Tips For Keeping Your Canine Companion Safe!

As a realtor, I am frequently required to keep abreast of the latest developments and properties in the Oakville community. Part of my service I aim to provide for my clients, is to harness all of the local trends in the community outside of just the real estate market. In over 25 years living in the Oakville community I have noticed one unassailable, unshakable trend; members of the Oakville community love their dogs. This is why I find it ever so important to provide some tips to Oakville residents who share the same adoration for their canine companions.

1. Keep them hydrated and keep the walks brief in the summer, remember if it’s too hot for you to be outside, then it’s too hot for them. A technique worth trying is to place the top of your hand on the pavement, if it is too hot to place longer than 5 seconds; it’s too hot for the dog’s sensitive paws.
2. Use pet friendly pesticides for your lawn care to avoid the pooch from ingesting any toxic chemicals that would be harmful to them.
3. In the cold winter months, keep them warmer by allowing their coat to grow in length; a dog with a thicker coat is more tolerant to the cold. Also, salting the driveway is a vigilant way of preventing slip-age; however dogs often pick up grains of salt in their paws, causing undue pain and sensitivity. A viable technique for preventing infection and pain is to keep a container of warm water waiting at home for when you get back from your walk. This will cleanse the paws of Lime rock salt, and calcium chloride.
4. Put them on a leash, this prevents them from wondering off and ingesting harmful chemicals or toxic animal droppings. There have also been coyote sightings in the community, posing the risk of your dog or dogs being attacked. To keep them safe, always have them in close proximity and under your purview on a leash.

Our rambunctious 15 pound Miniature Schnauzer, Jake, likes to think he is our guard dog, but in practice we need to look after the little guy. I hope these tips will provide you with some knowledge that keeps you and your “best friend” safe on walks in and around the community.

Bruce Williams of The Williams Family