How to prevent an escape during the holidays
Holidays are a special time, but they can also be rather stressful. Both for us and our dogs. Our dogs' routines are disrupted as visitors arrive or as we leave them alone more frequently because of festive happenings. Even more importantly, in many cases dogs are faced with fireworks, which cause a profound state of panic in many dogs.
All of this leads to an increased number of dogs running away and getting lost during the holidays. What can we do to prevent this from happening?
USE A (LONG) LEASH
Even very calm, even-keeled and reliable dogs that can usually be trusted off-leash in a variety of circumstances can run away in a panic due to fireworks. At this point they are running mindlessly, which can end in disaster. It is safer to keep our dogs on leash during the holidays, especially in the evenings and near places where fireworks may be used. Of course we always recommend a long leash that offers dogs the possibility to make choices and use their body language - 3 meters or longer.
CHECK (AND UPGRADE) YOUR GEAR
It is a good idea to make sure that all straps, clips, buckles and fastenings on leashes and harnesses are in impeccable order. We only recommend the use of an H-type harness when having dogs on leash. If your dog has tried to escape the harness while in a panic before, you might want to look into safety harnesses. These are H-type harnesses with an additional strap that prevents escape (pictured on the lovely brindle galga Luna here below).
In case your dog does get lost, you might get her back more quickly if you add your phone number to her equipment (do avoid tags that make a noise) and if you use a GPS device (pictured on Ε ar, the black dog in a coat here below). Also, make sure your dog is microchipped and the data on the chip is up to date.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE
These days it is better to take walks in the morning or at midday, as there is less chance of fireworks. It is also a good idea to avoid urban areas and certain places where we know there is a higher chance of being exposed to fireworks. It is absolutely fine to make walks shorter or skip a walk or two, as long as we make sure our dogs get enough toileting opportunities and mental stimulation. The latter can be achieved indoors through nosework games and activities (finding toys, snuffle mats, enriched environments ...).
BE MINDFUL WHEN OPENING DOORS
It only takes a moment for fireworks to scare a dog into escaping. This moment can happen at the most unfortunate of times: just when we are stepping out of the front door or opening the car door, for example. Even if we are used to letting our dog out and then calling her to put her on leash, it would be wiser to change this routine for a while. It is best to make sure our dogs are securely on leash before we open doors.
Even if your dog is luckily not afraid of fireworks, an unfortunate event can change this in an instant. This is why we advise all dog caretakers to take these preventative measures when out and about with your furry friends during the holidays. π
We hope you have lovely, relaxed Smiling Leash walks, both during the rest of the festive season and in the year to come!
To find out more about some of the things mentioned above, we invite you to take a look at these blog posts:
