Be Ready for Wildfire Season with Pets

 

click here to Check out the Book on Amazon  and Audible 

Get an author signed book directly from me at fddk9books.company.site

This book explains how-to evacuate with pets.

How-to make a bug-out (survival) bag for owners and dogs to carry.

Every dog of any age or size can help its family evacuate. Be prepared for disasters with your pets.

Learn what to expect at disaster shelters and from pet rescue during disasters.


Included is a detailed expanded list of survival items for pets and owners with step-by step instructions to train your dog to carry a saddlebag to hold items to evacuate and "bug-out" with.


Plus Pet CPR instructions and how-to calm a frightened pet.

How-to find a lost pet.

USA Evacuation Law for pets.

From the author of Family Disaster Dogs, books, blog and lessons.

Here's a no cost preview of this small valuable book.

Please leave a review, thank you for helping others to learn what to do too!

4 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Dog Breed

 4 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Dog Breed 

Bringing a pet into your life requires more planning than many people think. It doesn't matter whether you need a pet for companionship or specialized tasks; you want to make sure you choose a suitable breed for your environment and lifestyle. It is important to prepare your home before bringing in your new friend, and choosing the right breed is vital for building a harmonious relationship with fewer risks of trouble in the future. Here are four factors to help you find the right dog breed. 

1. Size matters 

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When choosing a dog breed, the size of your living area is one of the most important elements to consider. Do you live in a house or a modest apartment? Do you have enough room for a huge dog, or will your living space only be big enough for a tiny dog? Depending on the breed, it is convenient to have a backyard where your dog can go outside and relieve themselves. Additionally, large breeds such as the Great Danes have other physical concerns. Smaller dogs such as the Chihuahuas may be more susceptible to mishaps or cooler temperatures than larger breeds. 

2. Breed 

Different breeds have unique characteristics. According to the American Kennel Club, seven dog breed groups are herding, hound, working, sporting, non-sporting, terrier, and toy. Every breed has its traits, so it is crucial to determine if they are compatible with yours. For instance, a hypoallergenic dog breed can be a good fit if you are allergic to animal fur. However, you want to ensure their characteristics match the ones you are looking for. Usually, mixed-breed dogs, like an Australian Cobberdog, are supposed to be better versions of their parents due to the combination of desirable characteristics. However, there's no assurance they will have all of the desirable characteristics and no negative ones. You will have to learn what an Australian Cobberdog is and how ideal it can be for you if you are looking for an ideal breed.

3. Costs 

Regardless of size, temperament, or breed, every dog needs various supplies. This may include bedding, food and water bowls, periodic vaccination, crates for traveling, and other grooming supplies. Other potential costs include professional grooming, boarding fees, and licenses. While large breeds may require more feeding expenses, particular breeds may need extensive medical attention, so you want to factor in the financial commitments that come with picking a particular breed before deciding.

 

4. Present lifestyle 

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Taking care of a dog is similar to taking care of a child, particularly if you have a puppy. Some breeds, regardless of age, require time to play and exercise to manage any destructive behaviors. Meanwhile, your occupation may be keeping you away from home for long periods. How much time you spend with your dog is essential for pet care. However, this shouldn't be a biggie if you have other people who can care for your dog in your absence. You must ensure these caretakers are responsible enough for the job. 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to finding a new dog. What matters is that you find the correct dog for you. Whether you want to adopt or buy a dog from a breeder, you should look for a breed that fits your lifestyle and living arrangements.

Remember the Fallen and Honoring Our Troops-Memorial Day 2021

Memorial Day 2021

Stay Safe out there this Memorial Day as Covid19 restrictions ease.

Remember the heroes who give their lives so other like us live!

Thank You for your service keeping us safe.

God Bless our troops past and present.

From all of us at FamilyDisasterDogs.com

 

Water your dog for the Best Scenting Abilities

How does watering your dog affects the scenting abilities? 

JR is Daisy's son and he sure knows how to cool off!
Great Search Dog too! Thank you JR for saving lives.

A dog's nose is wet by nature and dogs can dehydrate just like us humans on very ht days. Dogs do overheat and have heatstroke so when the weather is hot the best thing to do for a dog that is working a scent is to wait until the cooler part of the day.

As the dog gets warm while working in the hot part of the day the nose gets drier inside which will naturally make taking in and absorbing the scent particles more difficult for a dog. 

Pay close attention to the dogs nose when working in hot or extremely cold weather and when the nose looks dry water the dog. 

Many dogs will put the whole muzzle down under the water, Bloodhounds always do this trick to wet the inside of the nose too. They do this as they lap up water. Wetting inside and outside of the mouth and nose so that they do not dehydrate.

Read more about how a dogs nose works at Family Disaster Dogs Home

Willie knows how to cool off! 

Have a great summer everyone!

Remember do not leave pets or children in cars this summer!

Scent Dogs in Heatwaves and Hot Days

Heatwaves and High Temperatures affect the Scents !

Daisy and Willie photo by A.Higgins

Here's some advice from many years of working search dogs and Bloodhounds in very hot weather.

As heat increases in the environment where a dog is working; the scent particles change with the rising temperature. The easiest way to explain the process is to think of the scent particle your dog is looking for as shirking up the hotter the day gets and possibly before the nose gets to it.

The dog is always right but the scent may be harder to locate for the dog so giving the dog more time to look and work the scent makes sense!

Due to evaporation just like other organic or living things in the environment, the scent particle pool or trail the dog is following can dehydrate until moisture reawakens the particles, often at night or before dawn. Non-organic items or objects collect moisture during darkness as condensation that will make the scent easier to locate.

When night comes and darkness, the environment becomes wetter naturally, think of dew in the mornings. The earth absorbs the heat and the evaporating moisture during the day with the air we all breath, some of the scent too which is released at night with the exhaling of the Earth in its daily cycle.

This makes night and dawn the best time of day to search for people, pets or evidence with a dog.

If your dog is having a hard time working scent either in training or a real incident then try the same plan of action later in the day when dusk falls. Rest in the heat of the day from 10 am to 4 pm.

I always train and work at night or the coolest part of the day to get the best scents for the dog to follow.

Go out in the early morning dawn and smell, then think of how fresh the air smells and all the wonderful scents we humans can smell then multiple that to what a dog would smell and you can really tell the difference.

Try the same smell test in the afternoon and you will know the difference.

Think of the dry dust kicking up under your feet as you walk, and how that would affect a nose so close to the ground.

Give plenty of water to any dog working in the heat because the nose will dry out also making working scents more difficult..

I'll write more on how watering your dog affects the scenting abilities in another post. Until then be careful in the heat! and Good Luck!

Bloodhound Daisy photo by A.Higgins

Here's a big thumbs up and pat on the back for all the working dogs and handlers enduring the heatwaves in many parts of the world to aid in the recovery of harmful items, drugs and missing persons or pets. 

photos by A.Higgins- all rights reserved

Family Disaster Dogs invites you to learn how your own dog can rescue you ! Visit the home page for more dog training lessons and advice on tracking and trailing with dogs!