! And that way, you and your family can enjoy a happier life with your dog.

How to Prepare For The First 3 Days of Storms and Disasters

How To Prepare For The First 3 Days of Storms

With a So Many hurricanes heading for USA, volcanos and earthquakes, flooding and evacuations happening and incidences occurring worldwide  

not to mention Covid19 and Delta!!! raging along with wildfire! This list will help you be ready for lockdowns and evacuating. Let's all share this so we can all survive! I thought it might be a good idea to repost this article as a reminder and check list for everybody.

God Bless, Be Safe and Good Luck!!!

From Family Disaster Dogs

Here is a very good article 

I found online about the First 3 Days of an Emergency from Are You Prepared.com

The First 3 Days of an Emergency

When emergencies strike, there is often no warning. Therefore, it is crucial for every homeowner to have the necessary supplies in case an emergency arises. The first 72 hours that one's family is in crisis is the most important time for survival. Quite often, emergency vehicles and medical assistants have trouble getting through barriers, especially when natural disasters strike. Every family should have a least three days’ worth of survival supplies in an easily accessible area for when the time comes.

The following list is of items that are essential to sustaining life while help is on the way:

1. Water

Humans can survive on water for as long as two months. It is the most important element in being able to survive an emergency. A good rule of thumb is to have 3 to 5 gallons of water stored for drinking. Extra gallons may be purchased for cleansing, but the drinking water is most important.

2. Food

Always make sure to store your food in sealed packages to prevent bug and mice invasions. Ready to eat food pouches are a good way to go for making a survival kit. Foil sealed pouches do not require any opening mechanisms and they can stay fresh until the individual removes the seal to eat. The homeowner should purchase enough of these food pouches to last the entire family at least 72 hours. Larger packages are available to allow for extra time.

3. First Aid

First aid items are necessary for any injuries that may arise. It may take medics quite some time to be able to access the area, so it is best for the homeowner to put away as many first aid kits as possible. A basic first aid kit consists of bandages, antiseptic wash and towels, sponge dressings, alcohol pads, antibiotic ointment, and cotton balls and tips. Ace bandages and neck braces may provide additional protection just in case of more serious injuries.

4. Light

Electricity is lost in most emergencies. Candles, light sticks, and flashlights can provide an inexpensive source of temporary power for moving around. People with slightly better budgets can invest in an emergency power source such as an adventure kit. An adventure kit has the capability of charging cellular phones, appliances, and radios. Some adventure kits also have solar panels so they can receive power from the sun during the day.

5. Warmth

The homeowner should store plenty of blankets and sleeping bags so the family can stay warm and get as much rest as possible during this time of crisis. It would also be wise to store a very small kerosene heater for warmth when electricity is not available. Any hooded clothing should also go into the survival kit.

6. Communication

An amateur band radio or CB radio would be very beneficial during this time. This will help the individual to communicate. CB radios will operate on batteries, so the user should be sure to load the devices with batteries before storing them.With these few items, a family should be able to survive the first 72 hours of an emergency. The rest of the survival process involves having faith and sticking with loved ones until the worst is over.

7. How to Reduce Anxiety and Fear

For most individuals, the thought of being thrown into the middle of a natural disaster is terrifying. Unfortunately, the number of natural disasters that occur around the world is quite frightening. Depending on location, natural disasters can range from hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, flooding, blizzards, and even human triggered disasters such as chemical spills. Naturally, the thought of having to be in the midst of such events can leave one with anxiety, fear, and questions of "what if." Fortunately, feelings of fear and anxiety can be decreased by a few simple steps that can help leave families better prepared for a variety of natural disasters.


8. Make a Plan:

One of the most important parts of any survival kit is a plan. Although one may not be able to prepare for all types of disasters, having a firm plan on what to do if something goes wrong can help save lives. For example, if an area is prone to tornadoes, it can be imperative to have a "shelter" or safe place to go underground. No matter what type of natural disaster one's area is prone to, making a plan and practicing it can ease fear and anxiety.

There are a few key elements to devising an emergency plan for one's household:

Know the area's warning signals and shelters: It's important to know what an area uses as a warning signal; most places uses sirens, but signals can vary. Keep in mind that one's family may be at different places during a natural disaster. It can be extremely important to know the warning signal so that all family members are aware of the disaster and ready to take action. Knowing the location and availability of shelters in one's area can help ensure that family members are safe and can provide a common meeting place.

Devise a plan: Sit down with the household and talk about what would happen in the event on a natural disaster. During the discussion, it's important to talk about the type of natural disasters that could occur. Additionally, pick at least two meeting spots for the family. Next, have an evacuation plan. Once the plan is formed, the next step is to practice it: "The plan" needs to be like a fire drill for the household.

Survival Kits:

Although fear and anxiety about natural disasters primarily center on death and loved ones dying, it can also be triggered by not having the right "tools." Thankfully, a variety of survival kits are available.

Food & Water:

Most individuals will have anxiety about food and water sources depleting in the wake of a natural disaster. A fear of dwindling food and water sources is a valid reason for having a storage area for emergency food and water ready beforehand because this could save lives and reduce this fear. Back up food and water should be kept in a place that would be easy to access in the case of a natural disaster.

Most Important; 

Do Not Forget your dog can be your family's very own Search and Rescue Dog!! 

Read these lessons and share them for others to read, so others may live!

Support and Pray for Our Troops Worldwide!!

This book has everything you need to know and I keep it free on Kindle so everyone can read it. If you want a copy feel free to Ask me for one by emailing me or reach out via social media private message. If you do not mention the book or more than one word when you contact me, I will delete the email. I get alot of emails from bots and who knows whos.