Who wants to win a $25.00 Amazon gift card?

WHN has been asked to pawticipate in a paid sponsorship posting program, and has been given a 25.00 Amazon giftcard to give away to one of our faithful readers!!!!  This giveaway is being sponsored by www.DogFenceDIY.com!!!!

To win the gift card,  please comment below NLT 29 November, and share the column via social media.  We also encourage all of our followers to post comments at our sponsor's website so that they know that you have read the article!.  The winner will be chosen by Sweetie, the newest member of our pack on 30 November and announced on 1 Deember!

Now, here is the article:

Top Turkey Day Safety Tips for Dogs

As a pet parent, you keep your dog’s healthy and happiness at the forefront of your mind all year round. You do whatever you can to keep them safe, and you show them your affection in many different ways. Whether it’s installing a DIY electric dog fence, keeping a never-ending supply of tennis balls, or patiently clipping their nails, you pour your heart into your dog’s care. During the holidays, our focus is turned elsewhere for longer than usual. As an important reminder, here are some ways to keep your dog safe and happy during your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Prevent Your Dog from Accessing the Kitchen

The most dangerous place for your dog to be during Thanksgiving is in the kitchen. If your dog gets in your way, they could accidentally cause you to trip. Hot liquids, fryers, stoves, hot pans, knives, etc. can all cause injuries to you or your dog. The best thing to do is to keep your dog in a closed room while you’re cooking. A pet barrier in the kitchen doorway can prevent your dog from coming in unexpectedly. A baby gate would work, and a wireless dog fence barrier is another option that won’t block your path, too. An electric dog fence can be used in the home to keep your dog contained anywhere that’s most convenient.

Watch Out for Environmental Dangers

Holiday decorations are festive and fun, but keep your dog’s safety in mind when you’re placing them. Pumpkins and corn, for example, are appropriate for the season, but they also smell delicious to dogs. While they’re non-toxic, they can cause your dog to choke, or they can cause an intestinal blockage. Lit candles are another hazard, so make sure they’re not in a place that your dog could knock them over. Cover or conceal electrical wires for light up decorations.

Be Cautious When Traveling with Your Dog

Did you know that your dog should wear a seatbelt in the car, too? Dog safety harnesses will help protect your dog in a collision, and they also stop your dog from getting in the front seat and distracting the driver. While traveling, you should also bring along a pet barrier or invisible dog fence to help contain your dog in someone else’s home or yard. If your relative’s home isn’t dog-proof, carefully check for dangers, such as cleaning chemicals or medications within reach of your dog. Always keep the phone number to your vet’s office with you while traveling.

Observe Your Dog for Signs of Stress

When there is a lot of extra activity going on, dogs tend to get stressed out. Always watch your dog for signs that they are upset, and take them to a safe area away from the commotion if necessary. Signs of stress that you should look for in your dog include panting, growling, shivering, hiding, raised fur, pacing, jumping, staring, or cowering. Sometimes your dog will need a break from the action, so take them to a quiet area with toys, food, and plenty of water.

Know the Dangers of Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner may be the most delicious meal of the year, but it can also be the most dangerous to dogs. Don’t feed your dog any food they aren’t accustomed to eating, and do not overfeed them. Watch carefully for signs of sickness. Be especially careful of foods that can cause choking, such as nuts, raisins, grapes, and bones. Turkey bones are very dangerous, and they can rip your dog’s intestinal tract or puncture their throat. Fatty foods, especially turkey skin, can make your dog very sick. Chocolate and the sugar substitute xylitol are toxic to dogs. When you’re done eating, make sure all trash is taken outside, especially the remains of the turkey.

Talk to Your Relatives About Dog Safety

Make sure your family and your guests know basic dog safety, too, so they can help you monitor your dog. Share with them dog stress signals, and instruct them not to feed your dog any scraps from their plates. Tell young children that dogs do not like hugs or kisses. Ask your guests to tell you if they notice your dog acting strangely. If you’re visiting relatives, find out ahead of time if they have a room your dog can use as a quiet place, and inquire about their yard, such as whether it has an electronic dog fence, a traditional fence, or no fence. There is nothing more frustrating than having to deal with a lost dog when you are not in your own town.

As long as you keep these basic safety tips in mind, you and your dog will enjoy the holiday. Most of this is common sense, but it’s always easy to forget little things when there’s so much going on and so much on your mind. Enjoy your time spent with loved ones, and make sure you give your dog a little extra love and attention, too. Happy Thanksgiving!

These Thanksgiving safety tips come to us thanks to the ongoing educational efforts of www.dogfencediy.com; Dog Fence DIY provides dog owners with an affordable alternative to pricey and complex dog containment solutions. 

We are still here!!!

Have been experiencing major blogger issues but we have been visiting around Blogville.  We have been able to leave comments at some blogs but not at all.

Tasha celebrated her birthday on November 1st !!!!.

WHN managed to sprain her left foot and then her right hand and wrist.   Yes this did involve two trips to the ER !

Snoopy is doing much better and all three girls are helping him keep tabs on WHN.

Crochet 8-petal 3D Flower Tutorial 5 3D Blume häkeln

SNOOPY Pupdate

We were allowed to bring Snoopy home today.  He spent the last ten days in quarantine, and we visited him twice a day to walk him and to feed him.

He is not being put down.  The city has decided not to label him a dangerous dog due to his small size, but we are not going to take any chances.  SO, sometime in the next few months we will be moving!  Yes, we are moving into the house next door, Sweetie's stomping grounds, as it has a fenced in backyard, perfect for the DWM.  Sweetie's previous owners, now both deceased, wanted us to buy the house from their estate, for the simple reason that WHN took Bud to his doctor appointments every month.  We were shocked at this because we thought that we were simply doing a neighbor a favor. Every month WHN loaded up the pack and away we went- dropping Bud off at his doctor and then onto Burger King for a chicken nugget snack.  Snoopy and the rest of the DWM loved these trips to Burger King and loved sitting on Bud's lap to protect him from the other cars on the road- Tasha was especially good at this.

The house is a lot smaller than what we are renting adn what we owned in Ohio (which is still unsold, but is rented out and is due to finally sell to the renters in June 2016), but was well maintianed, unlike our current house.  Dad has a huge basement for his tain layout while WHN will have a smaller kitchen and no dishwasher!  (shades of the house in Ohio) .  Neither is upset by this and Dad has offered to have a sewing room added to the house where the carport is and WHN is ecstatic! A new fence is in the works for the spring, and the removal of several holly trees, bushes and sycamore trees so that we have a great backyard!

The Florissant Health department, which includes animal control, were wonderful with Snoopy.  We were allowed to visit during business hours and allowed to bring him home today instead of MOnday. We surprised them by being diligent in feeding Snoopy twice a day and cleaning out his cage for them.  They actually thanked us for taking such good care of him while he was in quarantine!>  

Obviously, he will be wearing a harness and leash at all times until the move is completed, to prevent him from being distracted. Once the move is over, he will be attedning classes until something sinks in and he starts to relax about the rest of the world NOT being a threat to his pack.

Thank you for all of your kind words and POTP.

BTW, Sweetie is now 7!  She tunred 7 yesterday and we will celebrate next weekend> 

Taking a break

With very heavy hearts, we will be taking a break from blogging for the foreseeable future. 

As everyone knows, we have been fostering and failing for DRNA for several years now, and we are at the end of our ropes with regard to a pack member who is a biter .  We knew that this pack member was one when we opened our hearts and home to them, and actually did not see it for several months, long after we finalized the adoption process (so much for fostering!)  

Over the course of the past 15 months, this pack member has bitten three people who are not family members- breaking the skin twice. We reported the bite incident the first time as it occurred in our home, the second incident was reported by the bitee before we even had a chance to do so, and tonight a third person, in her 70s, was bitten and blood was drawn.  I had the pack out for oblutions and was corralling Sweetie , thinking erroneously that the other three members were already back inside.  Out of the blue, and not heeding any commands given, this woman was bitten on the back of her left calf.   I know her by sight from the neighborhood, assured her that the rabies shots and all others are up to date and offered to pay her medical expenses. Her companion kept going on about the need for a tetanus shot and the two went home to bandage the leg.   

I had Geoff call our vet, who is aware of this pack member's history, including the biting.  We were advised that we had to wait to see what animal control would do.  We also contacted DRNA, who told us that we would have to put the animal in question down as they no longer had any trainers who could help and that this animal was not adoptable, even with living with us for almost three years and going to training, etc.  Our vet contacted our city's animal control and now we have to wait until we hear from them.  A mandatory 10 day quarantine must occur and will - the animal in question is in a crate as I type this.  Our city is a no kill city, so we have no idea what will happen, but the prognosis is not good.  

Please keep us and our pack in your prayers- I had to put Chip down a year ago for atacking and biting me and I still have trouble dealing with that, and am looking at the same thing again, albeit for different bite issues.

We have also decided that as our pack goes to the Rainbow Bridge, we will not be replacing them.  We love our dachshunds and our beagle Sweetie, but this has proven to be too much .

UPDATE-  Snoopy has been taken into quarantine by the city health department.  He will be there for ten days and we are allowed to visit, but since this is his third incident, he will most likely be put down at the end of the quarantine.  Geoff is following to help get him out at the other end and he is quite upset and aggressive.  My heart is breaking but I don't know what else I can do for him.