Tips for a Safe Labor Day Weekend with Your Dog

Austin, TX, September 02, 2009 --(PR.com)-- As a last salute to summer, Labor Day brings the promise of sun, swimming, and sizzling barbecues before we all settle down to the business of autumn. The outdoor fun extends to all the members of our family—including our dogs—but that means taking special precautions to make sure your four-legged friend enjoys a safe holiday.

“With the late summer heat, Labor Day weekend means families need to take special steps to keep their pets safe when enjoying outdoor activities,” says Paris Permenter, co-publisher of DogTipper.com, a site featuring tips for dog lovers, by dog lovers. “Activities around the water or around the barbecue grill also mean you’ll need to keep an extra watchful eye on your dog.”

DogTipper.com offers these top tips for planning a safe Labor Day holiday with your dog:

Assign a dog guardian. Whether you have guests over at your house, you head off to the lake, or you hit the road for one more summer trip, assign one member of the family to keep an eye on the dog. It’s too easy to get into an “I thought you were watching the dog” situation if one person doesn’t have responsibility.

Follow dog safety on the water. Not all dogs are good swimmers so always plan to put a doggie life jacket on your pooch if you’ll be in the water, especially if he’s not a frequent swimmer.

Keep him away from the grill. Barbecue grills and dogs are a bad combination. Find a safe place—whether a spare bedroom or his crate—for your dog to call home for a few hours when you barbecue. Keep lighter fluids and matches away from him and, when the barbecue’s over, make sure the grill has cooled completely before you let him back out into the yard. If you use charcoal, ashes will be flecked with meat fat so place them in a metal container with a strong lid away from your dog.

Never leave your dog in the car. Traveling with your dog means occasionally you’ll make stops where he’s not permitted. You’ll need to rotate dog walking duties between members of the family because you can never leave your dog in the car, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Temperatures in a car—even with the windows cracked—will soar and turn your car into a deadly oven.

Keep your dog tagged and identified at all times. The extra flurry of activity of guests enjoying outdoor fun can create anxiety and confusion for your dog, making it all too easy fort him to slip out undetected. Make sure your dog is wearing his collar and that you have an up-to-date ID tag attached. Even better: consider microchipping your dog so he can be identified even if his collar is lost.

DogTipper.com features articles and tips covering all aspects of life with your dog, from selecting a dog to raising and training your canine. Published by professional writers (and husband-wife team) Paris Permenter and John Bigley, the site also offers a Celebrity Canines blog featuring red carpet dogs, Dog Tip of the Day, product reviews, and Dog News covering dog food recalls, new dog products, and more. Permenter and Bigley, who have authored over two dozen books for publishers ranging from Random House to Globe Pequot, live with their dogs in Texas.

For more information, visit www.DogTipper.com. To download a free copy of How to Put Your Dog on a Budget, visit www.DogTipper.com/budget.

###