7 Safety Tips for Dogs Living in the Country

Living in the country is a great way to experience the great outdoors and get away from cramped city living. It comes with plenty of opportunities to experience nature on an intimate level and it offers the kind of peace and solitude you simply cannot find in the big city. If you are thinking about making a move into the country, take the time to consider the pros and cons for your family – and don’t forget about your dog!

Top Country Dog Safety Tips

No matter where you and your family live, there will always be risks – for you and for your dog. When you move out into the country, however, those risks take a different form. Here’s a list of seven tips for dogs living in the country.

1. Fence Your Yard: Moving out into the country means that your dog will have plenty of space to run around. Just because you have all this space, however, doesn’t mean that you should just let your dog run around unchecked – there are plenty of potential hazards out in the country such as dangerous predators, venomous snakes, and poisonous plants. Fencing your yard is as much about keeping dangers out as it is keeping your dog in.
2. Provide Plenty of Water: Living in the country often means more outdoors time for dogs so you need to make sure that he has plenty of water, especially in the summer. Provide your dog with a large water bowl, preferably two, and make sure that they are always full.
3. Use Sunblock When Needed: You may not realize it but dogs can get sunburn just as much for humans! This is especially true of dogs with very thin coats or light-colored coats. It is always a good idea to apply pet-safe sunblock around your dog’s nose and the tips of his ears before you let him outside in the morning.
4. Have Proper ID: If your dog gets loose, he could travel quite a long distance out in the country and you cannot rely on your neighbors recognizing him. Make sure your dog wears a collar with an ID tag at all times and consider having him microchipped. That way, if someone finds him, they will be able to contact you.
5. Keep a First-Aid Kit: You never know what kind of injuries your dog might sustain living in the country, so it is a good idea to keep a fully stocked first-aid kit on hand. Include country-specific items like a snake bite kit, supplies to combat skunk smell, and a tick removal device.
6. Socialize Your Dog: The country is full of new sights, smells, and sounds, so make sure your dog is properly socialized before you make the move. Puppies are the most impressionable during the first 3 months so this is when you should take the time to expose your dog to as many new things as possible to prepare him for the rest of his life.
7. Solidify Obedience Training: There are many potentially dangerous things in the country that your dog may not understand – it is your job to protect him and, in order to do so, you need to know that he will follow your commands. Train your dog to give you his attention when you say his name and make sure he comes consistently when you call.

These tips just scratch the surface when it comes to keeping your dog safe in the country. In addition to following these tips, you should employ responsible dog ownership practices as well. After all, you moved to the country to escape the stress of the big city, not create new problems!